RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

This is a prefect example of the thoughts of a primitive man. The Mayans, Incas, Greeks, Romans, and every other primitive culture thought this place was so wonderful it must be made by a superior being. Nowadays, it is with what we know of the universe it has been estimated that they may be no fewer than 3 billion planets similar to earth.

Religion is for primitive thinkers.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Wow! you really need to be prayed for.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Go ahead, knock yourself out.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I wont give up on you.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

Well, don't sit there TALKING about it! Get crackin'. A log would be nice showing the time of prayer, how long you prayed and whether you were just making a general prayer or one targeted to a single individual.

The details count. Perhaps a nice Excel spreadsheet would help.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Glad you show some concern, My praying is between me and God. Dont need a spreadsheet.

glennkrewson

Here are some articles written by acredited scientist, who are highly respected within their fields that show that there are intelligent scientists who are willing to stand up to the ridicule and insults that are at times heaped upon those who dare to challenge the status quo.

Here are some brief articles written by Scientist who choose to believe in the creation rather than the theory of evolution

Many experts in various scientific fields perceive intelligent design in nature. They find it illogical to think that the intricate complexity of life on earth came about by chance. Hence, a number of scientists and researchers believe in a Creator.

Some of these have become Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some are not. They are convinced that the God of the Bible is the Designer and Builder of the material universe. Why have they arrived at that conclusion? You may find their comments interesting.

“Unfathomable Complexities of Life”
▪ WOLF-EKKEHARD LÖNNIG
PROFILE: Over the past 28 years, I have done scientific work dealing with genetic mutation in plants. For 21 of those years, I have been employed by the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, in Cologne, Germany. For almost three decades, I have also served as an elder in a Christian congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My empirical research in genetics and my studies of biological subjects such as physiology and morphology bring me face-to-face with the enormous and often unfathomable complexities of life. My study of these topics has reinforced my conviction that life, even the most basic forms of life, must have an intelligent origin.
The scientific community is well aware of the complexity found in life. But these fascinating facts are generally presented in a strong evolutionary context. In my mind, however, the arguments against the Bible account of creation fall apart when subjected to scientific scrutiny. I have examined such arguments over decades. After much careful study of living things and consideration of the way the laws governing the universe seem perfectly adjusted so that life on earth can exist, I am compelled to believe in a Creator.
“Everything I Observe Has a Cause”

▪ BYRON LEON MEADOWS
PROFILE: I live in the United States and work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the field of laser physics. Presently I am involved in the development of technology to improve the ability to monitor global climate, weather, and other planetary phenomena. I am an elder in a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Kilmarnock, Virginia, area.

In my research I often work with the principles of physics. I seek to understand how and why certain things happen. In my field of study, I find clear evidence that everything I observe has a cause. I believe that it is scientifically reasonable to accept that God is the original cause of all things in nature. The laws of nature are too stable for me not to believe that they were put in place by an Organizer, a Creator.

If this conclusion is that obvious, why do so many scientists believe in evolution? Might it be that evolutionists look at their evidence with presupposed conclusions? This is not unheard of among scientists. But observation, no matter how convincing, does not presuppose conclusion. For example, a person researching laser physics could insist that light is a wave, similar to a sound wave, because light often behaves like a wave. However, his conclusion would be incomplete because the evidence also indicates that light behaves as a group of particles, known as photons. Similarly, those who insist that evolution is a fact base their conclusions on only part of the evidence, and they allow their own presupposed conclusions to influence the way that they view the evidence.

I find it amazing that anyone accepts the theory of evolution as fact when evolutionary “experts” themselves argue over how it is supposed to have happened. For example, would you accept arithmetic as a proved fact if some experts said that 2 plus 2 equals 4, while other experts said it was believed to total 3 or possibly 6? If the role of science is to accept only what can be proved, tested, and reproduced, then the theory that all life evolved from a common ancestor is not a scientific fact.

“Something Cannot Come From Nothing”
▪ KENNETH LLOYD TANAKA
PROFILE: I am a geologist presently employed by the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona. For almost three decades, I have participated in scientific research in various fields of geology, including planetary geology. Dozens of my research articles and geologic maps of Mars have been published in accredited scientific journals. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I spend about 70 hours every month promoting Bible reading.

I was taught to believe in evolution, but I could not accept that the immense energy required to form the universe could have originated without a powerful Creator. Something cannot come from nothing. I also find a strong argument in favor of a Creator in the Bible itself. This book gives numerous examples of scientific facts in my field of expertise, such as that the earth is spherical in shape and hangs “upon nothing.” (Job 26:7; Isaiah 40:22) These realities were written in the Bible long before they were proved by human investigation.

Think of the way we are made. We possess sensory perception, self-awareness, intelligent thought, communication abilities, and feelings. In particular, we can experience, appreciate, and express love. Evolution cannot explain how these wonderful human qualities came to be.

Ask yourself, ‘How reliable and credible are the sources of information used to support evolution?’ The geologic record is incomplete, complex, and confusing. Evolutionists have failed to demonstrate proposed evolutionary processes in the laboratory with the use of scientific methodologies. And while scientists generally employ good research techniques to acquire data, they are often influenced by selfish motives when interpreting their findings. Scientists have been known to promote their own thinking when the data are inconclusive or contradictory. Their careers and their own feelings of self-worth play important roles.

Both as a scientist and as a Bible student, I search for the whole truth, which reconciles all known facts and observations to reach the most accurate understanding. To me, belief in the Creator makes the most sense.

“The Obvious Design Evident in the Cell”
▪ PAULA KINCHELOE
PROFILE: I have several years of experience as a researcher in the fields of cell and molecular biology and microbiology. I am presently employed by Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. I also work as a volunteer Bible teacher in the Russian-speaking community.

As part of my education in biology, I spent four years focusing on just the cell and its components. The more I learned about DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolic pathways, the more amazed I became with the complexity, organization, and precision involved. And while I was impressed with how much man has learned about the cell, I was even more amazed at how much there is yet to learn. The obvious design evident in the cell is one reason I believe in God.

My study of the Bible has revealed who the Creator is—namely, Jehovah God. I am convinced that he is not only an intelligent Designer but also a kind and loving Father who cares for me. The Bible explains the purpose of life and provides the hope of a happy future.

Young ones in school who are being taught evolution may be unsure of what to believe. This can be a confusing time for them. If they believe in God, this is a test of faith. But they can meet that test by examining the many amazing things in nature that surround us and by continuing to grow in knowledge of the Creator and his qualities. I have personally done this and have concluded that the Bible’s account of creation is accurate and does not conflict with true science.

“The Elegant Simplicity of the Laws”
▪ ENRIQUE HERNÁNDEZ-LEMUS
PROFILE: I am a full-time minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I am also a theoretical physicist working at the National University of Mexico. My current work involves finding a thermodynamically feasible explanation for the phenomenon known as the gravothermal catastrophe, which is a mechanism of star growth. I have also worked with complexity in DNA sequences.

Life is simply too complicated to have arisen by chance. For example, consider the vast amount of information contained in the DNA molecule. The mathematical probability of the random generation of a single chromosome is less than 1 in 9 trillion, an event so unlikely that it can be considered impossible. I think it is nonsense to believe that unintelligent forces could create not just a single chromosome but all the amazing complexity present in living beings.

In addition, when I study the highly complex behavior of matter, from the microscopic level to the movement of giant stellar clouds through space, I am impressed by the elegant simplicity of the laws governing their motion. To me, these laws imply more than the work of a Master Mathematician—they are like the signature of a Master Artist.

People are often surprised when I tell them that I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Sometimes they ask me how I can believe in God. Their reaction is understandable, since most religions do not encourage their believers to ask for proof of what they are taught or to research their beliefs.

However, the Bible encourages us to use our “thinking ability.” (Proverbs 3:21) All the evidence of intelligent design in nature, together with evidence from the Bible, convinces me that God not only exists but is also interested in our prayers.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

Now you have me curious, Glenn. What is the Jehovah's Witness position on evolution? It seems the majority of those cited are JWs. The arguments are not very compelling since they all seem to be arguments from ignorance and arguments from incredulity.

Meadows and his "Everything I Observe Has a Cause” is interesting. As a physicist I would have thought he'd be aware that causality has been kicked out the window when quantum theory came through the door. What is the cause of a particular radioactive particle decaying? We can measure the half-life and know that half the particles will have decayed during that interval, but, as yet, no one can tell you why one particle decayed and another didn't. It is a thing we can observe that doesn't have a cause.

Time's arrow does not exist in the quantum world and a Feynman diagram of particle interactions can be viewed non-temporally. Reaction A can be considered as reaction B if A is moving backwards in time. From the Wiki on Feynman Diagrams:


Other examples include the electron. An electron, after absorbing a photon jumps to a higher energy state. It will eventually emit a photon and drop back to the lower energy state. When it will do so can be given through probabilities but no one can say when this will happen to a particular electron.

glennkrewson

I'll try...


Now you have me curious, Glenn. What is the Jehovah's Witness position on evolution? (We try to go according to what the Bible says, at times we get it wrong, but, when we do mess up, we own up and change course, to reflect, once again as best as we can what the bible says. I have already stated why it could not have been according to the ‘young earth’ ideas put out by many so called fundamentalist creationist, earlier) It seems the majority of those cited are JWs. (I have talked with many in the science community some of whom are witnesses and some who are not. Many times a person will not come out publically, since he may have his funding severed. Myself, I do not see where science, that is known science, and not just ‘I suppose’s and the bible are at odds with each other, as best as I can see known science is in harmony with what the Bible says… however, the Bible was never intended to be a science book, but, where it touches on science it is in harmony. For instance in Isaiah it mentions; ‘Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he being abundant in power, he being vigorous in power not one of them is missing… speaking of the universe. )

The arguments are not very compelling since they all seem to be arguments from ignorance and arguments from incredulity. ( I am using these instead of what I normally use, brackets, since I think brackets might mess with this web sites software)

Meadows and his "Everything I Observe Has a Cause” is interesting. As a physicist I would have thought he'd be aware that causality has been kicked out the window when quantum theory came through the door. What is the cause of a particular radioactive particle decaying? (Too me, it would seem that radioactive decay would be just that, radioactive decay… It seems to me that this would argue against the concept of the ‘young earth’ thesis though, case in point the half-life of uranium into lead… for us to have any lead would seem to indicate to me that this earth has been around for a very long long time.)
We can measure the half-life and know that half the particles will have decayed during that interval, but, as yet, no one can tell you why one particle decayed and another didn't. It is a thing we can observe that doesn't have a cause.
(dunno)

Time's arrow does not exist in the quantum world and a Feynman diagram of particle interactions can be viewed non-temporally. Reaction A can be considered as reaction B if A is moving backwards in time. From the Wiki on Feynman Diagrams:
Quote:
Feynman diagrams are a pictorial representation of a contribution to the total amplitude for a process which can happen in several different ways. When a group of incoming particles are to scatter off each other, the process can be thought of as one where the particles travel over all possible paths, including paths that go backward in time.


Other examples include the electron. An electron, after absorbing a photon jumps to a higher energy state (case in point we have the LED… electronic covalence is interesting to me as well).
It will eventually emit a photon and drop back to the lower energy state. When it will do so can be given through probabilities but no one can say when this will happen to a particular electron. (wouldn’t it be grand if one day could do so… think of the size of computers then.)

(I remember when my ET instructor when expounding on the virtues of the old tube diodes, made the statement that transistors were really neat but, would never be of any real good use in real life, but, look at what science has been able to accomplish since the 1960’s. A friend of mine Nick Rowe, one of the engineers of Bell Labs, in North Andover MA was one of the ones who discovered how to grow man made quartz by means of the proper chemicals coupled together with a couple of eletrodes, and look at what we are able to do now, since that advent, he was a witness, a very intelligent sensitive man. Now look at what we are able to do with the advent of chemically relative pure quartz, lacking the impure striations of mined quartz. Nick knew many who worked with him who were hesitant to truthfully speak their minds since the research grants would mysteriously dry up in punishment for taking a stand on believing in a creator rather than blind chance.)

(To me the concept of time is a very intriguing one… Time seems, to me, to have been created, in concert with the material universe… everything we see or hear or interact with is governed in part with it’s interaction with time. The space time continuum is weird since time is the fourth dimension, as opposed to the three dimensions of space. Time does weird quirky things, in my mind, any way.)

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

I've got one of the quartz crystals. They were grown when high quality crystals from Brazil became difficult to obtain as U-boats shut down a lot of east coast shipping. My grandfather worked for Western Electric and was given this for some reason or another. The story is told that this was one of the earliest crystals grown. The crystal is not quite 11 inches long.

http://ericpix.net/Online/Misc/quartz.jpg

glennkrewson

Yes that is one of them.

But, in it's original raw form it was notshiny, but very rough and a bit longer and had two electrodes one on each end.

The electrodes were about 3/4 to a bt over 1 inch wide and maybe two inches long [dunno, I am going on memory] and a little longer than the one in the picture.

Bell labs was inside the Western Electric plant on route 125 in Andover MASS. It was a very big place. Their security was very tight then.

I was in and out of there often years ago. Thanks for sharing the picture.

Western Electric really over worked it's Bell Labs people... so much so, that they bought out the controlling interest in Baldpate Mental institution since their people were always having nervous breakdowns.

That was a walk down memory lane... thank you

Glenn

RTR Loc: West Central Alabama

Ahh, quantum THEORY. Does that mean that this may be one day proven false?

Since creationism and evolution are both scientific theories
is why I say no one has the right to tell a child's parents what to teach, or not teach, their children regarding these theories.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

Of course quantum theory can be proven false. It's been the most accurate theory yet devised in which all predictions of the theory come out to 100% accuracy. But, there may come a day when the theory falls.

Creationism, on the other hand, is not a scientific theory. It's religion. As yet, not one creationist has provided a means of falsification and without that, it ain't science.

RTR Loc: West Central Alabama

Creationism ain't science. But science is not the ultimate authority either because any scientific theory may one day be proven false. Many have been.