The BioLogos Forum: Darrel Falk
Darrel Falk serves as president of The BioLogos Foundation. He transitioned into Christian higher education 25 years ago and has given numerous talks about the relationship between science and faith at many universities and seminaries. He is the author of Coming to Peace with Science. You can read more about Falk here.
Series by Falk
Reducing Irreducible Complexity (2 Parts)
In this series, Darrel Falk and Ard Louis carefully examine the idea that certain biological structures are irreducibly complex—an idea put forth by scientists such as Michael Behe and Michael Denton. After providing a brief background on Behe and the beginnings of the Intelligent Design movement, Falk dives into Behe’s mouse trap model. He then reveals the scientific and theological problems associated with design inference. The series finishes with a discourse about the bacterial flagellum (another classic example of an irreducible structure). There is, Falk and Louis confirm, no sound reason on the basis of Christianity or science to assert that divine intervention was necessary at specific points in the unfolding creation process. Responding to Stephen C. Meyer's "Signature in the Cell" (2 Parts)
In this brief series, Darrel Falk looks at the discussion generated by ID proponent Stephen Meyer’s book Signature in the Cell, which took heavy criticism from leading evolutionary biologist Francisco Ayala. Falk examines their responses, adding constructive criticism of his own. Signature in the Pseudogenes (2 Parts)
This brief series explains the significance of pseudogenes. Darrel Falk and Dennis Venema demonstrate how the theory of common descent provides a fine framework in which to interpret the existence of these once-functional genes. They also discuss the relationship of various primates and other mammals based on shared pseudogenes. The evidence in support of evolutionary theory, they argue, is compelling when examining the rich history disclosed in the DNA of every organism. Evolution and Faith: Communicating Compatibility in Christian Higher Ed (1 Parts)
This series contains four sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of science and faith as it relates to Christian higher education. In the first post, Richard Colling (author of Random Designer) speaks on strategic ways to teach the evolution issue in a Christian classroom setting. In the second blog, Andrew Chignell discusses an article that suggests hermeneutical charity in Wheaton College’s creedal statements in areas of reasonable disagreement. In the third section, Darrel Falk looks at Ken Ham’s State of the Nation address in which Mr. Ham criticizes Calvin College. Falk also examines an article written by a young college freshman to the school newspaper at Calvin College and offers constructive advice. The last blog is Daniel Camacho’s letter to Ken Ham. Evidences for Evolution (3 Parts)
This technical series, co-written by Darrel Falk and David Kerk, looks into the evidence for evolution in order to dispel doubts that people may have about this well-supported theory. They look at three things specifically: the separate methods which reveal of the age of the earth, the unfolding history of whale evolution, and finally the common trends of heart development in vertebrates. On Adopting a BioLogos Faith Statement (2 Parts)
In this series, Darrel Falk begins to formulate a potential “faith statement” for BioLogos. He presents views on issues such as sin and biblical inerrancy that, he believes, would be agreed upon by the staff and the supporters of the organization, but returns to Christ Jesus as the ultimate foundation for unity. In his second post, he reveals the results after much discussion behind the scenes, citing 1 Corinthians 15: 1-5, 17-19 as the core of BioLogos’ beliefs. “I am the Lord of the Dance,” said He (2 Parts)
In this brief series, Darrel Falk first responds to an article written by Jerry Coyne that criticized BioLogos’ decision to attend the Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science conference in 2010. He explains that the Church is one Body. Appropriately, the event coordinators called for a spirit of unity, and BioLogos wished to establish meaningful relations with other leaders in Christian circles “that think differently” about the creation process. In the second part, Falk summarizes the set-up and outcome of the event while also explaining his reasons for declining to speak with Steve Meyer publically at the event. The Skeptical Biochemist (1 Parts)
In this six part series, David Ussery carefully critiques the arguments made by Michael Behe in The Edge of Evolution. Ussery begins with the statement that this series is for those who have read or who are going to read Behe’s book, and that it is detailed in nature. Then, he gives a short synopsis of his background, both personal and philosophical. He proceeds to comb through all nine chapters of the book, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of various arguments made in each. Southern Baptist Voices: Kenneth Keathely (3 Parts)
The first entry in the Southern Baptist Voices series presents a unique ongoing dialogue between Kenneth Keathely, a significant voice for the Southern Baptist churches, and several BioLogos scholars. Carried out in a respectful and humble manner, Keathely simply expresses six areas in which he does not agree with the BioLogos approach to Genesis 1-3. Darrel Falk, Kathryn Applegate and Deborah Haarsma then thoughtfully respond to each point in order to clarify the BioLogos’ view on each issue and, hopefully, remove any stumbling blocks. Southern Baptist Voices: Is Darwinism Theologically Neutral? (1 Parts)
The second entry in our Southern Baptist Voices dialogues, this series features William A. Dembski and Darrel Falk considering the question, "Is Darwinism Theologically Neutral?" from Southern Baptist and BioLogos perspectives. As with the first Southern Baptist Voices series, the exchange is carried out with and respect and humility as Dr. Dembski argues that Darwinism undercuts several "non-negotiables" of Christianity, and Dr. Falk confirms that assessment on several points, while demonstrating that the BioLogos position is not the same as Darwinism. Southern Baptist Voices: Is Darwinism Theologically Neutral? (2 Parts)
The second entry in our Southern Baptist Voices dialogues, this series features William A. Dembski and Darrel Falk considering the question, "Is Darwinism Theologically Neutral?" from Southern Baptist and BioLogos perspectives. As with the first Southern Baptist Voices series, the exchange is carried out with and respect and humility as Dr. Dembski argues that Darwinism undercuts several "non-negotiables" of Christianity, and Dr. Falk confirms that assessment on several points, while demonstrating that the BioLogos position is not the same as Darwinism. Posts by Falk
BioLoguration II
December 21, 2011
I entitled this essay BioLoguration II. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is simply that we’ve received our grant renewal and BioLogos now moves into the phase governed by the second grant. However, the other reason is that the first BioLoguration focused on introducing our mission and helping people to become aware of the need.
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Dead Bones with a Living Message
November 29, 2011
As we noted in our response to the June article in Christianity Today “The Search for the Historical Adam,” the evidence for gradual creation is overwhelming, with more studies supporting the evolutionary process being published each year. We’ve looked at many of these evidences: from fossils, from comparative anatomy, from genetics. Today, we’d like to highlight for our readers a compelling video from the annual TED Conference.
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A Response to Mr. Ham’s Video: “The Anti-biblical Teachings of BioLogos”
September 27, 2011
We have been tempted not to respond to this video. The people in his huge audience— those who are laughing at his remarks and applauding his words—are not going to be swayed into changing their opinion by anything we would say. There are millions in that audience and for them the choice is simple: what is most trustworthy—God’s written Word or as Mr. Ham terms it, “man’s historical science?” Mr. Ham is adept at speaking to the heart of their concerns.
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A Geneticist’s Journey
September 23, 2011
And I thought biology had gone to the moon when it revealed the 24 base sequence of the lactose operator! Now we have billions of bases sequenced and a draft of the instruction plans for building three different hominins, all of whom lived on this Earth at the same time, as recently as 30,000 years ago
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On Deciphering the Signature
September 12, 2011
Steve Meyer has responded to Dennis Venema’s review1 of his book Signature in the Cell in the September 2011 issue of Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith (PSCF) (63:171-182). Although, Dennis has ably responded (63:183-192, I would like to address one specific aspect of Meyer’s response, especially since it relates to the final paragraph of my initial essay regarding the book and Dennis’s six part series on the BioLogos website.
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Was Humanity Inevitable?
August 11, 2011
So is the near-certainty of human life front-loaded from the beginning? Was it pre-determined from the Big Bang that human beings would eventually arise? Was it predetermined that God’s natural activity—that activity which upholds the universe and maintains all that is within it—would be sufficient for the eventual development of humans?
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NPR’S Adam and Eve Story
August 10, 2011
The conversation regarding the historicity of Adam and Eve, described so clearly in the cover story of the June issue of Christianity Today, continues in an unlikely place—at National Public Radio. If you haven’t already heard it, you’ll want to listen to this story.
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BioLogos and the June 2011 “Christianity Today” Editorial
June 6, 2011
The C.T. editorial, in other words, has shown that in their view mainstream evangelical Christianity and mainstream science can co-exist in harmony. There are still many details to be worked out and much conversation lies ahead, but there is reason for optimism. The findings of science and the evangelical approach to Christianity need not be at dead end anymore.
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BioLogos and the June 2011 “Christianity Today” Cover Story
May 31, 2011
These are theological questions, not scientific ones. Science makes it abundantly clear, we believe, that God has created through an evolutionary process and that there was never a time when there were just two individuals on earth. It goes no further though. Beyond that, we are in a different realm, one deeply steeped in the traditions and creeds of the church, and in theology, biblical scholarship, and philosophy.
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Bad Science and Weak Theology?
May 25, 2011
As indicated in this film clip, many scientists feel that the ID movement is an attempt to locate gaps in our scientific knowledge and then to presume those gaps can only be filled by intervention of an external intelligence. It is important to note that ID leaders do not view their work this way.
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Karl Giberson Moves On to Create More Time for Writing
May 16, 2011
Without Karl at the beginning and in the two and a half years which followed, it is safe to say that BioLogos would not have been a success. Karl’s journalistic expertise, his sense of style, his high expectations, his sixth sense of what will and won’t work and, eminently, his scintillating writing have been key to the impact of BioLogos.
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The Crutch
May 9, 2011
So providing the crutch for non-believers to lean on is a well-intentioned strategic error that has no benefit and likely does much harm. However, I am even more concerned about something else related to our construction of these crutches. We teach our Christian young people about the importance of the crutch. We spend years giving them all the details of why a meaningful Christian life stands or falls on this crutch.
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On Answering Answers in Genesis’s Question
April 6, 2011
Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis has entitled a recent blog, “Do two Nazarene professors endorse the idea that rejecting Christianity is more viable than believing Paul in the New Testament?” He never comes back to address the lead question of his blog. Since he didn’t, let me answer his question here: “No, absolutely not. It is hard for me to imagine a question about my beliefs which I could more emphatically deny.”
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Ken Ham, BioLogos, and Calvary’s Love
April 1, 2011
Among the biggest news in the science and faith dialogue last week was the announcement that Mr. Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis, has been disinvited from participating in two upcoming homeschooling events thanks in no small part to his harsh criticism and unkind words about The BioLogos Foundation.
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The Dawning of a New Day
December 31, 2010
BioLogos and its impact on the evangelical scene was one of the top ten stories of 2010 as judged by both Christianity Today and The Gospel Coalition. This is good, I suppose. However, we have barely begun to deal with the issues in a substantive manner.
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Gloria…in Excelsis Deo!
December 23, 2010
As a child and teenager, I always had a lot of questions about Creation. I started reading the Bible as soon as I could and I made my decision for Jesus wholeheartedly at the age of nine. Nurtured in an “all Christian environment,” I knew little else. But certain questions tended to nag at me.
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The Vision Lives On
December 20, 2010
BioLogos has remained alive and is thriving. Since this article was written, there have been 601,000 visits to the BioLogos website. With 239,000 unique individuals having visited the site in this time, we have grown to become perhaps the best known organization in North America for representing the view that mainstream science and Christianity, including evangelical Christianity, need not be in conflict.
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The BioLogos Forum: A Place for Conversation
December 6, 2010
In a recent blog post, Dr. Albert Mohler suggests that Biologos promotes the relinquishing of inerrancy, that Paul was wrong about Adam, and that the Fall was not historical. We thank Dr. Mohler for pointing out that this impression was raised by the website and we would like to respond with some constructive remarks.
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Are We Facing the Demise of Big Tent Evangelicalism?
October 9, 2010
An evangelicalism based exclusively in fundamentalist views may exist in some people’s minds, but not God’s. Thankfully, as Christian young people sit through their astronomy and geology courses many will pay little attention to a voice telling them things like “an old age theory of the earth comes with theological and exegetical complications that I believe are in the end insurmountable.”
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On Putting Our Hands to the Plow and Not Looking Back
September 6, 2010
BioLogos, unless we are careful, could evolve into a place for armchair philosophy. We could sit back in our comfortable chairs, coffee cups in hand, reading about biology, geology, biblical scholarship, theology, and the nature of science. We could easily become a sort of coffee club, where people drop in for a chat now and then, but have no real sense of urgency as they enter and leave the discussion chambers.
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On Being Able to Stand up Straight Again
August 23, 2010
This month is my tenth anniversary. It is exactly ten years ago since I started one of the most fulfilling teaching experiences of my life—a Sunday School class for senior adults. As I began in August, 2000, the age of most class-members was between 75 and 85. That alone tells you a little about some the activities which have characterized our last ten years: lots of funerals.
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Defining ID
July 30, 2010
The topic of Intelligent Design (ID) comes up frequently here at Science and the Sacred. Just use the search bar on this page to see for yourself. But because ID can be hard to pin down, it’s worth pausing to remind ourselves what we’re talking about when we use the term on this site.
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How Should BioLogos Respond to Dr. Albert Mohler’s Critique of The BioLogos Initiative?
July 5, 2010
There is a segment of the Church, it happens to be the segment to which I subscribe, evangelicalism, which is in turmoil over the question of the age of the earth and whether God created all of life, including humans, through a gradual process. Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently gave a speech, “Why Does the Universe Look So Old?”
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On Living in the Middle
June 24, 2010
This has been an interesting week for The BioLogos Forum. When you’re trying to speak to both of two groups on opposite ends of the spectrum and trying to help each see there is middle ground, the forces tugging from opposite sides can be a little painful. Here are some of the responses we got this week.
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Happy Birthday to the BioLogos Community
April 29, 2010
BioLogos is no longer just the vision of a tiny group of people that helped launch the website last year at this time. It has become much broader now. BioLogos is each of us who are seeking harmony between science and the Christian faith. We don’t all agree; we are not all of like mind. But we are all an essential part of the BioLogos community.
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Signature in the Synteny
April 19, 2010
In some ways, comparing the DNA sequence between related organisms is like reading alternative history novels. The hypothesis of common ancestry between similar organisms makes a very straightforward prediction about their genomes: it simply predicts that they were once the same genome, in the same ancestral species. Like an alternative history, each genome has the same backstory, and then a history independent from the other after the point of separation.
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On the Courage of Bruce Waltke
April 8, 2010
Given this state of affairs, academics who work in evangelical institutions put their careers on the line if they accept the scientific data that God created through natural selection. When the church as a whole thinks so differently about something so important, it takes courage to present a view that challenges the status quo. Bruce Waltke is a person of courage.
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Joint Statement by Darrel Falk and Bruce Waltke
April 5, 2010
We are both professors. The controversy over the recent posting of a video by Bruce largely relates to difference in teaching styles, probably significantly affected by differences in our disciplines.
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Does Genetics Point to a Single Primal Couple?
April 5, 2010
Is the human race descended from one ancestral pair in the recent past? Are we, as C.S. Lewis puts it in his Chronicles of Narnia, the “sons of Adam and daughters of Eve”? Is there genomic evidence to suggest that the human race is genetically derived from a primal pair?
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On Seeing Intelligence in Unintelligent Design
March 22, 2010
We do not pretend that showing faith and science can exist in harmony will be easy. It has taken a long time to get to our current state of disharmony. Positions are firmly entrenched. Feedback related to our posts of recent weeks shows there are many who are thoroughly uncomfortable with our positions.
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Report on BioLogos-Reasons To Believe Dialogue
February 25, 2010
BioLogos and Reasons To Believe are Christian non-profit organizations. On January 23, 2010, three scientists and a theologian who support BioLogos met in Washington, DC, with three scientists and a theologian from Reasons To Believe to discuss areas of agreement and disagreement.
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Response from One of Jerry Coyne’s Fleas
February 17, 2010
In discussing Kent Spark’s recent post, the noted atheist and evolutionary biologist, Jerry Coyne has referred to BioLogos as a flea that needs to be scratched. Coyne writes that by showing that Augustine and Calvin did not view Scripture as a sourcebook for information about nature, Sparks was setting up some straw men that do not represent Christianity as a whole.
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Why BioLogos?
February 8, 2010
Even though I was the teacher through all of this, I was the one who was being taught about faith. I was taught the beauty of Christian love and hope by watching my dear friend Elbert say good bye to his beloved Lois during her struggle with cancer. I was taught about Christian influence as I listened to a host of grandchildren talk about how they wanted to be just like their Grandpa.
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On Reading the Signature: A Response to Stephen Meyer
January 29, 2010
I do not believe, as Dr. Meyer asserts, that he is unqualified—quite the opposite. He is likely more qualified as a philosopher than I am as a scientist. [However], Dr. Meyer has ventured into my discipline, biology. Fair enough. Since he is a great communicator, we should be able to analyze the quality of his arguments.
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Signature in the Cell: A Follow-Up
January 12, 2010
The work Meyer had been discussing that led up to that final dismissive statement about “cranks” on page 322, was that of Gerald Joyce and Jack Szostak. I sent a copy of my overview to all three of them and asked for a response that I would post on this site.
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Footprints in the Sand
January 11, 2010
Until last week’s Nature publication, we didn’t know there were animals with backbones walking on land that early. This is 18 million years earlier than paleobiologists expected. I was shocked when I read the article, but my old scientific juices started to flow, too.
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Signature in the Cell: A Letter to Our Readers
December 29, 2009
Dr. Stephen C. Meyer says with near certainty that science has reached a dead end and since there is nothing else left, he says, the only other possibility is that there is a mind behind the code of life. So there is one simple question to be addressed. Is the science at a dead end? Has Dr. Meyer demonstrated this or not?
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Signature in the Cell
December 28, 2009
I believe there is a Mind who was before all things and through whom all things are held together (Colossians 1:17)... Hence, I believe in intelligent design. Does that by definition then, place me in the Intelligent Design (ID) movement? No.
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On Coming to Peace in the Family of God
November 16, 2009
The Church will endure not because of articulate words or persuasive arguments. The Church will endure because of what the Church is. It is the Body of Christ united in love. It is the Family of the eternal God.
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On Feeling at Home in the Family
November 2, 2009
In my book, Coming to Peace With Science, I write about my return to evangelical Christianity after a departure caused in part by my views on evolution. What I missed most during those several years away was the joy of being with family. In those early years after my return, we would often sing a chorus, "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God."
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Darrel Falk on How We Should Discuss the Question of Evolution
December 15, 2009
In a recent interview for the Faraday Institute's "Test of Faith" documentary, Darrel Falk was asked how those who accept BioLogos should share their belief with others. His response emphasizes the "mutual respect" we must have when discussing science and religion with those who share different views.
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Surprised by Joy
December 14, 2009
"Forty years ago I began my career as a biologist.... I never expected though that I could be a part of an evangelical community again; the differences between the facts of biology and the views of evangelical Christians seemed too great."
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One Hundred and Fifty Years…and Counting
November 30, 2009
Darrel Falk profiles three individuals with impressive academic credentials who reject evolution on theological grounds. Their stories show why we should focus on the Sacred as much as we do on Science.
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Saving the Children
October 5, 2009
Recently BioLogos received the following comment from a visitor to its website: "I am a Christian and have come to believe in evolution. However, I struggle with how to teach my children to approach science and the Bible in a way that doesn't retard them intellectually or destroy their faith in the accuracy of the Bible..."
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Saving Anthony
September 7, 2009
Some time ago, I spoke with a theologian who has accepted the findings of the physical sciences--the earth is 4.5 billion years old--but not the biological sciences. Macro-evolution, he believes, is an illusion. Instead life arose through a series of sudden creation events.
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Different Types of Origins Stories
July 20, 2009
We all love origins-stories -- be it stories about our own family history, the formation of our nation, the early days of the motor car or the key figures who ushered in the computer age. Whatever the setting, origins stories excite the imagination, and telling these stories is central to culture.
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In The Bones
June 29, 2009
I am a fan of the blog "Jesus Creed." Recently it published an interesting post about the transition from fins to limbs as evidenced by fossils of an organism trapped in sediment 375 million years ago.
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Evidence for Evolution in the Mouths of Birds
June 8, 2009
A friend tells me the most important task for Science and the Sacred is to present evidence of evolution in ways people without a biology background can understand. A year ago, this friend thought all species on earth were created from scratch in six 24-hour days about 10,000 years ago. After reading books about biology, he now believes this is wrong.
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A Rational Belief
May 19, 2009
My granddaughter Sara is six years old. About six months ago, her mom called to tell me Sara wanted to talk about some theological concepts. She put Sara on the phone, and I was peppered with questions like, "Who made God?" and "Where is heaven?"
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Essays by Falk
Barriers to Accepting the Possibility of Creation by Means of an Evolutionary Process: III. Concerns of the Typical Agnostic Scientist
November 2009
Falk's paper begins by noting that few, if any, theories in the history of science have ever unified all the disciplines of the natural sciences as has the theory of evolution. He asks evangelical Christians to explore whether they are propping up the layers of a bubble that they—not God—have put in place and there by have artificially isolated themselves from the world of academics. The essay describes five layers that may play a role in unnecessarily blocking entry, or reentry, of agnostic scientists into the realm of evangelicalism. (A white paper from the 2009 November workshop.)