On tolerance of just-so stories...

Richard Lewontin, a leading evolutionary thinker, made an interesting admission as to how the commitment to how he wants to see the world (materialism / naturalism) actually determines his findings as a scientist.

“Our willingness to accept scientific claims that are against common sense is the key to an understanding of the real struggle between science and the supernatural. We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism."

 And here's the startling admission:

"It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our own a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, not matter how counterintuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a divine foot in the door.”

~ Richard Lewontin in New York Review of Books, January 9, 1997, p. 28.

Coffee with Dr. Gordon

Yesterday, I had the privilege of having a four-hour conversation with Dr. Bruce Gordon, associate professor of science and mathematics at the The King's College in New York City and co-editor (along with Dr. William Dembski) of the forthcoming collection "The Nature of Nature:  Examing the Role of Naturalism in Science."

Dr. Gordon loves the intersection of philosophy, apologetics, and science, as do I.  Plus he loves mathematics, which I don't, but am thankful that people like him do.   Along with his lovely wife, Mari-Anne, we enjoyed a great conversation over Starbucks coffee covering topics from his work as a senior fellow with the Discovery Institute in Seattle, his current work at Kings College, his work in Intelligent Design plus topics from the age of the universe to the Flood to biological determinism.

By way of introducing him to you, here is an article in the Washington Times by Dr. Gordon critiquing Stephen Hawkin's new book.  The article is entitled, "Hawking Irrational Arguments:  Theoretical Physicist Takes Leave of His Senses."

Check out this video (9:59) below of Dr. Gordon teaching on "The Absurdity of the Multiverse & Materialism."

Dr. Bruce Gordon - The Absurdity Of The Multiverse & Materialism 

We've enjoyed having Bruce & Mari-Anne worship with us at New City Church while they have been in town visiting family. I look forward to following his career, plus having him potentially do some teaching for us at NCC on the area of Intelligent Design.

Dang this is Sweet!

2009 Trans Am....


Now, repeat after me....

"I don't need this to be happy."

"I don't need this to be happy."

"I don't need this to be happy."

Now that we've taken care of that little detail, we can continue on.

Seriously, I find myself fascinated by all kinds of technological creations these days mainly because of what it says about our ability to bring forth amazing things from God's good creation.

What I mean is this...think about what the Bible says in the Creation account of Adam and Eve and the charge He gave to them. He gave them this world and charged them to take dominion over it. In other words, they (and we) have the wonderful challenge to bring out all the hidden potential that is embedded in this creation.

Now Adam didn't know about it at the time, but think about all the 'potential' that has been unlocked, discovered, birthed, delivered....


The Guitar. The Piano. The Saxophone.

Delicious wine (and frozen raspberry margaritas from On the Border!)

College football. Baseball fields. Fade-away three pointers.

The personal computer. Wifi. The iPhone. The Internet.

Air travel. Space travel. Catamaran sailing.

Brain surgery. Medicine. Vision enhancement procedures.

Mathematics. Physics. Engineering.

Tex-Mex. Italian. Mom's cooking.

Ceiling fans. Remote controls. Incredibly comfortable couches.

Film. Stories. Inspiration. Watercolor. Photography.

Trans Ams. Corvettes. Mustangs.

And Dr. Pepper

And if you stop to think about it, so much has been discovered and developed in the last 100 years of our history (even in the last 10!). Imagine what still awaits discovery? I wonder which of these will be a part of the New Heavens and New Earth?

So, join me in admiring the 2009 Trans Am. Let's just help each other from thinking we need to have one to be happy.

Cars Don't Define Our Social Status

In a post entitled, "Detaching from Material Possessions a Sign of Emotional and Financial Maturity," Frugal Dad says...

When I finished college I needed a new car, because after all, I was working and earning a salary and I “deserved” it. I leased an SUV, and several years later traded it in on a newer, used Chevy Silverado. Oh, how I loved that truck–sport trim package, V-8, ice-cold air, CD player, great sound system, etc, etc. It also came with a new monthly payment, and an increase to my insurance premium. For a few months I drove that truck and loved it. My grandfather had offered his old truck to drive, but I wanted a “cool truck.”

One day, after writing out the check for the monthly payment, and the increased monthly insurance premium, something hit me like a ton of bricks. I sat there watching my kids play in our backyard, and then looked over at that “new” truck. How much could their futures be improved by taking this $400 a month and applying it to our other debts, and then saving it for their future education? How could I be so selfish.

...I’ve adopted a utilitarian view on automobiles (and other things). They are literally hunks of metal pieced together, set on four tires, and sold to us for the purpose of transportation. Cars don’t define our social status, and are horrible indicators of wealth. Never again will I fall victim to worrying about what others think, or what marketers try to convince me to think.

Good stuff to remember on a number of different fronts...especially the line about cars not defining our social status. Very important as I'm looking to buy a used mini-van in about a month. Especially because what I really want is this.