Autumn Farewell to Monarchs

Published 10-10-2019 Perhaps no insect commands more interest than Danaus Plexippus—the well-known Monarch butterfly. Its flashy physical appearance and distinctive migratory behavior locates this species in a special category. Our readers will bear with us for many past posts on Monarchs, the only butterfly to complete an annual two-way migration.  Before discussing the migratory behavior of Danaus Plexippus, consider some…

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Anthropic Principle and Anthropocentrism

Published 09-26-2019 Physicist Brandon Carter proposed the AnthropicPrinciple in 1973. It has become the topic of many fascinating scientific, philosophical, and theological discussions. William Lane Craig, philosopher and theologian, has written extensively on matters of faith, including the Anthropic Principle. The following Craig quote strikes a balance between scholarly complexity and simplicity: In recent years, however, the…

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Beginnings and Designs

Astrophysicist Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) coined the term “Big Bang” to describe what his scientist colleagues had described as an explosive event. Hoyle never accepted the concept of a Big Bang. He advocated the “Steady State” theory in which matter is continually created. He felt that the Big Bang was a pseudoscientific, irrational proposal. The universe was infinitely old, he believed, having no beginning (also no end!). He described space as never ending.

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What is the Gospel?

Okay, I’ll admit it. I grew up in a Christian home. No, far worse than that, I grew up as a missionary kid, spending my first 18 years with my parents on the mission field. I have taught Sunday school classes (to children, teens and adults), I was a leader in Pioneer Girls, I even…

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Discovering Climate Truth

Currently, the presidential primary season has revealed that a vast majority of candidates of one major party has installed climate change as a paramount platform issue. Readers may be confronted by questions: What is your view? What guides your thinking and belief on the climate change issue? What is true?

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The Apostles’ Creed: I Believe

by: R.L. Wilson I believe. There is a wealth of information to be gleaned from those first two words of the Apostles’ Creed. The Creed outlines the basic beliefs of Christians—Christ followers—throughout the world.  A few years ago Martin Thielen wrote a book entitled What is the Least I Can Believe and Still be a Christian?In a…

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Is Truth Discovered or Defined?

Have you ever heard someone say… The dictionary definition of truth is: conformity with fact or reality; or a verified or indisputable fact. For example… But when we redefine truth as something we can create, it’s like saying 2+2=5 and 2+2=4. Can this be possible? Of course not! It doesn’t work in other areas of…

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Climate Change: Separating Blame from Cause

Published 9-6-2019 Our climate change discussion begins with recollection of two different undergraduate electives offered by my university more than a half-century ago. Their one-word course titles caught my eye—meteorology and climatology. As a childhood resident of Central New York, weather had always provided a source of interest. The six-month transition from plentiful winter snow…

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One in Nature and Three in Person

Oh, boy! How many have heard that “explanation” of the trinitarian nature of God? Yes, I see all those hands. Okay, now here’s the real question: How many of you understand what that means? That’s what I thought. Not a single hand – well, one or two tentative not-quite-shoulder-high hands at best. So, let’s try…

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