Berklinski on Darwinism (thanks to Sarah Geis)

"'Swimming in the soundless sea, the shark has survived for millions of years, sleek as a knife blade and twice as dull. The shark is an organism wonderfully adapted to its environment.' Pause. And then the bright brittle voice of logical folly intrudes: 'after all, it has survived for millions of years.' This exchange should be deeply embarrassing to evolutionary biologists. And yet, time and time again, biologists do explain the survival of an organism by reference to its fitness and the fitness of an organism by reference it its survival, the friction between concepts kindling nothing more illuminating than the observation that some creatures have been around for a very long time." - excerpt from pp 43-44 of The Deniable Darwin by David Berlinski

The Legacy of Darwin and Intelligent Design

I attended and participated in this conference in Castle Rock, CO, last night and today. It was superb--a world-class conference in every way.

Steve Meyer present the essence of his information argument the first night, covering a huge range of material in an approachable, but challenging way. He thus outlined the major argument of his magisterial work, Signature in the Cell. (Amazingly, we had met in 1986 in Dallas. I forgot; he remembered!) On Saturday morning, Michael Behe winsomely explained the nature of ID and illustrated it with material from Darwin's Back Box and (to a lesser degree) The Edge of Evolution. Then Steve Meyer interviewed the inimitable David Berlinski on Berlinski's life and his take on Darwinism. (I was able to give Dr. Berlinski a copy of my book, On Pascal.) John West gave a stellar presentation on the social and political implications of Darwinism. The conference ended with a panel discussion moderated by Craig Smith that included myself (the minor leaguer), Mike Behe, Steve Meyer, and John West. We discussed how to take the ID message to "the next generation."

Despite the attacks on the web page and the attempts to jam their phone lines, the conference was very well attended. The Douglas County Events Center was perhaps 70% filled, not counting the bleachers. There were perhaps 1000 people. I was heartened to see many Denver Seminary students. Many books and DVDs were available and seemed to be selling well.

I encourage you all to visit Shepherd Project web page (when it is de-hacked) and pick up these DVDs or audio files. All the presenters did an excellent job. I was honored to play a small part in this and to get to hang out with these folks for two meals and some other informal time. It was a near-heaven experience for me.

Attend, Learn--Despite the Attacks

Atheists have disabled the web page for the ID conference in Castle Rock this weekend. They are also calling the 800 number and trying to tie up the lines so others cannot get through. This is really ugly. I am re-posting the information on this event info below. They will take people at the door, but get there early. Despite the opposition, several hundred have already signed up. If so inclined, pray for the vicious souls doing this and for the success of the event itself.

Colorado-Based Shepherd Project Ministries Announces the Legacy of Darwin Intelligent Design Conference for Oct. 30-31, 2009.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his culture-shaking book, The Origin of Species. What has been the impact of a century and a half of the theory of naturalistic evolution dominating our universities and secondary education systems? As even secular researchers have discovered, the answer is frightening. Recent films like Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed have contributed to a growing awareness in the non-Christian world that the implications of embracing naturalistic evolution as a culture have been destructive and far-reaching.

On October 30-31 at the Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock, CO, Shepherd Project Ministries will offer a revolutionary conference featuring scientists, researchers and speakers from the Discovery Institute. The conference will explore the cultural impact of Darwinism and the ground-breaking new evidence for Intelligent Design that is changing the shape of this crucial conversation today.

With presentations by some of the world's foremost Intelligent Design experts, this conference will equip Christians to understand the key issues and be able to speak effectively into a culture that is foundering in the sea of meaninglessness that is Darwin's most lasting legacy.

The world-class line-up of presenters includes Dr. Stephen Meyer (author of The Signature in the Cell), Dr. Michael Behe (author of Darwin's Black Box), Dr. David Berlinski (featured prominently in the recent film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed), Dr. John G. West, Dr. Craig A. Smith, Dr. Douglas Groothuis and more!

Presentations will include:

· Signature in the Cell: DNA Evidence for Intelligent Design
· Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
· Darwin Day in America: The Impact of Darwinism on Our Culture
· Training the Next Generation: Practical Strategies & Resources

Because Shepherd Project Ministries is dedicated to touching both the head and the heart, we have also asked nationally known singer/songwriter Danny Oertli to lead times of worship before each main session.

No scientific background is necessary! This conference is designed to equip ordinary Christians to have an extraordinary impact on our culture.

Space is limited.

Conference Details:
Oct. 30-31 (7-9:30 pm Friday & 9:15 am – 3:30 pm Saturday)
Douglas County Event Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80104
Cost: $10 (single), $20 (family), $5 (student)

Silence Dissent, Don't Refute It

Darwinists play dirty pool in trying to disrupt ID conference (at which I will speak as a minor player).

Debate information

Intelligent Design: Is It Viable?http://isintelligentdesignviable.com/

Welcome to the official website of the event Intelligent Design: Is it Viable? A debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig. Moderated by Dr. Bradley Monton. The debate will occur on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST at Indiana University Auditorium. This debate is sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ at Indiana University.

Crying to Jesus: Urgency in Prayer

Here is a tremendous short meditation on urgency in prayer, "Crying to Jesus," by the great Puritan divine, Samuel Rutherford (author of Lex Rex).

How many of us throw our entire personality intro prayer? Most put more effort into rooting for sports teams or television programs or other lesser goods.

Debate on God's Existence at ACC

The Arapahoe Community College Philosophy Club, The Think Tank, presents:

A Philosophical Debate about God

Questions include:

Is morality possible without God?
Is proof of God’s existence evident?

Robert Casteline: Denver Seminary
and Mark Gowan: ACC philosophy faculty

Thursday, November 5, 7-9:30 p.m.
ACC Cafeteria
Admission Free!

Goodbye to TV Cable

We just cancelled out our very minimal Comcast cable TV subscription. My wife called and spoke to a startled functionary, who couldn't believe her ears. "You are cancelling?!" My wife retorted, "Television is boring and stupid. We never watch it." The functionary said, "You won't even be able to watch the news!" My wife said, "We never do, anyway. There are other ways to get the news."

This is good. I savor it. And we save $200 a year. Follow us.

On Criminalizing Dissent Against Islam

Here is a two minute update on a UN resolution that would crimalize, through international law speaking out against Islam. Call it jihad through law.

Twitter

I am on Twitter. I give no fluff, I promise.

The Call to Anguish

Rev. David Wilkerson on "the call to anguish." It is seven minutes of audio and text only. Like Francis Schaeffer and Brother Yun, there is no fluff in this man: only fire. Pray for fire from heaven, fire against hell.

Saxophonophany

Thank God for this glorious instrument, and for those who play it well.

Epaphras Today

"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis."--Colossians 4:12-13

Where are the Ephaprases today? Would you like to become one? Would you like for form a Company of Ephaphrases? Who truly agonizes in prayer over the sin and sickness and demonical problems in the world today?! Who wrestles in prayer and fasting that the Kingdom of God may break forth with unmistable power? I truly want to know...

Calm, Rational Discourse

The organizers of the October 30-31, Castle Rock ID conference (The Shepherd Project) have had their web sit hacked and atheist groups are threatening to protest the event. What basis could there be for protesting a voluntary event that raises scientific challenges to Darwinism? I would never consider protesting a pro-Darwinist event.

In any event, we may be in for a wild ride.

What "Banned" Means

Mr. Stockwell:

It matters not what you post; it will be deleted unread--as I have been doing for months now. Do not waste your time sending anything in, please.

Invitation

I will seriously consider any opportunity to present Christianity as true, rational, and pertinent to life before any audience of unbelievers. Of course, I have a day job (and work part-time above that), but this is my calling and passion. Thus, I make this appeal. Contact me if you have any ideas. I have no agent and often speak for no pay if it is appropriate.

Updated Reviews from Amazon

You may subscribe to my Amazon.com reviews by going here for the RSS.

What an Image

I know almost nothing about this group, except that they are progressive metal. What I like is the album cover.

Someone Listened

In the summer of 2005, I preached a hard message called, "Television: Agent of Truth Decay," to a very young congregation in Englewood, Colorado, pastored (then) by Dave Anderson. I blogged about it here, in fact. The message was difficult to give, not well received, and left me exhausted. I felt old (and that was four years ago). Don't ask how old I now feel most of the time.
Today, out of nowhere, a young woman at my church told me that she heard that sermon from 2005 and had since then banished TV from her life. She now has a young family and was thankful that her home is a TV-free environment. "It clicked for me," she said, after I told her how challenging the message was to give in that environment.

Once in a while, a weary and battle-scarred old curmudgeon needs to hear things like that.

Another Groothuis Review

I have reviewed the video "Yoga Uncoiled" at Amazon.

Groothuis on Pascal

Here is a short video of me presenting Pascal's anthropological argument.

Your Taxes for Abortions

Don't be fooled (again).

My Abortion Essay Published in Anthology

My essay "Why I am Pro-Life: A Short, NonSectarian Argument," was just published in Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Human Sexuality, 11th edition. This is edited by William Taverner and Ryan McKee and published by McGraw Hill. This essay is a revised version of what first appeared at The Constructive Curmudgeon.

From the Metro State Philosophy Club

Metro State Philosophy Club Presents

"Christianity and Gender
On The Equality of Women and Men
in Marriage and Ministry"

"Some claim Christianity is male-centered and
oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim
and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics
of gender equality and identity."
-Dr. Doug Groothuis, Ph.D.,
Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary,
Affiliate Faculty in Philosophy at Metro State College of Denver

Thursday, October 15th @ 7pm

Tivoli 329,
Senate Chambers

Refreshments will be served.

Wake Up, Please

Watch Brigette Gabriel on the Islamic threat. This woman is a dynamo of needed truth and courage.

Veiled and Influential

A Muslim Obama advisor says sharia law is good for women. Read the handwriting on the veil. Obama either does not understand or welcomes the Islamic threat to the West and the world. I say this on the basis of many factor, not just this piece of damning evidence.

As Francis Schaeffer said thirty years ago, don't pray for justice for America. Pray for mercy (and revival).

Who to Trust?

Against Emanuel and Biden stand David Petraeus, the world's foremost expert on counterinsurgency (he saved Iraq with it), and Stanley McChrystal, the world's foremost expert on counterterrorism. Whose recommendation on how to fight would you rely on? -- Charles Krauthammer

"Christianity and Gender"

I will be giving a lecture and answering question on "Christianity and Gender" for the Metro State College of Denver Philosophy Club on Thursday, October 15th at 7pm in Tivoli 329, Senate Chambers.

Some claim that Christianity is male-centered and oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics of gender equality and identity. Those attending will receive a detailed lecture outline and a short article by me called, "Is Christianity Sexist?"

Neil!

"To be unaware that a technology comes equipped with a program for social change, to maintain that technology is neutral, to make the assumption that technology is always a friend to culture is, at this late hour, stupidity plain and simple." -Neil Postman

We are at War!

I will be preaching at both services at Wellspring Anglican Church this Sunday. The text is Ephesians 6:14: "Spiritual Armor for Spiritual Warfare"

Troy Nunley on Fine Tuning of the Universe for Life

Dr. Troy Nunley's excellent video lecture on "The Fine Tuning Argument: Some Reflections on the Work of Elliot Sober" is available on YouTube. He will be presenting this material at a philosophy conference in Durago, Colorado, toward the end of the month.

From The Discovery Institute

Support Free Speech: Tell California Science Center to Reinstate Screening of Intelligent Design Film

Let your voice be heard! In a clear act of government censorship, the California Science Center-a "department of the State of California"-has canceled the Los Angeles premiere of the pro-intelligent design film Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record. A private group, the American Freedom Alliance, had rented the California Science Center's IMAX theater for the screening. But after the screening attracted public attention, the Science Center decided to pull the plug on the event in clear violation of the freedom of speech and equal protection. Please contact the Science Center immediately to respectfully urge the Center to support free speech and allow the original screening to go forward.

Contact the California Science Center now:E-Mail: 4info@cscmail.org
Phone: 323-724-3623
Stay tuned to Evolution News & Views as this story develops.

Suvival of the Nastiest?

The Shepherd Project web page was hacked in response to the Intelligent Design Conference it is hosting at the end of October.

Two Sermons on Spiritual Warfare

This week I gave two different message on spiritual warfare at the Denver Seminary chapel services. The first is "Finding Power Over Error" (Acts 13:1-12); the second, "Spirituality: True and False" (Acts 19:1-10). The podcasts are available here.

Groothuis in Dutch

One of my curmudgeonly essays has been translated into Dutch and posted.

Comment on Part of "Jesus Manifesto"

This is my comment on part of "A Jesus Manifesto." Last I checked, it was comment #83.

You write:

–Jesus does not leave his disciples with CliffsNotes for a systematic theology. He leaves his disciples with breath and body.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with a coherent and clear belief system by which to love God and others. Jesus gives his disciples wounds to touch and hands to heal.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with intellectual belief or a “Christian worldview.” He leaves his disciples with a relational faith.–

These sound bites or factoids, while catchy, are misleading at best and just false at worst.
Jesus called us to love God with all our minds. To do that, we need to work our entire lives to develop a biblical theology, worldview, and morality. Yes, the living Christ is at the center; but to put the living Christ at odds with intellectual sanctification and the desire for intellectual consistency, coherence, and cogency is nothing less than a travesty.

Viola: Not So Sweet

I posted a comment at "A Jesus Manifesto" by Viola and Sweet. It was not favorable. See comment #82.

Diversion

Pascalian thought: Humans face an incorrigible mortality that drives us to distractions designed to overcome the inevitable by means of the impossible: finding satisfaction and release through empty activity that masquerades as worthwhile.

Unreality Alert: You are Like None of the Apostles

Facebook, whose virtues are becoming increasingly dubious to me, features various quizzes to determine what other person you are: "What dead rock star are you?", and so on. It recently eclipsed all sanity and propriety with a game called, "What Apostle are you?"

These questions trade on the pseudo-participatory phantasms of popular culture. It is like "air guitar." You don't play, but pretend--to stir a feeling. So, what person "are you"? None of them, of course--and nothing like any of them; but we like the fleeting feeling of association (I suppose).

But consider the apostolic question. Who among us, in God's name, even approaches the faith, courage, and cross-bearing virtues of any of the Apostles?! The best church planter or missionary is a pale shadow of the Apostles Paul or Peter, for example. Yes, the Apostles were flawed (consider Peter's initial unwillingness to associate with Christian gentiles--Acts 10), but their submission to Christ, their embracing of suffering for the Cross of Jesus Christ and the furtherance of his kingdom puts all of us, I wager, to deep shame.

I challenge you with what Paul challenged his readers with: Follow Paul as Paul follows Christ. If we do, then there will be no more idiotic and blasphemous Facebook trivia about Apostles.

Need More Intellectual Seriousness

"Is Conservativism Brain Dead?" by Steven Hayward laments the lack of intellectual muscle and stamina in the contemporary conservative movement, which is more populist and spectacular than it is substantive and philosophical. The author, however, is a conservative, not a liberal. I concur with many of his judgments.

My conservatism was formed by the like of folks that are lamentably absent from the scene, William F. Buckely, Ronald Reagan, Richard John Neuhaus, Francis A. Schaeffer, and others. My reading of Commentary, The Freeman, National Review, and First Things nurtured my judgments and sentiments. The new populist conservatives, while far more correct than contemporary liberals, do leave something to be desired. Part of the problem is the nonstop news and entertainment cycle.

The conservative movement needs some large, solid, and much-read treatises (and shorter manifestos) sparkling with intelligence, wit, and wisdom. (I do like Liberty and Tryany by Mark Levine as a smart manifesto.) Protracted study time in the woodshed is the order of the day. Then go on stage and show your chops. After that, go back and study some more, instead of posing for photographs.