Advance Holds Potential To Resolve Cloning's Ethical Challenges

Clonaid's claim to have produced the first human clones propelled the ethical debate about human cloning to the headlines last December. Given this fanfare, the debate has tended to focus on reproductive cloning—the use of cloning to generate a human being—and its bizarre societal and familial side effects. What deserves greater attention, however, is therapeutic cloning, a (potential) cloning application considered far more important to the biomedical and scientific communities and one far more ethically challenging.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research - An Interview with Dr. Fazale ("Fuz") Rana

Stem cells are associated with certain tissues in the human body. These cells serve as a source of replacement cells when a tissue's specialized cells die from disease or injury. Tissues that possess stem cells have the capacity to regenerate.

The Tricky Topic of Halloween

Halloween is approaching, a time for many to stock up on candy, pick out costumes, and deck their halls with spooky decor. But is this extremely popular tradition (especially in the United States) the devil's night, a literal satanic and occult extravaganza? Or is Halloween a harmless celebration?

Come As You Are

As I approached the front door, Lisa Wolfe opened it and embraced me like an old friend even though we'd met only briefly on two other occasions. Hearing our voices, her husband Paul walked to the entryway; he too offered a hug.

Biotic Borders: Cell Membranes Under Scrutiny

Although the Piscataqua River forms a natural boundary between Maine and New Hampshire, these two states have disputed the exact location of their border for the last 260 years. Maine contends that the state line runs through the middle of the Piscataqua River. New Hampshire maintains that the boundary lies on the river’s north shore.

The Faint Sun Paradox

Debates over global warming—how to measure it, the causes and effects, what to do about it and when—have raged for decades, with no resolution yet in view. Huge media coverage and multiplied millions of research dollars have focused on the possible impact of a fraction-of-a-degree average temperature increase worldwide over the span of a century or so.

Jonathan Edwards: An Awakening of Heart and Mind

A sense of God’s majesty combined with desire for deep spiritual intimacy characterizes one of America’s greatest evangelical thinkers.1 Known as the theologian of God’s sovereignty, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) made enduring contributions in the fields of theology, philosophy, and the psychology of religion. A nurturing pastor, frontier missionary, and bold revivalist preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Edwards exemplifies a man who integrated reason (the mind) and personal devotion (the heart) in unwavering dedication to the sovereign God revealed in creation and Scripture. These convictions helped Edwards stand firm during a time when a new “enlightenment” threatened Christianity, much as it does today.

Noah’s Flood: A Bird’s-Eye View

"Yes," Miss Johnson replies, "The whole Earth." Thus, a Sunday school teacher often settles the question of whether the Genesis Flood was global or regional.

Thinking Biblically About the World’s Religions

Ten major non-Christian world religions abound today: Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.1 The so-called minor religions are too numerous to count (e.g., various basic or folk religions, native American, African, etc.).2 Many people wonder how this morass of religious claims relates to biblical truth, and more specifically how it relates to the truth-claims of historic Christianity.3

Cosmic Brane Scans

As physicians use scanning devices to view the hidden structures and activities of the brain, astronomers can now use distant supernovae and high-resolution cosmic background radiation maps to scan the structures and properties of “branes.” This new capability allows them to examine the most remarkably fine-tuned feature of the universe: space energy density, or the self-stretching property of space.1

Oceans Under Ice

Recent work at the University of Arizona leaves planetary scientists who have been searching for life on the Jovian moon Europa skating on thin ice.1 However, the actual problem involves thick ice. This water world encased in a continuous sheet of ice is one of NASA’s chief targets in its quest to find life beyond Earth.

More Than Intelligent Design

Scholars involved in what has come to be known as “the Intelligent Design movement” deserve respect.

Any Lost Books?

Many bookstores carry titles in the religious section suggesting the discovery of lost books of the Bible. The Gospel of Thomas, unearthed in the Nag Hammadi library in Upper Egypt in 1945, serves as a well-known example of one such lost-and-found ancient manuscript. The idea that lost books of Scripture may exist excites some people and jars others. It certainly raises questions: “Have archaeologists uncovered ancient biblical texts that cast doubt on the current canon of Scripture?” “Is it possible that the Bible is incomplete?”

Book Review: A History of Apologetics

Christian apologists can learn much from the apologetics masters of the past. Yet, unfortunately, works that carefully recount and catalogue the history of Christian apologetics are rare. This rarity is likely due to the fact that the author of such a work must possess substantial scholarly competence in multiple academic fields––including theology, philosophy, history, culture, and science.

Sun’s Stable Fluctuations

The Sun has the reputation of being the most stable burning star, astronomers observe. Its extreme stability allows humans to exist on Earth. But this stability won’t last forever.

Apologetics Is What?

During my travels, I speak to thousands of laypeople every year who seem uninformed about the subject of apologetics. When I report that one of the topics I teach and write books about is apologetics, some seem to think that I’m in the business of apologizing for the Christian faith. The question for this issue is “Apologetics is what?”

Some Like It Hot—but First Life Did Not

Cedric and Winnie have finally saved enough money to buy a house. They dream about owning a Victorian cottage in a serene older neighborhood. They hope to find their home near Winnie’s workplace and in a community with outstanding schools for their two young children.

Predictive Power: Confirming Cosmic Creation

Scientists focus enormous effort on turning detections (observations and measurements) into predictions. Meteorologists use data to predict temperatures, wind, and precipitation. Astronomers use data to predict meteor showers and eclipses. Physicists use data to predict the existence of fundamental particles. Seismologists use data to predict volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity

Repeatable Evolution or Repeated Creation?