Common Descent Debate

Science carries great authority in our culture. For much of the public, however, aspects of the scientific enterprise are marked by controversy. Near the top of that list is evolution, a theory widely held by scientists to be the cornerstone of modern biology. Yet over the past decade, in the face of unexpected genetic discoveries, even some evolutionary biologists have openly questioned Darwin's "Tree of Life" — the theory of common descent of all life on Earth from a single organism.

In this forum, two philosophers of biology with expertise in the area debated the current status and the future of Common Descent. Velasco defended the mainstream evolutionary position; Nelson challenged it.

Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design

This presentation is one long argument for the theory of intelligent design using DNA and the information imbedded within it. But it is also a story, a mystery story, and the story of Dr. Meyer's engagement with it. It tells about the mystery that has surrounded the discovery of the digital code in DNA and how that discovery has confounded repeated attempts to explain the origin of the first life on earth. Darwin gave us "design without a designer." But is this really true? Even if we grant Darwin's argument in The Origin of Species, does it really follow that he refuted the design hypothesis? This presentation will present a fresh perspective on this question by examining one of the most enduring mysteries of modern biology.

The Bible and Geneology: Evidence God Left that Life Has Evolved

As God guides the Creation with His providential care with the laws of chemistry and physics, materials that make up the earth leave behind geologic evidence for the passage of time. The very best examples are the rings we see in a cut tree trunk and sediments that are seen as annual layers based on seasonal cycles in some lakes. Radioactive atoms in the Creation can be used to age-date some organic materials and certain minerals. The present rate of plate tectonic separation of North America from Africa provides dramatic evidence supporting the ancient history formation of the Atlantic Ocean. Multiple radioactive decay methods offer abundant evidence that the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Engaging Your Congregation: Training Children and Youth About Origins

Creation, Design, Evolution. These words mean different things to different people, and they tend to provoke arguments. The issues they represent run close to some of our deepest questions: Does God exist? How does God relate to this universe? How did we get here? Who are we? Some people see these arguments about creation, design, and evolution as a conflict with just two sides: 1. Atheists on one side who try to use science to disprove religion, 2. Religious believers on the other side who reject the work of scientists. A good place to start in making sense of such debates is to remember that more than two options exist. Along with the two above, some of those other options will be discussed.

Cosmic Reason: did God Supernaturally Design the Universe for Man's Benefit?

Revelation of a testable, falsifiable, and predictive creation model that establishes the existence of the God of the Bible. Dr. Ross will discuss the origin and design of the universe and how to test a creation model against the current naturalistic model.

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