INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org SEPTEMBER 2009 ACTSVOL. 38 NO. 9 FACTS & Christianity on the Pu b l i C st a g e How do I explain the differences between biblical creation and evolution? SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY What evidence for the origin of life should my students know? PRICE Where do I go for trustworthy information on science research and education? ORIGIN OF CREATION -BASED LifeK-12 CURRI C ULUM SUPPLEMENT The first of a new series, Origin of Life deals with the most crucial issues in science education today. Explore with your students such essential ques- tions as: What is life? How did it get started on earth? What are the physical requirements for life? Can it exist somewhere else in the solar system? Origin of Life includes a teacher’s manual and a CD-ROM packed with K-12 reproducible classroom activities and PowerPoint presentations. Science Education Essentials are designed to work within your school’s existing science Normally $24.95, curriculum, with an uncompromising Origin of Life is available for a foundation of creation-based science SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE instruction. of $19.95 (plus shipping and handling) Science Education Essentials Offer good through This new series of science teaching supplements exemplifies what the September 30, 2009 Institute for Creation Research does best—providing solid answers for the tough questions teachers face about science and origins. To order, call 800.628.7640 or Look for additional titles this fall: visit www.icr.org/store • Structure of Matter • Human Heredity • Genetic Diversity For more information, visit www.icr.org/essentials Demand the Evidence. Get it @ ICR. FROM THE EDITOR CONTENTS Christianity on the 4 Public Stage Concrete Adversity Lawrence E. Ford New ICR Research As- eter described the devil as a “roaring classes of the new School of Biblical Apologetics sociate: Nathaniel T. lion” tramping about the earth seek- on our Dallas campus (icr.org/soba). Also, the 9 ing to disrupt and destroy the people first of our Science Education Essentials curricu- Jeanson, Ph.D. of God (1 Peter 5:8). God’s people have lum supplements—Origin of Life—is available Christine Dao Pfaced some of their greatest adversities when they for Christian schools and homeschools (icr.org/ have been laboring the hardest for the Kingdom. essentials). Made in His Image: I think we would be surprised to know just how September 12-20 will find a number of us 10 Life-Giving Blood vicious the spiritual battle is that rages around us. on the Yosemite Creation Tour. Another sold-out Randy J. Guliuzza, P.E., M.D. Thankfully, the Lord is with us, and He and His tour, we expect great opportunities to learn and angels are doing battle on our behalf in the heav- relax in one of America’s premier destinations, a Genesis: Real, Reliable, enly places. But we must still be circumspect. marvel of God’s handiwork. I’m excited that ICR 12 Historical Recently we had a Senior Research Scientist Dr. Andrew Snelling, Ph.D. break-in at ICR headquar- Steve Austin will be our lead ters, made obvious by the geologist at Yosemite. Flying Reptiles: large chunk of concrete Don’t forget to read the 16 A Lesson in Specialized sitting on my office floor profile of Dr. Nathaniel Jean- Function amid a sea of broken glass. son on page 9. A recent grad- John D. Morris, Ph.D. The thieves quickly grabbed uate of Harvard University, what they thought was the Dr. Jeanson comes with great Bunnies Bug Darwin most expensive equipment credentials and experience in 17 Frank Sherwin, M.A. in our publications depart- stem cell research—a won- ment. Insurance covers derful asset to ICR’s science Dinosaur Soft Tissue equipment losses, but not staff. Welcome, Dr. Jeanson! 18 Issue Is Here to Stay the loss in production and This fall ICR will hold Brian Thomas, M.S. time. The enemy may well three regional Demand the be pleased at the effect of Evidence conferences, featur- Laws of Nature and his fiery dart, but our resolve to continue doing ing many ICR leaders and guest speakers such as 19 Nature’s Lawgiver Kingdom work is only strengthened as a result Dr. John MacArthur. Registration is underway, so David F. Coppedge of this and other attacks—particularly as we go make your plans to attend. Locations are California, head-to-head with the state of Texas in the fight Texas, and Florida. Visit www.icr.org/conference Letters to the Editor for academic freedom. for more information and registration. 20 Radio Log May I ask you to redouble your prayer ef- Thank you for all the kind notes about Acts forts on our behalf? You can’t imagine the encour- & Facts magazine. Readers like you encourage Profitable Labor agement we receive when folks write in to tell us us to continue providing timely articles about Henry M. Morris IV they’re praying for the ministry. Your intercession science, apologetics, and education from an un- 21 makes a huge difference in our day-to-day work ashamedly biblical viewpoint. Issues among for Him. Lawrence E. Ford 22Evangelicals We have great victories, too, despite these EX E CUTIV E EDITOR Henry M. Morris III, D.Min. distractions. Next month ICR begins the first Published by Executive Editor: Lawrence E. Ford No articles may be reprinted in Institute for Creation Research Managing Editor: Beth Mull whole or in part without obtaining P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229 Assistant Editor: Christine Dao permission from ICR. 214.615.8300 Designer: Dennis Davidson www.icr.org SEPTEMBER 2009 • ACTS FACTS 3 & on the Christianity Pu b l i C st a g e Dr. Francis Collins and the dangerous doctrines of BioLogos LAWRENCE E. FORD n July, President Barack Obama an- This is confusing: Darwinism means un- deeply flawed and sinful. In this view, it does nounced his intention to appoint Dr. guided evolution, right? Does Collins not matter if Adam and Eve were historical Francis Collins to lead the prestigious mean by “theistic evolution” the concept figures. Their deeds simply represent the ac- that God is guiding the evolutionary pro- tions of all humans and remind us of this National Institutes of Health (NIH),1 cess? If so, isn’t that a version of ID? On the troubling part of our natures.5 I which funds over $30 other hand, if Collins believes that God billion in scientific re- passively watches evolution unfold, isn’t About God and Miracles search aimed at pre- that deistic evolution?3 BioLogos does not in any way remove the venting disease and Below are some of Dr. Collins’ public logical possibility of miracles. However, for improving health. A statements on his faith and his science beliefs. the universe to behave in an apparently respected physician, ordered fashion, such events must be rare. researcher, and admin- About Theism and Evolution BioLogos is thus compatible with many istrator, Dr. Collins pre- faiths that have miraculous events at the BioLogos is most similar to Theistic Evo- 6 Dr. Francis Collins viously led the vital center of their doctrine. lution. Theism is the belief in a God who work of the Human Genome Project. cares for and interacts with creation. The- About Evolution He is also very open about his Christian ism is different than deism, which is the faith, which makes him a man of great influ- belief in a distant, uninvolved creator who Evolution is now profoundly well-docu- ence among other Christians who are eager to is often little more than the sum total of mented from multiple different perspec- tives, all of which give you a consistent see more Christian leaders in Washington. But the laws of physics. Theistic Evolution, therefore, is the belief that evolution is how view with enormous explanatory power just what kind of influence will Dr. Collins have God created life. Because the term evolu- that makes it the central core of biology. for the Kingdom? And how does he integrate his tion is sometimes associated with atheism, Trying to do biology without evolution Christian beliefs with science? a better term for the belief in a God who would be like trying to do physics without mathematics…. chose to create the world by way of evolu- The “Doctrines” of BioLogos tion is BioLogos.4 Nearly all scientists agree upon descent from a common ancestor, gradual change Dr. Collins recently began addressing the About Adam, Eve, and the Fall over a long period of time, and natural se- faith-science relationship through a new foun- The familiar story of Adam and Eve is a lection operating to produce the diversity dation, BioLogos, that “aims to be a bridge staple of both Sunday school lessons and of living species. There is no question that in the debate over science and religion and the stained glass motifs of Christianity’s those are correct. Evolution is not a theory provide some answers to life’s most difficult great cathedrals. But can this account fit that is going to be discarded next week or next year or a hundred thousand years questions.”2 Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-Chief of into BioLogos? How does the Fall fit into an evolutionary history, where the Earth from now. It is true.7 World magazine, comments about the confu- is billions of years old, and humans origi- sion arising from Collins’ ideas about Christi- nated hundreds of thousands of years ago About Evidence anity and Darwinism: most likely in Africa?... If you ask about data-driven questions, Collins recently set up the BioLogos Foun- In this light, the Fall was not a historical event about what is true and what is the evi- dation: Its website defines BioLogos as “the but an illustration of the common human dence to support it—you would want belief that Darwinism is a correct science.” condition that virtually everyone agrees is to go to the people who are the profes- 4 ACTS FACTS • SEPTEMBER 2009 & Christianity on thePu b l i C st a g e sionals who spend their lives trying to that even if he is a Christian, his self-selective Perhaps Dr.