PERSPECTIVES on Science and Christian Faith
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PERSPECTIVES on Science and Christian Faith JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION In This Issue … Galileo and Global Warming: Parallels between the Geocentrism Debate and Current Evangelical Skepticism about Anthropogenic Climate Change Did God Guide Our Evolution? Rethinking Abiogenesis: Part 1, Continuity of Life through Time Accelerated Nuclear Decay in the Light of New Experimental Data “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Psalm 111:10 VOLUME 72, NUMBER 1 MARCH 2020 (US ISSN 0892-2675) (CPM #40927506) Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Manuscript Guidelines © 2020 by the American Scientific Affiliation The pages of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (PSCF) are open Editor-in-Chief to original, unpublished contributions that interact with science and Christian James C. Peterson (Roanoke College and faith in a manner consistent with scientific and theological integrity. A brief Virginia Tech) description of standards for publication in PSCF can be found in the lead 221 College Lane editorial of the December 2013 issue. This is available at www.asa3.org Salem, VA 24153 PUBLICATIONS PSCF Academic Journal. Published papers do not reflect [email protected] any official position of the American Scientific Affiliation. 1. Submit all manuscripts to: James C. Peterson, Editor, Roanoke College, Book Reviews 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153. E-mail: [email protected]. Stephen Contakes (Westmont College) Submissions are typically acknowledged within 10 days of their receipt. Book Review Editor 2. Authors must submit an electronic copy of the manuscript formatted 912 Westmont Road in Word as an email attachment. Typically 2–3 anonymous reviewers Santa Barbara, CA 93108-1035 critique each manuscript considered for publication. [email protected] 3. Use endnotes for all references. Each note must have a unique number. Subject Area Editors Follow The Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed., sections 14.1 to 14.317). Malcolm Gold (Messiah College) 4. While figures and diagrams may be embedded within the Word text file One College Avenue of the manuscript, authors are required to also send them as individual Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 electronic files (JPG or PDF format). Figure captions should be provided [email protected] as a list at the end of the manuscript text. Arie Leegwater (Calvin University) ARTICLES are major treatments of a particular subject relating science to a 1726 Knollcrest Circle SE Christian position. Such papers should be at least 2,000 words but not more Grand Rapids, MI 49546 than 8,000 words in length, excluding endnotes. An abstract of 50–150 [email protected] words is required and should be in both the text of the email submission and Myron A. Penner (Trinity Western University) at the beginning of the attached essay. 7600 Glover Road Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 COMMUNICATIONS are focused personal examples of how people are living [email protected] out science and Christian faith. They have ranged from bringing computers to areas with no power, to being married to an experimental physicist, to an Derek C. Schuurman (Calvin University) astronomer’s sermon on the heavens telling the glory of God, to serving as 3201 Burton Street SE president of a research university. Grand Rapids, MI 49546 [email protected] BOOK REVIEWS serve both to alert readers to new books that appear Sara Sybesma Tolsma (Northwestern College) significant and to engage these books in critical interaction. When a subject 101 7th Street SW area editor selects a book for review, the book is then offered to a scholar Orange City, IA 51041 with the best match in expertise. ASA/CSCA members who would like to be [email protected] considered as potential reviewers are welcome to express interest to Stephen Contakes ([email protected]) book review editor for inclusion in the Editorial Board reviewer database. Publishers may also contact the book review editor if they Robert Bishop, Wheaton College are not sure which subject area reviewer would best consider a particular Dorothy Boorse, Gordon College book. Edward B. Davis, Messiah College • Malcolm Gold ([email protected]): sociology, psychology, and Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center education. for Astrophysics • Arie Leegwater ([email protected]): cosmology, history of science, Steven G. Hall, North Carolina State University mathematics, and physical sciences. Randall D. Isaac, American Scientific Affiliation • Myron Penner ([email protected]): philosophy and theology. D. Gareth Jones, University of Otago Robert Kaita, Princeton University • Derek Schuurman ([email protected]): computers, engineering, Douglas A. Lauffenburger, Massachusetts and technology. Institute of Technology • Sara Sybesma Tolsma ([email protected]): biology, environment, Keith B. Miller, Kansas State University genetics, and origins. Alan G. Padgett, Luther Seminary The viewpoints expressed in the books reviewed, and in the reviews Rosalind Picard, Massachusetts Institute of themselves, are those of the authors and reviewers respectively, and do not Technology reflect an official position of the ASA. Angela Sabates, Bethel University Ralph Stearley, Calvin University LETTERS to the Editor concerning PSCF content may be published unless Judith A. Toronchuk, Trinity Western University marked not for publication. Letters submitted for publication must not be David A. Vosburg, Harvey Mudd College of longer than 700 words and will be subject to editorial review. 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For those who wish to Science and Christian Faith, 218 Boston St, Ste 208, request permission for other kinds of copying or reprinting, kindly write to Topsfield, MA 01983-2210. the Managing Editor. Editorial Listening Together James C. Peterson ith the title Perspectives on Science and Chris- People often confuse the authority of scripture tian Faith, this academic journal takes into with the authority of how they in particular read it. Waccount that, from the beginning, churches Inerrant scripture does not guarantee that readers have carried forward the Hebrew scriptures (the are always inerrant. One person’s plain meaning Old Testament), and added texts that were con- of a text, may not be the plain meaning evident to nected to the apostles and that were recognized by someone else. A heartbreaking example of such an all the churches as anointed by God for instruction error can be seen in the following excerpt from an and reproof.1 These additional writings were eventu- exegetical sermon in 1860. The preacher E. N. Elliott ally bound together as the New Testament. The texts proclaimed that Genesis 9:25 teaches that God estab- embody the interest and language of their human lished slavery through Noah’s curse on Ham for all authors, and tradition says that, by God’s grace, they people of African descent.3 are trustworthy in all that they affirm. Some Chris- May it not be said in truth, that God decreed this tians describe this scripture with the specific term institution (slavery) before it existed; and has he “inerrant,” being without error. The guarantee of not connected its existence with prophetic tokens being without error has been described as important of special favor, to those who should be slave own- so that the reader does not have to pick and choose ers or masters? He is the same God now, that he what is true. All that they teach is true. was when he gave these views of his moral charac- ter to the world.4 The most widely cited statement of inerrancy was drafted in October of 1978 and is called “The Chicago Was Elliott right that Genesis 9:25 teaches that people Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.” The writers of the of African descent should be slaves three thousand declaration wanted to be quite clear that what they years later in South Carolina? To reach this conclu- saw in the Bible as without error, is what the Bible sion, he had to read into the text much that was not affirms—not what first comes to mind to someone in the text: reading it in Chicago two thousand years later. There 1. That Ham’s actions could be punished in all his are things that a modern reader might expect the text descendants for future generations forever. to mean that are not what the text is actually saying. 2. That Noah had the authority to pronounce this punishment of enslavement for all of Canaan’s One might read that God sends his rain on the just descendants. and the unjust,2 and think that the text is teach- 3. That Canaan’s descendants were all black ing that God afflicts the just and the unjust. “Don’t Africans.