Facts & Faith

1988 Volume 2, No. 4
Winter

* Due to copyrights, original graphics and tables may not appear in these articles

Science in the News: Atmospheric Changes May Fulfill Bible Prophecy

By Hugh Ross

I suspect that we have only just begun to realize how delicately balanced our planet is for the support of life. Research of the last decade tells us that even slight changes in the earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide and/or water vapor levels or in the earth’s albedo (ratio of reflected light to total amount falling on the surface) would result in long term radical alterations of the earth’s climatic patterns. At worst, such changes could result in either a runaway greenhouse effect or a runaway ice age.1

By the mid-1970’s, emissions of carbon dioxide, particulates, and ozone- consuming chemicals had already reached dangerous levels. Scientists warned that only an all-out effort, worldwide, would prevent climatic shifts which would begin to be felt by the end of the 1980’s. Their warnings went unheeded, and today we are beginning to read reports of the significant ozone depletion and the greenhouse warming they predicted.2, 3, 4, 5, 6

In California, the consequences are obvious: there has been no heavy snow pack in any of the winters of this decade, and reservoir levels are dropping. The problem reaches much farther, however. The entire planet is seeing a warming trend, to the extent that the sea level has risen measurably from a melting of glaciers and the polar caps.

In fact, the warming is proving to be greater than was predicted in the 70’s. What we failed to appreciate until recently is that the chemicals responsible for the destruction of our ozone shield are also greenhouse gases. Such gases may contribute as significantly to the greenhouse effect as does carbon dioxide.

And, we have yet to determine the impact of particulates. This type of air pollution (ultra-fine particles of dust, ash, etc.) blocks out the light of the sun and thus cools the ground underneath. Since clouds of particulates tend to form over heavily industrialized areas, the result is that abnormally cool areas develop adjacent to abnormally warm areas—a sure combination for generating extreme low pressure areas and their concomitant storms. This past summer’s Hurricane Warren serves as an example.

We have seen much publicity about the rising incidence of skin cancer and the increasing severity of droughts, consequence of ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect, respectively. But more ominous yet may be the impact on our food crops. Wheat, rice, corn, and soy bean yields are known to drop with increasing exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Rising sea levels will inundate thousands of square miles of rich delta farm lands. The Nile delta will be especially hard hit.

The Bible clearly predicts a day when 1) loathsome and malignant skin sores will break out on much of the populace, 2) the planet will become scorchingly hot, 3) violent storms will strike with unrelenting frequency, 4) the light of the sun, moon, and stars will be noticeably dimmed over some places, and 5) grain supplies will drop catastrophically (Rev. 16:2, 16:8-9, 16:21, Luke 21:25-26, Rev. 16:10, 8:12, 6:5-8). The prophet Isaiah puts the blame squarely on man’s shoulders. He declared that a day would come when man’s greed and foolishness would grow so far out of control that man would literally pollute himself and his environment to death (Isaiah 24).

What are we to do? We could panic and become obsessed with self-protection. We could pretend that the problem doesn’t exist, that some wild-eyed radicals are simply out to scare everyone. We could blithely believe that if there is a problem someone will surely come up with a solution in time—at least in time to save us from any major discomfort. We could join one of many environmentalist groups and devote ourselves to the cause of socio-political reform (unquestionably, changes are needed). Or, we could turn to God in humility and repentance. We could seek His face and search His word to understand His purposes for us, His instructions to us, in this present crisis, and then do what He says.

We will no doubt discover that we must begin by allowing Him to deal with our own personal selfishness and greed. He is the one, the only one, who knows best how to transform what is wrong with us, what is wrong with the whole world. When He comes back to this planet, He will show us what this place can be like without the curse of sin.

References

  1. Ross, Hugh. Design and the Anthropic Principle. (Pasadena, CA: Reasons to Believe, 1988), pp. 5-7.
  2. Revkin, Andrew C. "Endless Summer: Living with the Greenhouse Effect," in Discover, October 1988, pp. 50-61.
  3. Hansen, J., Johnson, D., Lacis, A., Lebedeff, S., Lee, P., Rind, D., and Russell, G. "Climate Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide," in Science, 213. (1981), pp. 957-966.
  4. Kerr, Richard A., "Carbon Dioxide and a Changing Climate," in Science, 222. (1983), p. 491.
  5. Monastersky, Richard. "Clouds Without a Silver Lining: Stratospheric Clouds Help Pollutants Poke Holes in the Ozone Layer," in Science News, 134. (1988), pp. 249-251.
  6. Raloff, J. "Ozone Hole of 1988: Weak and Eccentric," in Science News, 134. (1988), p. 260.

Special Feature: What was the Christmas Star?

By Hugh Ross

Last year’s winter issue of Facts & Faith included an article on the wise men of the Christmas story, giving some ideas as to why they, and not the Jewish religious leaders, knew the time of Christ’s coming. That article promised a future discussion of the nature of the star that guided them. It’s time to fulfill that promise.

First, the Greek word ASTER in Matthew 2:2-10 is a much more general term than our English word star. It can refer to any kind of heavenly body—a star, a planet, an asteroid, a comet, or a meteor. The three most widely accepted explanations for the star of the magi identify it as 1) a conjunction of planets, 2) a comet, or 3) a supernova. More imaginative suggestions include flying saucers, Satan (as an angel of light), and the Shekinah glory.

Although we see ASTER used in Revelation 1 as a symbol for a personal messenger, there is nothing in the Matthew 2 passage to indicate a symbolic or metaphoric usage. So, we will assume that ASTER refers to an astronomical object or phenomenon. The problem with the supernova explanation is that supernovae are so spectacular that nearly all observers would have noticed such an event and recorded it; yet it receives no mention anywhere but in the Bible. The Jewish leaders certainly seemed oblivious to the "star."

Comets, too, are unsuitable candidates, for they are so common as to warrant no special response from the magi. Further, comets are so well documented through history that if one did occur, especially an unusual one, at the time of Christ’s coming, it would show up in the records.

Neither do we find any noteworthy conjunction of planets occurring at that time. Besides, the Matthew text specifically describes one star, and even in the case of a close conjunction the eye can detect a number of bright objects.

What possibilities are left? One that seems plausible is a phenomenon called a recurring nova. An easily visible nova (a star that suddenly increases in brightness and then within a few months or years grows dim) occurs about once every decade. Novae are sufficiently uncommon to catch the attention of observers as alert and well trained as the magi must have been. However, many novae are also sufficiently unspectacular as to escape the attention of others.

Most novae experience only a single explosion. But a tiny fraction have the capacity to undergo multiple explosions separated by months or years. This repeat occurrence seems necessary, for the Matthew text indicates that the star appeared, disappeared, and then reappeared sometime later.

There is some suggestion in the Matthew passage that the star guided the magi to the very house where the baby Jesus lived. However, we can assume that this guidance was not such an exact geographical pinpointing since the magi needed help from the Jewish leaders to locate the place in Israel where the child was to be found.

Let me emphasize again that my suggestion represents a possibility only. Matthew provides the only record of this star, and what he records does not give us sufficient information to make a definitive conclusion. What strikes me most about the passage is the hope the magi placed in the coming Messiah. Consider their sacrifice of time, energy, and treasures in seeking Him out for the sake of bowing in worship to Him. I pray that my response would match theirs.

Let us Reason: Removing Barriers to Faith

Introduction of a Series of Articles

By Hugh Ross

Those of you who talk about your views with people of different persuasions have probably discovered that a certain few objections to belief in the Bible (and its message of salvation) come up far more frequently than any others. On a recent Sunday morning at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, I cited some illustrations of how preparing to respond to this handful of objections can open the way to talk with people about what’s really bothering them, what’s really keeping them from entrusting their life to God.

Since my time that day was so short, I only went as far as identifying the more troublesome issues and hinting at their resolution. Many friends have asked me to present the list again and to give more help in handling the items on it. My plan is to do so in this column in future editions. However, in keeping with my belief that what you study and learn on your own becomes more useful to you than what somebody else has prepared, I will give some brief comments and then point you in the direction of further investigation.

First, here is the list of objections I hear most often:

  1. What’s to say that the universe requires a Creator? Maybe it’s infinite, or maybe it just came into being on its own.
  2. There is nothing in Nature to demand that the Creator, if there is one, be the God of the Bible.
  3. If God were really God—all-loving and all-powerful—then there is no way to explain the evil and suffering in the world.
  4. The order of creation events in Genesis One is clearly at odds with the facts of science.
  5. There is overwhelming evidence that the universe is much older than the 6000 years indicated by the Bible.
  6. The Bible’s story about Noah and the great flood can’t possibly be true.
  7. If Adam and Eve were really the first people, where did Cain get his wife and where did all the people come from to populate the city Cain is said to have built?
  8. It is unfathomable that a God-inspired creation account would fail to mention dinosaurs and cavemen.
  9. How can Christians be so narrow-minded and arrogant as to think that they are right and everyone else is wrong?

Objection number one, above, is the subject of many volumes, including the one on which I have been working for several years now. Look for a summary answer and perhaps a suggested reading list in our next issue.

From the President’s Desk

Dear friends,

One question that arises frequently at Reasons To Believe outreaches is this: "Won’t the scientific discoveries of future years wipe out the ‘proofs’ you are now using to back up your views?" What I see behind this question is the mistaken impression that no scientific conclusions are really secure.

Admittedly, all of us could cite examples of scientific "certainties" that were subsequently overturned. Claims for a flat earth, a young sun, or the earth as the center of the solar system are perhaps the three most glaring illustrations. So, let’s take a look at these.

Perhaps you are unaware that both the flat earth and geocentric hypotheses contradicted much of the written scientific literature of their day.1, 2 Unfortunately, such literature was not widely available until the invention of the printing press. And, who remembers that Lord Kelvin’s conclusion about the sun’s age was presented with a clear disclaimer? His figure (<30 million years) depended on the sun’s having no energy source more powerful than gravitational contraction. Though such a source was unknown at the time, reason for suspicion was apparent. For one thing, the figure was contradicted by established data for the age of the earth’s crust. In other words, such notions, though preached as certainties by some, flew in the face of considerable contrary evidence. Because such evidence was ignored, unpopular, or incomprehensible to the average reader, people were led astray.

A second misunderstanding concerns the impact of investigation into previously uncharted areas. Such studies yield new information that requires much additional inquiry and analysis but is unlikely to change significantly our picture of the already well understood, accurately measured areas. For example, measurement of the distances to quasars is being altered by new understanding of relativistic effects, but we have no reason to question the distances to, say, the planets.

I would like to suggest some guidelines for evaluating the degree to which a scientific (or theological) conclusion can be trusted:

  1. What percentage of the researchers working in the relevant field of study agree with the conclusion?
  2. What percentage of the relevant evidence agrees with the conclusion?
  3. What percentage of the established literature agrees with the conclusion?
  4. How many and what variety of alternate interpretations have been considered?
  5. To what degree of measured precision has the conclusion been verified? (In other words, what is the error bar?)
  6. How many independent means of measurement confirm the conclusion?
  7. To what degree does the conclusion fit with other conclusions, well established conclusions?

When error bars are miniscule, when independent researchers and data converge, and when alternate interpretations approach absurdity, then a conclusion can be considered secure. Though alternate interpretations to a spherical earth and a heliocentric solar system do exist, they are laughable in light of the abundance, precision, and convergence of physical evidence (as well as Biblical data). The same can now be said of alternate conclusions to a divinely created universe.

I realize that many people lack the time and technical training to test my statements on this and other subjects. At my longer talks, or in extended sessions such as my origins course at Simon Greenleaf Graduate Center and my Revelation class at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, I can present and discuss the array of evidence and conclusions, both theoretical and empirical, much more fully than in brief outreach messages. I especially enjoy seeing people discover for themselves the basis for my confidence in the enduring harmony of the facts of nature and the message of the Bible—both revelations from God.

Sincerely,

Hugh Ross

References

  1. Clagett, Marshall. Greek Science in Antiquity. (New York: Collier Books, 1955), pp. 116-118.
  2. Fischer, Irene. "Another Look at Eratosthenes’ and Posidonius" Determinations of the Earth’s Circumference," in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 16. (1975), pp. 152-167.

As I See It: On "Naturalism"

By George Roche

—an excerpt from "A World Without Heroes: The Modern Tragedy."

The view that Nature is "the whole show" and "all there is" is as old as mankind. The polytheism of the ancients was a form of naturalism, for the gods were not believed to exist outside Nature and were not creators of the world. In modern times, infused with the findings of a growing science in the West, naturalism has become immensely influential in all our lives. All anti-heroes cleave strongly to naturalism, whether through a scientific basis or unexamined premise about the nature of reality.

Let us attempt a definition. Nature, in this view, is the interlocking system of the physical universe. The natural is what comes forth or goes on of its own accord, spontaneously, unasked. All finite events are part of the system, and nothing exists outside of Nature. Nature is thus the Ultimate Fact, the self-existent thing, on which all phenomena depend and of which all phenomena are a part. In our own century, the physical universe has been given a highly specific shape and size by Einstein’s equations, and beyond it is nothing - not infinite empty space but literal nothingness. Everything in space and time is part of Nature.

The contrapositive view may be called supernaturalism: The belief that the Ultimate Fact upon which all depends is in some manner above and beyond Nature, out of space and time, and is the Creator of the universe. This view is likewise as old as mankind. But let us limit it here to the Western view of God, other forms of supernaturalism being irrelevant to this discussion.

The argument today, as of old, is who is right, the naturalist or the supernaturalist? This may seem far removed from practical concerns, but there could hardly be any more important concern—or any more down-to-earth. To abridge a famous remark by Chesterton, "There are some people, and I am one of them, who...think the question is not whether the theory of the cosmos affects matters, but whether, in the long run, anything else affects them." For, of course, if we believe life is a purely natural event determined by a purely natural cosmos, out institutions and customs and personal lives will be shaped by that view, and will be totally unlike life built upon belief in God. Indeed, the whole story of the past two centuries is the remolding of Western life under the growing reach of naturalism.

Naturalism...is a blunder of unbelievable cost at the center of the great tragedy of our era. In denying our humanity, it has made us brutes.

The naturalist view is completely determinist. That is, all "events" interlock, and all are the result of previous events in an unbroken chain of cause-and-effect going back to the beginning of things. Thus no serious naturalist believes in human free will. If our will were more than an illusion, we would actually be introducing "new" events, without previous cause, into Nature’s system (and without her say-so). This would put us outside the system, dictating to Nature instead of obeying her, so it is not possible under naturalism. This means you literally have no choice about reading these words at this moment; your doing so was, as it were, determined by the stars. Nor have I any choice in what I’m writing, being merely a stenographer for what is dictated by the dance of the atoms. Consequently, if I were to write that all naturalists were ugly useless cockroaches, the naturalist would have to agree that Nature herself forced me to say so. But would it mean anything? Of course not. For the same reason, the statements naturalists seem to make in apparent defense of naturalism are illusions, written by Nature, without meaning. Yet they seem to believe their own babble. Why?

Kindred difficulties—which is to say, impossible contradictions—await us if we look at the naturalist view of thought and morality. The rigorous naturalist claims that human reason is also an illusion, and thought a meaningless secretion of the brain gland. Any other interpretation would allow human reason, again impermissibly, to overrule Nature and change the system from the outside. And because amoral Nature is the cause of all events, all human morality is disallowed; it is deemed another illusion. There are no such things as good and evil, right and wrong; any contrary opinion is leftover superstition from a prescientific age.

Step by rigorous step, the naturalist thus denies our human qualities, but each time ignoring the contradictions that leave the theory of naturalism in ruins. Contriving the theory has required a great deal of thought and the finest scientific reasoning: Only to conclude that thought and reason are meaningless. If the conclusion is correct, the theory is nonsense and no one need believe it. If the conclusion is false, it is just that, false, the theory is again nonsense. To unblinded eyes, the naturalist chose the career that led him to conclude that choice is impossible. Why, then, should his apparent choice make any difference to anybody? Finally, he denies all morality in one breath, and exhorts us all to become naturalists in his next—for the good of mankind...

After we see the fundamental fallacy of naturalism, there is nothing more to be said to its adherents, and only one more thing to be said of the theory. Namely, it is a blunder of unbelievable cost at the center of the great tragedy of our era. In denying our humanity, it has made us brutes. In denying God and all moral authority, it has delivered us into the coercive power of the unlimited parasitic state. In rejecting a moral order, it has torn the restraints off mass war, off political genocide and persecution, and off crime. Under its malign influence, the values of life, liberty, property and family have been under constant assault and gravely damaged. In a word, naturalism is a weapon in the hands of the anti-hero intent on bringing down all civilization.

You see, it really does matter, and matters very much, how we think about the cosmos.

George Roche is the internationally renowned president of Hillsdale College in Michigan. A former history professor, founder of the Shavano Institute for National Leadership, and author of eight books on education, history, philosophy, and government, Roche is perhaps best known for his battle in the courts to protect the College from federal intrusion and to retain its independent status.

Kids' Space

Our question this time comes from 10-year-old Jamie of Monrovia, CA. She asks a question that many people may have wondered about, "How can God hear the prayers of everyone in the world who’s praying all at the same time?"

Anyone who has tried to listen to even two conversations at once will know why Jamie asks. Imagine tuning into billions of thoughts and words in the same moment! What makes this possible for God is the fact that He is not bound by the same time limitations as we are.

We live on a time line, so to speak. We experience time's movement in one direction only, as our clocks and calendars tell us. God is not so restricted, as II Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2 and other passages of scripture make clear. Before God created time (as we know it) He existed and He caused things to happen. this fact means that there must be at least one more dimension of time. It means that God can opear4ate in a time plane (or maybe even a time sphere!). Thus, He can spend even an infinite amount of time listening to all the prayers that are spoken at any one instant on our time line. The diagram below attempts to illustrate how this idea works.

[graphic excluded]

God's Time Plane

Those of you who would like a much more thorough explanation of God's operation in extra dimensions are encouraged to obtain our cassette tape entitled The Nearness of God (catalog item no. A8726). Also available as a written outline, The Lord is Near (catalog item no. P8806).

Puzzles & Paradoxes

In our last issue you saw some sets of lines [graphic excluded], and you were asked which line was longer in each case, line a or line b? If you used your ruler, you discovered that a and b measured exactly the same length (or as nearly so as our instruments would allow), though at first glance a looked longer in the first set and b in the second.

[graphic excluded]

Look for a new puzzle, perhaps a tougher one, in our next issue.

In the meantime, you thrill-seekers may want to tackle the following paradox. It is one that skeptics often raise as an objection to faith in the God of the Bible.

Why was so much killing of human beings (not to mention the bloody animal sacrifices) condoned by—even perpetrated by—God? Doesn’t this contradict the commandment "Thou shalt not kill"?

Here, once again, we cite the steps (used in scientific research, and applicable to Bible study, as well) to resolving a paradox:

  1. Establish the correct frame of reference, or point of view, for the passage(s) under consideration.
  2. Correctly define the system(s) in question.
    [Some examples of systems would be a family unity, a church, the heavens, the universe, Israel, etc.]
  3. Make observations over a greater or lesser range of magnitudes, e.g. over a longer or shorter span of time, a smaller or larger geographical region, etc.
  4. Make observations over more dimensions or different dimensions, e.g. over three dimension rather than two, five instead of three, or over time and space rather than space alone, etc.
  5. Gather more detailed / more complete information.

Field report

This past quarter was the busiest one yet—in terms of the number of outreaches conducted—in our two-year history. In keeping with our goal to affirm the harmony of nature and scripture both to secularists and to Christians active in sharing their faith, the team spoke to:

  • San Joaquin Valley school teachers and administrators (a Christian Educators Association conference at Hartland Camp),
  • Skeptics from a variety of professions, meeting for lunch in Pasadena,
  • Santa Ana Kiwanis Club members and guests,
  • San Francisco Bay area Christian Businessmen’s Committees (CBMC),
  • Scientists and theologians gathered for a "Consultation" sponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry (Princeton, NJ),
  • Collegians at Pomona First Baptist Church,
  • Internationals, both graduate students and visiting professors, many from the People’s Republic of China, at a retreat near San Jose and at a home meeting in Pasadena,
  • More than 200 delegates to the annual conference of the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) held in Anaheim,
  • Hollywood writers, producers, and directors at a "Fireside Chat" sponsored by Associates in Media,
  • Members and guests of First Baptist Church of Reseda and Rolling Hills Covenant Church.

We are grateful to all those who took the time and care to fill out comment cards. The commendations, questions, and suggestions for improvement all are valuable. Frequently we are asked, "Why haven’t we heard of your ministry till now?" The answer is simple: It takes time and money to get the word out—time to build a solid reputation, money to communicate by mail or broadcast media. By God’s grace we are growing, and with your participation in praying, giving, and telling others about us we will continue to do so.

A Word from the Editor

By Kathy Ross

Have you ever been bothered by the reference to Christmas as Xmas? Perhaps you will be somewhat relieved, as I was, to discover that the X, rather than an attempt to obliterate Christ from the word Christmas, is the traditional symbol for Christ, from the Greek letter chi (X), familiar to many through the popular "fish" emblem. Unfortunately, that Greek letter looks identical to the twenty-fourth letter of our English alphabet, and, because it is never italicized or set off in any other way, who would know to make the distinction?

Meet Our Staff

By Penny Karipides

Whenever a new staff member or volunteer joins his/her heart, talents, and time to the ministry of Reasons to Believe, it is always an occasion for joy, and it always brings a deeper, richer experience of the Body of Christ. This description certainly fits the coming of Patty Bradbury to us. Clearly, God has prepared a unique place for her; and in a special way, the staff has gained an even greater sense of family than before.

Patty comes to Reasons to Believe with an educational and professional background in preschool teaching. She received her B. A. from Cal State Los Angeles in Early Childhood Education and has worked for several years as a teacher, also as a librarian. Her desire to use her skills to serve the Lord finds expression in a two-fold ministry with (and to) RTB.

In the morning Patty works alongside Roberta in the office, processing mail, filing, duplicating papers and tapes, running errands, and handling the various nuts and bolts that keep things running smoothly. In the afternoon, Patty is employed by the staff families to care for their children (pictured on the front page), an invaluable service without which the ministry probably would not be running at all.

Patty is a Mom away from Mom for all these little ones, and she is a precious friend to their parents, besides. Her humility, gentleness, and patience endear her to young and old alike. What she describes as the most wonderful, healing part of her work is the way God is using the children to reach the "kid" in herself. She says that through them, God has opened her heart to a better understanding and greater appreciation for what it means to be a child of the Living God.

Pray-ers' Closet

Would you like a spiritual boost to propel you into the new year? Then mark your calendar now for our next day of prayer and fasting together, Saturday, January 28. We begin individually on Friday evening, as our notes on "Fasting" tell. These notes (available by a phone call to our office) present a brief discussion of the scriptures on fasting and propose some plans and guidelines for a group fast.

Perhaps you know the verse that says, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41 and Mark 14:38). If you are like the rest of us, your flesh won’t be excited about this opportunity, but your spirit will be thrilled! Please let us know of your decision to participate so that we can plan appropriately for the supper with which we conclude our time together.

We hope you will also consider attending the praise and prayer meeting held on the fourth Thursday evening of each month, 7:30 P.M., at our offices in Sierra Madre, 154 West Sierra Madre Boulevard (rear entrance). If you live too far away to come, you may join with us anyway, either praying alone or with a small group in your area. Roberta Loutsenhizer, our office manager, will be happy to get you started. Just give her a call at (626) 355-6058, or drop her a note at P.O. Box 5978, Pasadena, CA 91107.

Readers Write

After hearing your presentations yesterday...I was not only informed, but also inspired. Our God is indeed a "great and awesome God," as Nehemiah described Him...

--K. M., Modesto, CA

I heard you speak at my church recently, and I would very much like to learn more of your views on Creation. I have read extensively in the fields of science and theology and had arrived at the same conclusions that you expressed in your speech. It was like a breath of fresh air for me to hear it said in the church...

--S. A., Ventura, CA

Thank you for the great article in the November issue of Eternity! It has helped clarify some of the seemingly opposing issues in the fields of astronomy, geology, and creation research.

Having scoured reference materials for years, trying to glean fact from fiction and relate the true "harmony between natural and biblical revelation," as you say, your article gelled information like nothing else has.

Please send me more information on your research organization.

--N. R., New Harmony, IN

Your publication has been a real blessing to me as well as your praises and prayer requests. I pray you will remain committed to the Lord’s guidance and humility of spirit as each of us holds your arms up every day.

Although I believe God’s word implicitly, I enjoy the knowledge of creation and astronomy that you are able to impart to us. It has never been hard for me to have the faith to believe every word He has spoken in the Bible, but many questions I have had for 60+ years are being answered through your years of study.

I was born again at an early age and rejoice daily that He cares for me. I look forward to the day when the wonders of the universe will be shown to me by none other than God Himself.

Keep up the good work. Phil. 1:6.

--L. G., Anaheim, CA

Just a note to express my deep appreciation for and commitment to your ministry through Reasons To Believe. As an astronomer, public educator, and Christian, I look forward to receiving your quarterly newsletter...

In developing and presenting a strong case for progressive creation, a viable alternative to the extremes of fiat/scientific creationism and theistic evolution, I feel you are providing a valuable service to the Christian community...

--P. J. O., Buhl Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA

We’re still really excited about your ministry! You’re reaching a segment of society many of us couldn’t reach very easily...

--K. B., Manchester, MO

...I first heard of you when J.M. of CBMC gave me your tape to listen to after your testimony was given in Fresno, CA. I immediately gave your tape to several friends and also to my brother, who is extremely analytical and very educated and intelligent. What a joy it was to have him and his wife attend the Mt. Hermon conference with us and listen to you defend the credibility of the Bible in such a logical way!!...

--D. J. D., Merced, CA

Readers Ask

The questions below are among those submitted by P. T. of Rosemead, CA. We will reply to yet another (one about the flood) in our next issue.

Q. If each of the creation days is several hundred million years--were new life forms specially created, or did God intervene in the evolutionary process?

A. The evolutionary process, as conceived by most biologists, excludes God. Another view holds that the biologists’ concept of evolution (or some form of it) is factual, but that God was working behind the scenes to help it along. A third view rejects the biologists’ concept of evolution, but would allow for lengthy time periods during which God introduced new species and during which some previously created species experienced variation resulting from natural selection and from environmental influences.

We believe that the last view best fits the available data from both science and the scriptures—that new life forms were specially created by God, in a sort of layering process, at various stages of the earth’s development. There are many reasons for holding this view, both Biblical and paleontological.

Q. Do you accept the principle of apparent age (e.g. Adam fully formed, water into wine)?

A. The principle of apparent age usually refers to evidence of age which we can observe today from geology, paleontology, astronomy, physics, and cosmology. The principle, as usually stated, says that creation occurred much more recently than evidences from the above disciplines suggests. We do not accept this view. The reason for proposing this principle is to defend the notion of a 24-hour creation day and the genealogy in Genesis. We do not believe that Genesis 1 uses "day" to mean a 24-hour period nor do we believe that genealogies can be used to support a recent creation. (Please examine our paper entitled "Biblical Evidence for Long Creation Days.")

We do not believe that God would provide evidences of great age which are deceptive. (See page 18 of the above reference.) God does not mislead those who seek to know the truth (Ps. 119:160, Is. 45:19, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18 and 1John 5:6). Moreover, the stated purpose of the creation is to reveal truth (Romans 1:18-20). We are convinced that a medical examination of Adam’s body one year after Adam’s creation would have revealed only one years’ worth of aging. Likewise, a chemical analysis of the wine would have shown only a moment's worth of aging, despite its superb bouquet.

Q. How do you explain death before sin? How could a world that allowed death be pronounced "good" by God?

A. The death that came through Adam’s sin in Romans 5:12 was not the physical death of non-spirit plants and animals. Only the descendants of Adam among all of the earth’s creatures are spiritual. In Romans at least five different kinds of death (or incapacitation) are addressed. The context of Romans 5:12 clarifies that the death that came through Adam’s sin incapacitated the entire human race from experiencing a personal relationship with God. This is what is usually known as spiritual death.

There is nothing inherently evil about plants’ and animals dying. Plants and animals are not spiritual beings (though the mammals and birds certainly are endowed with a capacity to relate to people). The death of life forms other than man is, in fact, good for maintaining the delicate balances in nature.

Materials Spotlight

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"Eternity In Their Hearts" (Regal Books, revised edition, 1984). Masterful story-teller Don Richardson, author of best-sellers Peace Child and Lords of the Earth, in this captivating volume recounts how God sovereignty prepared the hearts of various remote peoples, from the jungles of Burma, the lofty peaks of the Andes, and elsewhere, to understand and embrace His message of salvation. Part One describes "A World Prepared for the Gospel," and Part Two, "The Gospel Prepared for the World." Winner of the Christian Review Christy Award for Book of the Year, also one of the Eternity magazine books of the year for 1982, the work includes study questions for group interaction and an extensive bibliography. Paperback. 223 pages.

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"Scaling the Secular City" (Baker Book House, 1987). Chosen as a required text by many Christian colleges and universities, J. P. Moreland’s book gives (in Norman Geyser's words) a "fresh, up-to-date defense of the Christian faith." It provides an overview of contemporary apologetics issues and arguments. Dallas Willard, of the University of Southern California (where Moreland earned his Ph. D.), says, "No evangelical now writing on apologetics surpasses Moreland in philosophical ability." Here is a valuable resource for all Christians, and especially for those who seek to communicate confidently and effectively with scholars and skeptics. Paperback. 267 pages.

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"A Scientist Who Looked and Was Found" (Reasons To Believe, 1988). Here is the story of a budding astronomer (Hugh Ross), challenged by his high school history teacher to explore a subject to which he had given little if any attention: world religions. The purpose of the assignment was merely to give insight to the causes behind certain wars. But, an inquiring mind had decided to use this occasion to prove to himself the lack of any rational reason to take religion, any religion, seriously. His study yielded the anticipated results until he opened a Bible to examine it closely for the very first time! This recently-recorded cassette gives a more detailed version of the story than the tape previously available, and it comes with three papers to which Hugh refers as he speaks. 40 minutes.

Calendar of Events

December 12: Panel discussion with speakers from the five sessions of the creation colloquium. Start time is 7 P.M. at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, 2222 Palos Verde's Drive. For information phone (213) 519-9406.

December 13 & 14: "The Wonders of Christmas," an outreach for women at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, 170 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre. Kathy Ross will be the speaker for these two outreach events, a Tuesday evening dessert (7 P.M.) and a Wednesday morning brunch (10 A.M.) There will be no charge for either event, but reservations are needed. The number to call is (626) 355-3566.

December 26-31: "The Greatest Discovery," a Christmas Conference for international students/scholars, held in Lakeland, FL. Sponsors include International Students, Inc., International Friendship Ministries, and several churches in the Lakeland-Orlando area. Call the Reasons To Believe office at (626) 355-6058 for details.

January 8: Morning and evening outreaches at Grace Church of Los Alamitos. In the morning, Hugh will give his testimony, in the evening, "New Proofs for God’s Existence." Two morning services, at 9 and !0:45, are held in the Performing Arts Center of Los Alamitos High School (corner of Los Alamitos and Spring). Evening meetings, 6 P.M., are at the church, 3021 Blame Drive. Phone (213) 493-5613 for more information.

January 15 & 22: Two more evening outreaches at Grace Church of Los Alamitos, "Science and the Bible: the Creation Account" and "Science and the Bible: the Flood Account." See details above.

January 27-28: Reasons To Believe day of fasting and prayer. See "Pray-ers’ Closet" column, p. _.

January 29: Morning and evening outreaches at First Baptist Church of Livermore, 2021 College Avenue. For times, topics, and other details phone (415) 455-5686.

February 7-March 23: Speaking tour of the southern cone of Africa.

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