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<strong>Series:</strong> Evolution Basics

Series: Evolution Basics

Written by BioLogos Fellow of Biology Dennis Venema, this series of posts is intended as a basic introduction to the science of evolution for non-specialists.
May 17, 2013 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, History of Life, Evolution - How It Works
Biological Evolution: What Makes it Good Science? Part 2

Biological Evolution: What Makes it Good Science? Part 2

The Galápagos Islands were not a distinct “center of creation,” but a workshop for evolution in which an ancestral species made it to the yet uncolonized island and underwent a massive degree of speciation to adapt to the environment of the island. This is precisely what one would expect if the species of islands had arisen by evolution.
Apr 16, 2013 
Michael Buratovich 
Genetics, History of Life
11
Meet Jimmy Lin, “Medical and Scientific Doxologist”

Meet Jimmy Lin, “Medical and Scientific Doxologist”

In our current culture, we’re defined by our jobs. It’s having a vocation. I wanted to shift away from that. I didn’t want to be a doctor first and foremost, or a scientist, but one who praises God.
Mar 25, 2013 
Jimmy Lin, Ruppel, Emily 
Genetics, Science as Christian Calling
2
<strong>Series:</strong> Understanding Randomness

Series: Understanding Randomness

In this series, Kathryn Applegate addresses the concern that randomness implies the absence of God's activity and involvement in the natural world. She begins by clearing up some common misconceptions about the concept of "randomness", and later focuses on the mechanisms of the immune system to demonstrate that God works through random processes to preserve life. Far from being an indication of a "godless" universe, one might conclude that randomness is one of God’s favorite mechanisms for creating and sustaining life!
Mar 23, 2013 
Kathryn Applegate 
Divine Action & Purpose, Randomness, Evolution - How It Works
Searching for Motivated Belief: Understanding John Polkinghorne, Part 2

Searching for Motivated Belief: Understanding John Polkinghorne, Part 2

To understand more clearly where Polkinghorne lies on the larger landscape of science and religion, let’s consider his approach to the Resurrection. Many contemporary thinkers, including some theologians and clergy, believe that “science” has somehow made it impossible to believe in the Resurrection, the deity of Jesus, and even belief in the transcendent God of the Bible.
Mar 14, 2013 
Ted Davis 
Science & Worldviews, Divine Action & Purpose, Miracles
312
Genes, Cells, and the Changing Face of Technology, Part 1

Genes, Cells, and the Changing Face of Technology, Part 1

Right on this tabletop, you could make materials that by current manufacturing processes would otherwise cause a great amount of environmental hazard … In 50 years, we should be able to do things in ways we don’t do them now, that will be cheaper, less toxic, less polluting, more efficient, and so forth…
Mar 12, 2013 
Doug Lauffenburger, Ruppel, Emily 
Genetics
1
Hydrology of the Bow River

Hydrology of the Bow River

There’s a word beneath the water, and the Bow River belongs to God. Have you been listening?
Mar 04, 2013 
John Van Sloten 
Pastoral Voices, Sermons
0
<strong>Series:</strong> God and Creation

Series: God and Creation

In this four part series, David Opderbeck explores the interesting relationship between God and his creation. He first looks at his transcendence over the material world. In one respect, God is completely distinct from all creation, yet he is also immanent, or present within all creation. Another aspect of God reflected in creation is his Triune nature. Just as love, fellowship, and delight exist within the Trinity, so these characteristics are present in the world, and experienced by humans. He completes his thoughts with a discussion about God’s interaction with humans.
Mar 01, 2013 
David Opderbeck 
Divine Action & Purpose, Human Origins
<strong>Series:</strong> Made in the Image of God: The Theological Implications of Human Genomics

Series: Made in the Image of God: The Theological Implications of Human Genomics

This series by Denis Alexander reflects on advancements in genomics as well as their theological implications. He focuses on the relatedness of hominin genomes, arguing that this does not interfere with the image of God in humans. The image of God depends more on the capacity for relationship and covenant, not on a list of particular physical qualities. He then discusses why the recent studies of genomics provide “no grounds for genetic determinism.”
Jan 15, 2013 
Denis Alexander 
Genetics, Image of God, Atheism & Scientism
Off with Their Heads

Off with Their Heads

The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. “Off with his head!” she said, without even looking round
Dec 17, 2012 
Kerry L. Bender 
Pastoral Voices
12
Scientists Tell Their Stories: George Murphy

Scientists Tell Their Stories: George Murphy

During his seminary education, Dr. Murphy also gained a deeper understanding of Luther’s theology of the cross, and he realized that it’s really the best way to approach the science and theology dialogue.
Dec 02, 2012 
George Murphy 
Pastoral Voices
26
<strong>Series:</strong> Behe, Lenski and the “Edge” of Evolution

Series: Behe, Lenski and the “Edge” of Evolution

In this series, we reexamine the claim made by Intelligent Design proponent Michael Behe to have found a limit to “Darwinian” evolution in light of recent results from the laboratory of Richard Lenski.
Nov 29, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, ID Movement, Evolution - How It Works
<strong>Series:</strong> Decoding ENCODE

Series: Decoding ENCODE

The BioLogos Foundation explains to the findings of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project and responds to the claims that its discoveries challenge the theory of evolution, especially regarding so-called "junk DNA".
Sep 26, 2012 
Stephen Mapes, Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence, ID Movement
Denisovans, Humans and the Chromosome 2 Fusion

Denisovans, Humans and the Chromosome 2 Fusion

The Denisovans, an extinct hominid group that interbred with modern humans, made the news again lately with the publication of a more detailed study of their genome. One of the many interesting findings was that the Denisovans share the same chromosome 2 fusion that modern humans have.
Sep 06, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Human Origins, Evolution - Evidence
52
Did David Hume

Did David Hume "Banish" Miracles?

“I flatter myself,” Hume triumphantly proclaimed, “that I have discovered an argument . . . which, if just, will, with the wise and learned, be an everlasting check to all kinds of superstitious delusion, and consequently, will be useful as long as the world endures.”
Sep 05, 2012 
Rick Kennedy 
Divine Action & Purpose, Miracles
22
<strong>Series:</strong> Divine Action in the World

Series: Divine Action in the World

In this talk, Professor Plantinga addresses the fact that many contemporary thinkers—including many theologians—believe that God cannot perform miracles, providentially guide history, or interact in the lives of people, as these activities would be contrary to science. Plantinga, on the other hand, makes the case that this popular view is mistaken; excluding divine action in the world is not a central feature of natural science itself, but a philosophical or theological preference that has been added on to science (and can just as readily be removed). Plantinga concludes that it is completely logical to accept the miracles of the Bible and support contemporary science.
Sep 04, 2012 
Alvin Plantinga 
Divine Action & Purpose, Miracles, Atheism & Scientism
The Randomness Project

The Randomness Project

It is not uncommon to hear voices proclaiming that biology and physics have shown us that—at fundamental levels—nature is random, hence meaningless, purposeless, and without a creator. But how might God work providentially through indeterminate processes? The John Templeton Foundation has provided a generous grant of $1.69 million to support a new research initiative on the theme of Randomness and Divine providence.
Aug 31, 2012 
James Bradley 
Divine Action & Purpose, Randomness
6
A Pastor's Approach to Science

A Pastor's Approach to Science

Since the sermon is the main component used to build the congregation’s collective approach to understanding how the church relates to the world, I want to take a few moments to lay out what has worked in my preaching and what has not when it comes to science, and more specifically, the subject of evolution.
Aug 30, 2012 
Joel Hunter 
Pastoral Voices
6
Becoming Human: New Insights from Genome-wide Functional Genomics

Becoming Human: New Insights from Genome-wide Functional Genomics

We live in exciting times for a geneticist: more and more genomes are being sequenced, and more and more novel genome-wide analyses are being performed to shed light on what all those newly-determined sequences mean.
Jul 27, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - How It Works
29
<strong>Series:</strong> Understanding Evolution: the Evolutionary Origins of Irreducible Complexity

Series: Understanding Evolution: the Evolutionary Origins of Irreducible Complexity

One of the challenges for discussing evolution within evangelical Christian circles is that there is widespread confusion about how evolution actually works. In this installment, we examine evidence that proteins in irreducibly complex (IC) systems can form and refine new interactions through gradual mechanisms.
Jun 28, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, ID Movement
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