Michael D. Thomas, Ph.D. is a Professor and Director of the Division of Spanish and Portuguese at Baylor and is an ordained pastor. On his BLOG, he has a dialog between God and Evolution I found fun. There are some other ID posts on his site that are worth perusing.
Professor Walter Bradley, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Baylor University, has spoken on every major campus in North America concerning “Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God.” Here is a shortened version of the talk he gave in March at ORU . When introduced, reference is made to Bradley’s “The Mystery Of Life’s Origin” which is available online at http://themysteryoflifesorigin.org/ . Because the venue is appropriate, Dr. Bradley talks of his Christian faith. There are three parts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GWYHVgg3XI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74LepQDrB4g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMNW5jon6cc
Can undirected Darwinian evolution create information? In a celebrated paper titled “Evolution of Biological Information,” a computer program named ev, says yes. It claims to illustrate the following properties of evolution. “[Ev shows] how life gains information.” Specifically “that biological information… can rapidly appear in genetic control systems subjected to replication, mutation and selection.” Ev illustrate punctuated equilibrium: “The transition [i.e. convergence] is rapid, demonstrating that information gain can occur by punctuated equilibrium.” Ev disprove “Behe’s … definition of ‘irreducible complexity’ … (`a single system composed of several well-matched, interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning’. “ In a wonderful friendly GUI (graphic Read More ›
Charles Garner, Professor of Chemistry at Baylor University served along with Steve Meyer as Expert Reviewer on Texas Science Standards. (Here is an article from the Austin Statesman covering the issue: LINK.) Dr. Garner recently wrote the following editorial for the Waco Tribune.
Charles Garner, guest column: It’s not religion; it’s sound, skeptical science
As the Texas Education Agency reviews the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, a controversy has developed about language in the current TEKS, which states:
“The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem-solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to analyze, review and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information.”
This language promotes critical thinking skills. It has been in the TEKS for years. The TEKS guidelines are working fine and Texas students receive some of the best science education in the country.
Nonetheless, some activist groups are protesting the “strengths and weaknesses” language. They assert that teaching “weaknesses” is a “wedge allowing teachers to insert their personal religious views into public science classrooms,” especially pertaining to evolution.
As an appointed reviewer of the TEKS, I investigated this claim. It quickly became apparent that there was no basis for it.
In fact, for several reasons, I doubt if even those who make this claim really believe it.
Whatever problems they have with “strengths and weaknesses,” religious infringement cannot be among them.
The “strengths and weaknesses” language has been in place for a decade. If it had been used to introduce religion or supernatural explanations into the classroom, these groups would have a long list of specific incidents, with names, dates, etc. Read More ›