Co-Chairs: Bre. John Bilello (USA), Rae Earnshaw (UK).
Saturday, October 14, 1995, Southfield, MI, 12:30 p.m., Science Building, Lawrence Technological University, 10 Mile and Evergreen in Southfield, MI. Saturday, October 21, 1995, Simi Hills, CA.
This is a preaching effort intended for our young people and for interested friends. While we normally make no reference to the professional qualifications of our brethren, in this case the nature of the subject virtually demands that the audience be aware of the speaker’s knowledge of the scientific as well as the Biblical aspects of the topics addressed.
Speakers:
John C. Bilello, Ann Arbor, MI: Ph.D., University of Michigan Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and Applied Physics, Fellow ASM.
Malcolm Cross, York, UK: MPhil, C. Eng, MIMechE, MIEE, Lecturer at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.
Rae Eamshaw, Leeds, UK: Ph.D, MInstP, MIEEE, FVRS, FBCS, University of Leeds, UK.
William A. Link, Baltimore, MD: Ph.D., Mathematical Statistician, Patuxent Environmental Science Center, MD.
James A. Livermore, Farmington Hills, MI: M.D., Director Clinical Services, Providence Hospital, Southfield, MI.
Objective:
To provide a state-of-the-art review of current issues in the Bible-Science arena by means of seminar presentations followed by panel discussion. The primary objective is to witness to the work of God in creation and to offer visitors and young people an opportunity to hear how practicing scientists hold their faith in an often controversial scientific environment.
Program Summary:
The Bible and Science: Physics with Bro. John Bilello.
The study of Physics is an attempt by man to understand “how” the universe functions. It seeks to answer such questions as: how was the universe created? How did it get to its present state using the physical laws that seem to govern nature? The question of “why” nature operates as it does, however, can never be answered in terms of the concepts of physics. Even if all the laws of the universe were known, we would still have to explain physics itself! Thus physics can neither prove nor disprove God. What can be done, via physical reasoning, is present plausible arguments one way or the other about the nature of universe. This talk will examine some of the physical laws and see how their operation affects life. We will also explore alternatives: e.g., suppose the physical laws were different; would life be as we know it today? Finally, we will examine various Bible passages and see if science and scripture are in conflict, as skeptics contend, or if the word of God is indeed consistent with the physical laws of the universe as we know them.
The Environment and the Christian with Bro. Malcolm Cross.
This presentation examines the relationship of the Christian to the environment. Topics that are current issues include the growth of deserts, destruction of rain forests, holes in the ozone layer and pollution of seas, rivers and the atmosphere. What approach should we take to the issues surrounding us in the world in which we live and what is our responsibility toward it? Should we seek to conserve species that are becoming extinct or are the natural (or unnatural) processes at work on the planet beyond man’s control? What are the cycles of birth, life, death and decay and what is the significance of them from the overall point of view of sustaining life and life systems on the planet? The issues will be identified and the challenges and controversies outlined from a biblical perspective.
Cosmology — from Genesis to Galileo and Beyond, Bro. Rae Earnshaw.
A spacecraft, named in honor of the great Italian scientist Galileo, has been targeted at Jupiter. The objective of the mission is to find out more information about Jupiter’s clouds and the characteristics and properties of the planet and its immediate neighborhood in space. This mission is characteristic of man’s interest in the universe of which the earth is part. There is evidence that in the ancient world there was interest in the movements of stars. It is possible that their understanding of the world was more advanced than we might like to think today. The interest in a more rigorous approach to understanding the world in which we live began with the rise of science in the last couple of centuries. It is during this period that the principle controversies between the Bible and Science have occurred. Galileo’s observations of the movements of the planets — based on maps and measurements by Brahe and Copernicus — made it clear that the earth was not the center of the solar system, as had been previously thought by theologians and scholars. Lessons from this controversy will be presented. A current area of interest centers on the “intelligibility” of the universe and lessons from the current debate will be summarized.
The Bible and Science: God’s New World — The Only Solution to the Environmental Crisis with Bro. Bill Link.
The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate the severity of the environmental crises faced by mankind. Recognizing that it is not God’s purpose to destroy the earth, or allow it to be destroyed, we examine what the attitude of the believer should be toward the environment and toward the environmental movement. As believers, we ought not to become jaded to these problems, or skeptical of whether the reports are only the self-serving exaggerations of scientists. In fact, the problems are worse than we might imagine and continue to worsen despite the best efforts of the environmental movement. Some of the environmental problems faced by mankind are wholly attributable to man’s greed, while others are the accidental consequences of well-intentioned but misguided policy.
They are a remarkable sign of the times; there are a number of scriptures which speak directly to the environmental crises. The crises illustrate that “it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” and encourage us to be waiting with heads uplifted in joyful anticipation of the divine government which will fill the earth with God’s glory.
The Bible and Science: Medicine — Germ Theory of Disease with Bro. Jim Livermore.
Modern concepts of infectious diseases, that seem to be common sense today, really didn’t crystallize until the 19th century. Prior to that, mankind had no concept of how disease was transmitted, often believing illnesses to be supernatural in origin. And yet, embedded in the Law of Moses were concepts of public sanitation, infectious isolation, personal hygiene, dietary protection and behavior patterns that are consistent with modern concepts of epidemiology. The Mosaic Law, if followed, could have prevented many of mankind’s worst epidemics including the Plague and even AIDS. These concepts will be explored proving that Moses, by inspiration, established guidelines of conduct consistent with concepts of epidemiology developed only thousands of years later by modern scientific methods.
Western Michigan
Dear Bro. Don:
We would like to keep the brotherhood posted as to the ongoing results of the 1995 Truth Corps visit to our area this past July.
Our total number of contacts has now risen to 72, with 22 pre-registered for the September Bible seminar. Part of this increase was due to a nice piece in the Kalamazoo Gazette religious section, advertising the upcoming seminar.
Having received the correspondence courses on July 27, we sent five of them out in that evening’s mail. We have had no response as yet, but do not expect anything before August 10. We will be sending a general letter to the others who had expressed some interest in taking the course.
We have contacted all but two of those who asked for personal contact, and have been unable to catch those two at home to this point. We’ll keep trying. We had the fifth class with one of our contacts today (8/5). Lord willing, we’ll see her again this Thursday afternoon.
Another contact who lives in the same area has been holding private Bible classes with others who have become disenchanted with organized religion. At least two of his neighbors also expressed interest to the Truth Corps members in having some kind of contact with us. They will be getting back together again after the first of September, and have indicated I would be able to sit in on their classes. Meanwhile, we will be sending them the Bible Magazine to hopefully either whet their appetites or stimulate their interest in conversation when we finally do get together.
Interestingly, another contact is also involved in personal Bible classes with friends. He too is disenchanted with organized religion; he was a Lutheran. We are having some difficulty in pinning him down to a specific date, because he is getting married in the next few weeks. We will keep in contact; I’ve talked to him a couple of times on the phone, and have been by to see him and he still seems quite interested.
We will continue working the other contacts, hoping to get them involved in personal classes.
We have a small problem that occurred as soon as the Truth Corps left, and I returned to work. My position was closed down on July 14. Unemployment at this time raises all kinds of questions, but we believe this has all been in accordance with God’s plan. Had I lost my job before Truth Corps came, would we still have allowed them to come? I honestly do not know; I don’t think that would have made a difference, but I cannot say that with any certainty. Sis. Annette and Sis. Leslie had been talking after Truth Corps left, wondering how I was going to have enough time to work the contacts. We believe God has now made that possible.
What I would like to ask all of you to do is to pray that God allows us to stay in this area to work with those who have expressed interest. If that is not His Will, ask that He provides someone who can do it and is willing.
May He continue to bless us all as we attempt to do His work.
Love in the hope we share,
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One