what does calculus have to do with christianity? robert j. marks ii, ph.d. distinguished professor...
TRANSCRIPT
What Does Calculus Have to Do With
Christianity?
Robert J. Marks II, Ph.D.Distinguished Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Baylor University
AbstractIsaac Newton - the father of classical physics and co-creator of calculus; Michael
Faraday - the founder of electrical engineering; Blaise Pascal - mathematician extraordinaire and inventor of the first computer; George Washington Carver – the “father of the peanut”; Louis Pasteur – the father of microbiology, Thomas Bayes -
the founder of statistical inference, James Clerk Maxwell, the formulator of electromagnetics, and on and on. We know these and other great scientists and mathematicians have made monumental contributions to knowledge. We know what they did but, typically, not who they were nor what motivated their work.
These extraordinary researchers, and others, were heavily motivated by a desire to uncover the beauty and order in a universe they believe was created by God. Some today suggest that serious research and belief in God mix like the components of an
off shore oil spill when, in truth, the two efforts can be wonderfully complementary. Indeed, both today and in history, numerous scientists,
mathematicians and engineers are motivated in their work by the uncovering of the precise orderliness, underlying simplicity, and inherent beauty of God's creations. Many not only study the creation, but have pursued the identity of the Creator and
have found Him in the foundational tenets of Christianity.
How does God belong in the research and teaching equations?
e.g.“What role does Christianity play
in teaching calculus?”
Dr. Kent Gilbreath, Professor of Economics, Stevens Chairholder of Private Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Baylor University, quoted in “Baylor alumni, faculty resisting new direction: President's Vision 2012 sees restored Christian university” by Mark Lisheron, Austin-American Statesman, August 3, 2003
Some Stronger Quotes…
“Christian theism must be rejected by any person with even a shred of respect for reason” George H. Smith, Atheist Philosopher
“[Bible miracles] are very effective with an audience of unsophisticates and children” Richard Dawkins.
“Faith is when you believe something no one in their right mind believes.” Archie Bunker
Consider, then: What motivates research at the Academy?
• Seeking Truth?• Seeking the definition of Truth?
Seeking Fame?
And/Or…Seeking And/Or…Seeking Fame?Fame?
Illustration (a real e-mail)...To: [email protected]
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Beller medal
Dear Bob: I am attaching a file that gives a short list of my contributions to optical science and education. If you feel that I qualify as a candidate for the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal, I would very much appreciate and be honored by a letter from you on my behalf for this medal. Please note that the letter must be at OSA by Oct. 1. The address is:
Optical Society of America
Communications Dept.
MS 112, 2010 Massachusetts Avenus. [sic], NW
Washington, DC 20036-1023
Fax: 202-416-6134
I thank you in advance.
Attachment Converted: ":Proposed Candidate for the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal.doc"
e-mail from an IEEE* Professional Society governing board concerning actions of an
Awards Committee …
“I have never known an awards committee where the members
grant each other the awards/medals. I don't contest that
the committee members are not deserving of an award, but the
mere fact of serving on a selection committee should exclude one
from receiving the awards being distributed.”
The Awards Committee was
giving their members awards!
*IEEE = The Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers is the world’s largest professional
society with membership in excess of 350,000.
“Some non–scientist Christians, when they meet a Christian, will call on to debate evolution. That is definitely the wrong thing to do. If you know what problems scientists have in their lives—pride, selfish ambition, jealousy—that's exactly the kind of thing Jesus Christ said that He came to resolve by His death on the cross. Science is full of people with very strong egos who get into conflict with each other. The gospel is the same for scientists as it is for anyone. Evolution is basically a red herring; if scientists are looking for meaning in their lives, it won't be found in evolution. I have never met a non–Christian who brought up evolution with me.” John Suppe, Member of the U.S. Academy of Sciences, Professor of geology at Princeton
The Modesty of the Academician
U.S. News & World U.S. News & World ReportReport reports a reports a poll of university poll of university professors found professors found that 94% of the that 94% of the respondents respondents thought they were thought they were better at their jobs better at their jobs than their average than their average colleague.colleague.
U.S. News & World Report 16 Dec 96 p26
What motivates research at the Academy?
What motivates research at the Academy for some? Truth, fame, and/or …
…Seeking God
Battle?Battle?..
U.S. News & World Report 16 Dec 96 p26Is there not a battle between Science and
Religion?
The HISTORY OF SCIENCE Says Different
Archaeology is Archaeology is “forced to tell us “forced to tell us that several great that several great civilizations have civilizations have arisen and arisen and vanished without vanished without the benefit of a the benefit of a scientific scientific philosophy”philosophy”
Loren Eiseley, (1907-1977) Essayist, Philosopher, Literary Naturalist.
HISTORY OF SCIENCE…
“… “… the Christian the Christian world … gave birth world … gave birth
in a clear, in a clear, articulate fashion articulate fashion
to the experimental to the experimental method of science method of science
itself.”itself.”Loren Eiseley, “Darwin’s Century” (Garden City, NY, Doubleday, 1958, Doubleday Anchor Books,
1961), p.62.
“… “… Hebrew and Christian Hebrew and Christian belief in a deity who was belief in a deity who was
at once a Creator and at once a Creator and Law-giver rendered … Law-giver rendered …
[the idea of the ‘laws of [the idea of the ‘laws of nature’] valid.”nature’] valid.”
A.R. Hall, HistorianA.R. Hall, Historian
HISTORY OF SCIENCE
The Beauty of Creation
1. In Science & Math, Researchers see the Beauty of Creation.
2. Some believe in a Creator of this beauty.
Motivation?• Premise #1: Some Scientists, Engineers
and Mathematicians embrace a belief in God. Motivation for research, in certain cases, stems in part from their curiosity of discovering God’s creation and the awe and remarkable beauty of the relationships they uncover.“Science brings man nearer to God”
Louis Pasteur Louis Pasteur (John Hudsion Tiner, Louis Pasteur - Founder of Modern Medicine, Milford, MI: Mott
Media, Inc., 1990, p.75.)
• “The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Into his tiniest creatures, God has placed extraordinary properties ...”
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) John Hudsion Tiner, Louis Pasteur - Founder of Modern Medicine,
Milford, MI: Mott Media, Inc., 1990, p.75.)
• “God is going to to reveal to us things He never revealed before if we put our hands in His.”
George Washington Carver (1865-1943) (who named his laboratory God’s Little Workshop.) Ethel Edwards, Carver of Tuskegee (Cincinnati, Ohio; Ethyl Edwards
& James T. Hardwick, 1971) pp.141-42.
1. Gutenberg, Johann 2. Newton, Isaac 3. Luther, Martin 4. Darwin, Charles 5. Shakespeare, William 6. Columbus, Christopher 7. Marx, Karl 8. Einstein, Albert 9. Copernicus, Nicolaus 10. Galileo Galilei 11. Da Vinci, Leonardo 12. Freud, Sigmund 13. Pasteur, Louis 14. Edison, Thomas 15. Jefferson, Thomas 16. Hitler, Adolf 17. Gandhi, Mahatma 18. Locke, John 19. Michelangelo 20. Smith, Adam 21. Washington, George 22. Khan, Genghis 23. Lincoln, Abraham 24. Aquinas, St. Thomas 25. Watt, James 26. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeu27. Bonaparte, Napolean 28. Bach, Johann Sebastian 29. Ford, Henry 30. Beethoven, Ludwig Von 31. Watson & Crick 32. Descartes, Rene 33. King, Martin Luther Jr. 34. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
35. Lenin, Vladimir 36. Fleming, Alexander 37. Voltaire 38. Bacon, Francis 39. Alighieri, Dante 40. Wright Brothers 41. Gates, Bill 42. Mendel, Gregor 43. Mao, Zedong 44. Bell, Alexander Graham 45. William the Conqueror 46. Machiavelli, Niccolo 47. Babbage, Charles 48. Wollstonecraft, Mary 49. Gorbachev, Mikhail 50. Sanger, Margaret 51. Jenner, Edward 52. Churchill, Winston 53. Curie, Marie 54. Polo, Marco 55. Magellan, Ferdinand 56. Stanton, Elizabeth 57. Presley, Elvis 58. Joan of Arc 59. Kant, Immanuel 60. Roosevelt, Franklin D. 61. Faraday, Michael 62. Disney, Walt 63. Austen, Jane 64. Picasso, Pablo 65. Heisenberg, Werner 66. Griffith, D.W. 67. Zworykin, Vladimir
68. Franklin, Benjamin
69. Harvey, William 70. Pope Gregory Vll 71. Tubman, Harriet 72. Bolivar, Simon 73. Princess Diana 74. Fermi, Enrico 75. Pincus, Gregory 76. The Beatles 77. Hobbes, Thomas 78. Isabella 79. Stalin, Joseph 80. Elizabeth I 81. Mandela, Nelson 82. Bohr, Neils 83. Peter the Great of Russia 84. Marconi, Guglielmo 85. Reagan, Ronald 86. Joyce, James 87. Carson, Rachel 88. Oppenheimer, Robert J. 89. Anthony, Susan B. 90. Daguerre, Louis 91. Spielberg, Steven 92. Nightingale, Florence 93. Roosevelt, Eleanor 94. Patient Zero 95. Chaplin, Charlie 96. Caruso, Enrico 97. Salk, Jonas 98. Armstrong, Louis 99. Da Gama, Vasco
100. Suleiman I
Biography’s Top 100 Persons of the Millennium
http://www.biography.com/features/millennium/index.html
2. Isaac NewtonThe father of classical physics.Co-Discoverer of Calculus
13. Louis PasteurThe father of microbiology
61. Michael FaradayThe father of electrical engineering
Blaise PascalThe father of computer engineering
James Clerk MaxwellThe founder of electromagneticsThomas Bayes
The founder of statistical inference
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)“...one of the greatest names in the history of human
thought”
Newtonian PhysicsNewtonian PhysicsQuantumQuantum
TheoryTheory(very small)(very small)
RelativityRelativity(very big)(very big)
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Newton’s Contributions
Newtonian Physics
The Calculus
Law of Universal Gravitation
Optics
Reflecting Telescope
White light components
“In late editions of his scientific works he [Newton] expressed a strong senseense of
God's providential role in nature.”
Microsoft Encarta.
http://www.newton.cam.ac.uk/newtlife.html
NamesakesNamesakes
Newton (mks unit of force)Newton (mks unit of force)
Newton’s ringsNewton’s rings
Newton OptimizationNewton Optimization
Newtonian PhysicsNewtonian Physics
Apple’s NewtonApple’s Newton
Newtonian constant of Newtonian constant of gravitation = 6.672 59 × gravitation = 6.672 59 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-210-11 m3 kg-1 s-2
God observed in nature...God observed in nature...
““[The] beautiful system of the [The] beautiful system of the the sun, planets and comets the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the could only proceed from the councel and dominion of an councel and dominion of an
intelligent and powerful intelligent and powerful Being.”Being.”
Isaac NewtonNewton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections From His Writings (Hafner Publishing, 1953)
From From Opticks by Isaac Newton by Isaac Newton(still in print!)(still in print!)
“God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy,
hard, impenetrable, moveable particles, of such sizes and figures, and with other such properties, and
in such proportion to space, as most conduced to
the end for which He formed them.”
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
Newton on Atheism
“Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors.”
Isaac Newton quoted from Newton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections From His Writings (Hafner
Publishing, 1953)
Michael Faraday (1791-1867)The Father of Electricity
Faraday’s Faraday’s ContributionsContributions
Faraday’s Law
Discovered electromagnetic induction: generators, motors & transformers.
The Faraday EffectA magneto-optic effect in which the polarization plane of an electromagnetic wave is rotated under the influence of a magnetic field parallel to the direction of propagation.
Discovered Benzene
“Michael Faraday's scientific work laid the foundations of
all subsequent electro-technology.” Lenore Symons,
IEE Senior Archivisthttp://www.iee.org.uk/publish/faraday/faraday1.html
Build first practical electric motor.Coined the terms
electrode, anode, cathode electronic
NamesakesNamesakesFarad = unit of capacitanceFaraday’s constant =
F=96 485.309 C mol-1
Michael Faraday...
“Albert Einstein...was a devoted admirer of was a devoted admirer of Faraday. While still in Berlin, Faraday. While still in Berlin, … [he] kept a large portrait of … [he] kept a large portrait of Faraday in his study.Faraday in his study.
Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics, Ludwig Charles, 1978, Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA.
““Later, having escaped the Later, having escaped the Nazis, Einstein again displayed Nazis, Einstein again displayed a large portrait of Faraday - this a large portrait of Faraday - this time in his Princeton study.”time in his Princeton study.”
“[Faraday’s] standard of duty was supernatural. It was formed entirely on what he held to be the revelation of the will of God in the written word, and throughout all his life his faith led him to act ... to the the very letter of it.”
Dr Bence Jones "The Life and Letters of Faraday”. See also http://www.iee.org.uk/publish/faraday/faraday2.html
Faraday & AWARDSFaraday & AWARDS
• Did Faraday seek fame?Did Faraday seek fame?
• Faraday was offered Faraday was offered and refused the and refused the Presidency of the Royal Presidency of the Royal Society. He responded Society. He responded no…no… "I must remain "I must remain plain Michael Faraday plain Michael Faraday to the very last."to the very last."
Thomas Bayes (1702 – 1761)
Thomas Bayes, Divine Benevolence,1731, and D.R. Bellhouse, “The Reverend Thomas Bayes FRS: a Biography to Celebrate the Tercentenary of his Birth” <http://www.stats.uwo.ca/faculty/bellhouse/bayesbiog.pdf>
Bayes Theorem
[ | ] [ ][ | ]
[ ]
P B A P AP A B
P B
•Baysian Inference: Making classifications using an historical data base.
•Foundation of most modern e-mail spam filters.
Thomas Bayes (1702 – 1761)
D.R. Bellhouse, “The Reverend Thomas Bayes FRS: a Biography to Celebrate the Tercentenary of his Birth” <http://www.stats.uwo.ca/faculty/bellhouse/bayesbiog.pdf>
Bayes did publish about his faith. “God always does that which is right and fit, and that all his moral attributes, [namely] justice, truth, faithfulness, mercy, patience, [etc.] are but so many different modifications of rectitude.” Thomas Bayes, “Divine Benevolence”, 1731.
•Reverend Bayes was a pastor of the Reverend Bayes was a pastor of the Presbyterian Chapel in Tunbridge Wells, 35 Presbyterian Chapel in Tunbridge Wells, 35 miles southeast of London. miles southeast of London.
•Bayes didn’t bother to publish his Bayes didn’t bother to publish his mathematical work. It was all published mathematical work. It was all published posthumously. Bayes was elected Fellow of posthumously. Bayes was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1742 having no the Royal Society in 1742 having no published works on mathematics.published works on mathematics.
James Clerk MaxwellOn an Electrical Engineering Student’s T-Shirt...
t
DJH
B
t
BE
D
0
And God said...
and there was light.
Maxwell’sMaxwell’s
EquationsEquations
• “To anyone who is motivated by anything beyond the most narrowly practical, it is worth while to understand Maxwell’s equations simply for the good of his soul” J.R. J.R. Pierce, Pierce, Electrons, Waves Electrons, Waves and Messagesand Messages, Hanover , Hanover House, 1956.House, 1956.
Quotes…• “Was it a god who wrote these
lines…” Ludwig Boltzmann – Ludwig Boltzmann – Nobel prize winner in Physics - Nobel prize winner in Physics - on Maxwell’s equations (quoting on Maxwell’s equations (quoting a line from Goethe).a line from Goethe).
• “[Maxwell’s equations] can be appreciated, by those who understand them, on an aesthetic level.” Halliday & Halliday & Resnick, Physics II, Wiley (1962) Resnick, Physics II, Wiley (1962) – a widely used undergraduate – a widely used undergraduate Physics text.Physics text.
“The formulation of these [Maxwell’s] equations is the most
important event since Newton’s time” Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein
James Clerk Maxwell““As with Faraday, his As with Faraday, his
profound profound investigations into investigations into nature were nature were concomitant with concomitant with deep religious deep religious reverence for reverence for nature’s cause.”nature’s cause.”
Sir Joseph Larmor in the Biographical Sir Joseph Larmor in the Biographical Notes to: James Clerk Maxwell, Matter Notes to: James Clerk Maxwell, Matter and Motion, (Dover, 1991).and Motion, (Dover, 1991).
“I believe ... that ‘Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever’.”
James Clerk Maxwell
Ian HutchinsonIan HutchinsonMIT IAP Seminar: The Faith of Great Scientists, Jan 98MIT IAP Seminar: The Faith of Great Scientists, Jan 98
“The only desire which I can ...have is, like David, to serve my own generation by the will of God, and then fall asleep.” Maxwell (near death).
Lewis Campbell & William Garnet, Lewis Campbell & William Garnet, The Life of The Life of James Clerk Maxwell James Clerk Maxwell, London 1882, p.309, London 1882, p.309
Dimitri EgorovBorn: 22 Dec 1869 in Moscow, RussiaBorn: 22 Dec 1869 in Moscow, Russia
Died: 10 Sept 1931 in Kazan, USSRDied: 10 Sept 1931 in Kazan, USSR•Egorov worked on triply orthogonal systems and potential surfaces and made major contribution to differential geometry.
•Egorov also worked on integral equations and a theorem in the theory of functions of a real variable is named after him
•In 1923 Egorov was elected president of the Moscow In 1923 Egorov was elected president of the Moscow Mathematical Society Mathematical Society
•In 1923 Egorov became director of the Institute for In 1923 Egorov became director of the Institute for Mechanics and Mathematics at Moscow State UniversityMechanics and Mathematics at Moscow State University
http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Egorov.html
Dimitri Egorov•The Church was repressed after the revolution. Egorov defended them. In 1922-23 and again in 1928, clergy were executed in mass.
•Egorov tried to prevent the attempt to impose Marxist ideology on scientists.
•In 1929 Egorov was dismissed as director of the Institute for Mechanics and Mathematics and given a public rebuke.
http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Egorov.html
•Egorov was arrested as a "religious sectarian" and put in prison. An "Initiative group" took over the Society in November 1930. They expelled Egorov denouncing him as “a reactionary and a churchman.”
•Egorov went on a hunger strike in prison and eventually died.
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
• Kepler’s Laws
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
1. The orbits of the planets are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse.
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
• Kepler’s Laws
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
• Kepler’s Laws III. The ratio of the
squares of the revolutionary periods for two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their semimajor axes.
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
32
31
22
21
R
R
P
P
Johannes Kepler • “Throughout his life, Kepler was a profoundly
religious man. All his writings contain numerous references to God, and he saw his work as a fulfilment of his Christian duty to understand the works of God. Man being, as Kepler believed, made in the image of God, was clearly capable of understanding the Universe that He had created. Moreover, Kepler was convinced that God had made the Universe according to a mathematical plan.”
• “When asked: Why do you do science?", Kepler answered that he desired in his scientific research to obtain a sample test of the delight of the Divine Creator in his work and to partake of his joy.”
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Kepler.html
Blaise Pascal (1623-62)
Blaise Pascal (1623-62)
•PASCAL:PASCAL: a high level programming language designed by Niklaus Wirth in 1974 as a teaching language for computer scientists.
•Pascal’s Law:Pascal’s Law: the pressure in a fluid is transmitted equally to all distances and in all directions. (hydraulics!)
•PASCAL:PASCAL: A unit of pressure. 1 bar equals 100,000 Pascal
•Pascal’s trianglePascal’s triangle..
(1623-62)
Pascal: Computer Engineer• In 1642, Pascal began to create a machine that In 1642, Pascal began to create a machine that would be similar to an everyday calculator to help would be similar to an everyday calculator to help his father with his accounting job.his father with his accounting job. •He finished the final model in 1645.He finished the final model in 1645. •He presented one to Queen Christina of Sweden He presented one to Queen Christina of Sweden and he was allowed a monopoly over it by royal and he was allowed a monopoly over it by royal decree.decree.
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/index.html
Pascal: the Mathematician
http://www.norfacad.pvt.k12.va.us/project/pascal/blaise3.htm
Pascal’s Triangle1 11 2 1
1 3 3 11 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 11 6 15 20 15 6 1
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1...
11
22
33
44
55
66
77
......
Pascal & AWARDSPascal & AWARDS
“ “Fame is so sweet Fame is so sweet that we love that we love anything we anything we
connect with it, connect with it, even death.”even death.”
Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal (Pensees)(Pensees)
Why do we watch a lot of TV, Monday night football & play
computer games?
Pascal’s thoughts..
. “Man finds nothing so intolerable as to be
in a state of complete rest, without passions, without occupation, without diversion, without effort. Then he faces his nullity, loneliness, inadequacy, dependence, helplessness, emptiness. And at once there wells up from the depths of his soul boredom, gloom, depression, chagrin, resentment, despair.”
Pascal’s ThoughtsPascal’s Thoughts...there are two ways people avoid thinking
about such matters: diversion and indifference. Regarding diversion, Pascal says we fill up our time with activities to avoid facing the truth of our state. “The natural misfortune of our “The natural misfortune of our mortality and weakness is so miserable, mortality and weakness is so miserable, that nothing can console us when we that nothing can console us when we really think about it.... The only good really think about it.... The only good thing for man, therefore, is to be thing for man, therefore, is to be diverted so that he will stop thinking diverted so that he will stop thinking about his circumstances.”about his circumstances.”
http://www.probe.org/docs/pascal.htmlhttp://www.probe.org/docs/pascal.html
NirvanaNirvana’s Curt Cobain offers a ’s Curt Cobain offers a Translation of Pascal:Translation of Pascal:
““With the lights out it's With the lights out it's less dangerous less dangerous
““Here we are now. Here we are now. Entertain us.”Entertain us.”
… “… “The denial, the The denial, the denial, the denial, the denial, the denial, the denial, …”denial, …”
Smells like Teen SpiritSmells like Teen Spirit
NirvanaNirvana
Were all motivated by belief in Were all motivated by belief in
God?God?Pierre Simon Laplace (1749-1827).
Laplace transformLaplace transform
Laplace NoiseLaplace Noise
Laplace helped to establish the metric system.Laplace helped to establish the metric system.
0)()( dtetxsX st
Laplace
Napoleon asked Napoleon asked Laplace why God was Laplace why God was not mentioned in any not mentioned in any of his work on of his work on celestial mechanics. celestial mechanics. Laplace responded ...Laplace responded ...
““Sire, je n’avais pas Sire, je n’avais pas besoin de cette besoin de cette
hypothese.” hypothese.”
““Sire, I had no need Sire, I had no need of that hypothesis.”of that hypothesis.”Petr Beckmann, “A History of Pi”, St. Petr Beckmann, “A History of Pi”, St.
Martin’s Press, 1971.Martin’s Press, 1971.
Napoleon appointed Laplace Minister of the Napoleon appointed Laplace Minister of the Interior but removed him from office after only six Interior but removed him from office after only six weeks “weeks “because he brought the spirit of the because he brought the spirit of the infinitely small into the government.”infinitely small into the government.”
What a beautiful creation!
Premise: Premise:
There is no lack of proof of God There is no lack of proof of God through His work. Predisposed by through His work. Predisposed by
a blind faith world view and a blind faith world view and numbed by the continual numbed by the continual
presence of miracles, there is only presence of miracles, there is only an unwillingness to accept the an unwillingness to accept the
evidence.evidence.
Researchers Researchers seesee: The Beauty of Creation! : The Beauty of Creation! Some Some askask: Who Created this beauty?: Who Created this beauty?
““The mere existence of … [a] cell The mere existence of … [a] cell should be one of the greatest should be one of the greatest astonishments of the earth. astonishments of the earth.
People ought to walking around People ought to walking around all day, all through their waking all day, all through their waking hours, calling to each other in hours, calling to each other in endless wonderment, talking endless wonderment, talking
nothing else except that cell…”nothing else except that cell…”
““If anyone does succeed in If anyone does succeed in explaining it, within my lifetime I explaining it, within my lifetime I will charter a skywriting airplane, will charter a skywriting airplane, maybe a whole fleet of them, and maybe a whole fleet of them, and send them aloft to write one great send them aloft to write one great exclamation point after another, exclamation point after another,
around the whole sky, until all my around the whole sky, until all my money runs out.”money runs out.”
Lewis Thomas, quoted by Henry Brand and Philip Yancey, Fearfully Lewis Thomas, quoted by Henry Brand and Philip Yancey, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Grand Rapids: Zonderman, 1980) p.25and Wonderfully Made (Grand Rapids: Zonderman, 1980) p.25
Romans 1:20 “Ever since the Romans 1:20 “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power nature, namely, his eternal power
and deity, has been clearly and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without been made. So they are without
excuse…”excuse…”
Premise #2Numerous great researchers embrace Christianity: The knowing of God, the The knowing of God, the creator of the universe, creator of the universe, personally. Belief in God’s personally. Belief in God’s supremacy and saving grace supremacy and saving grace made possible through the made possible through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.Christ.
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html
• “References to God continued in the scientific literature until the middle to late 1800's. It seems likely that the lack of religious references after this time seem more from a change in social and professional conventions among scientists rather than from any change in
underlying thought. Indeed, contrary to popular myth, scientists appear to have the same range of attitudes about religious matters as does the general public.” Alan Lightman (MIT) in Origins
Is this viewpoint prevalent today?
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
Christian ProfessorsToday …
Dr. Hugh Ross,
Astrophysicist
www.reasons.org
Professor William Zoller Chemistry
cialab.ee.washington.edu/Marks-Stuff/ccc/Zoller/Zoller.html
Professor Phillip E. JohnsonProfessor of Law
www.arn.org/docs/johnson/pj_sched.html
Dr. Liz Miller Texas A&M
http://clm.org/real/ri9910/simpson.html
Dr. George M. Marsden
Franscis A. McAnaney
Professor of History Notre Dame
http://clm.org/real/ri9902/marsden.html
Dr. Nancy Simpson Texas A&M
http://clm.org/real/ri9910/simpson.html
Professor Walter Bradley
Mechanical Engineer
www.clm.org/real/ri9702/walkup.html
Professor Vernon Burton Professor of History and Sociology,
Senior Research Scientist
at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
http://clm.org/real/ri0002/burton.html
Dr. George M. MarsdenProfessor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
University of Texas, Austinhttp://clm.org/real/ri9809/cogdell.html
Professor John Walkup,
Electrical Engineer
www.clm.org/real/ri9702/walkup.html
Dr. Burford J. Furman Department of Mechanical &
Aerospace EngineeringCollege of Engineering
San José State University
Isaac Newton on Christ““There is one God, the There is one God, the Father, ever-living, Father, ever-living,
omnipresent, omniscient, omnipresent, omniscient, almighty, the Maker of almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and heaven and earth, and one Mediator between one Mediator between God and man, the man God and man, the man
Christ Jesus.…”Christ Jesus.…”
Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton
Newton’s Proclamation
““We account the Scriptures of We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane Bible than in any profane history whatsoever... history whatsoever... Worshiping God and the Lamb Worshiping God and the Lamb [Jesus Christ] in the temple: [Jesus Christ] in the temple: God, for his benefaction in God, for his benefaction in creating all things, and the creating all things, and the Lamb, for his benefaction in Lamb, for his benefaction in redeeming us with his blood.”redeeming us with his blood.”
Sir Isaac NewtonTryon Edwards, D.D., The New Dictionary of Thoughts-A Cyclopedia of Quotations (Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1852; revised and enlarged by C.H. Catrevas, Ralph Emerson Browns, and Jonathan Edwards [descendent, along with Tryon, of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), president of Princeton], 1891; Sir Isaac Newton. Henry H. Morris, Men of Scienice-Men of God (El Cajon, CA: Master Books, A Division of Creation Life Publishers, Inc., 1988), pp. 23-26. The Standard Book Company, 1955,1963), P. 47. Henry H. Halley, Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1927, 1965), P. 19. Charles E. Jones, The Books You Read (Harrisburg, PA: Executive Books, 1985), P. 118.
Faraday: Speculations
“[T]hough the thought of death brings the thought of
judgment, it also brings to the Christian thought of Him
[Jesus Christ] who died, … [and] rose again for the
justification of those who believe in Him.”Michael Faraday
Walter Jerrold, Michael Faraday, Man of Science, p. 120. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 147.
““Speculations! I know nothing about speculations. I’m resting Speculations! I know nothing about speculations. I’m resting on certainties. `I know my Redeemer liveth’ and because He on certainties. `I know my Redeemer liveth’ and because He lives I shall also live.” purported to Faraday near death when lives I shall also live.” purported to Faraday near death when queried by reporters about “speculations” of life after deathqueried by reporters about “speculations” of life after death ..
Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics, Ludwig Charles, 1978, Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA.
Faraday’s faith in Christ
“Christ [is] the power of God
and the wisdom of God. The The Christian Christian
religion is a religion is a revelationrevelation and that revelation is the Word of
God.”
Michael Michael FaradayFaraday George Wilson, Short Biographies for the People, Vol. IV. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, BuIverde, Texas), p. 147-8.
James Clerk MaxwellJames Clerk Maxwell and the Christian Propositionand the Christian Proposition
Ian Hutchinson Ian HutchinsonMIT IAP Seminar: The Faith of Great Scientists, Jan 98MIT IAP Seminar: The Faith of Great Scientists, Jan 98
“Clearly, from this early age, a devout Christian faith and demanding mental discipline were, for Maxwell, part of the same experience.”
http://silas.psfc.mit.edu/Maxwell/maxwell.htmlhttp://silas.psfc.mit.edu/Maxwell/maxwell.html
James Clerk MaxwellJames Clerk Maxwell
“Think what God has determined to do to all those who submit
themselves to his righteousness and are willing to receive his gift [of
eternal life in Jesus Christ]. They are to be conformed to the image
of his Son and when that is fulfilled and God sees they are conformed
to the image of Christ, there can be no more condemnation.” James
Clerk Maxwell.http://www.leaderu.com/offices/schaefer/docs/scientists.html
Blaise Pascal
“We know God only through Jesus Christ… through Jesus Christ we know God. All who have pretended to know God, and proveprove Him without Jesus Christ, have only had impotent proofs.”
Pensees is French for Pensees is French for "thoughts" "thoughts"
"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man,
which only God can fill through His Son Jesus Christ."which only God can fill through His Son Jesus Christ."
Pascal’s Wager…
“How can anyone lose who chooses to become a Christian? If, when he dies, there turns out to be no God and his faith was in vain, he has lost nothing - in fact, he has been happier in life than his nonbelieving friends. If, however, there is a God and a heaven and hell, then he has gained heaven and his skeptical friends will have lost everything in hell!” Henry H. Morris, Men of Science-Men of God (El Cajon, CA: Master Books, A Division of Creation Life Publishers, Inc., 1988), pp. 15-16.
You Believe! You Don’t Believe.
NoGod
AAAttt llleeeaaassstttyyyooouuu llleeedddaaa gggoooooodddllliiifffeee!!!
Life withlimitedpurpose
GodExists
EternityWithGod!
EternityWithoutGod
Pascal’s Wager: A Venn Diagram
Science & Faith…Science & Faith…
Premise #1: Some Scientists, Engineers and Mathematicians Premise #1: Some Scientists, Engineers and Mathematicians embrace a strong belief in God. Motivation for research, embrace a strong belief in God. Motivation for research,
in certain cases, stems in part from their curiosity of in certain cases, stems in part from their curiosity of discovering God’s creation and the awe and remarkable discovering God’s creation and the awe and remarkable
beauty of the relationships they uncover.beauty of the relationships they uncover.
Knowing the Knowing the paintingpainting is not the same is not the same as knowing the as knowing the painterpainter..
“Premise #2: The knowing of God, the creator of the universe, personallypersonally. Belief in God’s supremacy and
saving grace made possible through the sacrifice of His made possible through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.”Son, Jesus Christ.”
What Christians believe:
perfectperfect
imperfectimperfect
1. God LOVESLOVES you and offers a wonderful PLANPLAN for your life.
He loves you & wants you to know Him personally!
2. Man is SINFULSINFUL (imperfect)
and SEPARATEDSEPARATED from God. Therefore, you cannot know
and experience God's
love and plan for your life. www.ccci.org/laws/languages.htmlwww.ccci.org/laws/languages.html
What Christians Believe (cont)...
3. Jesus ChristJesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through HimThrough Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
What Christians Believe (cont)
4. We must individually
RECEIVERECEIVE the gift the gift of Jesus Christof Jesus Christ as as Savior and LordSavior and Lord (Master); then we
can know and experience God's peace, love and
plan for our lives.
“MemorialIn the year of grace, 1654,
On Monday, 23rd of November, Feast of St Clement, Pope and Martyr,
And others in the Martyrology, Vigil of St Chrysogonus, Martyr, and others,
From about half past ten in the evening until about half past Twelve,
Fire!God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, (Ex
3:6; Mt 22:32)Not of the philosophers and scholars.
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.God of Jesus Christ.
"Thy God and my God." (Jn 20:17)Forgetfulness of the world and of everything,
except God.He is to be found only in the ways taught in the
Gospel.Greatness of the Human Soul.
"Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee,But I have known Thee." (Jn 17:25)
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.I have separated myself from Him.
"They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters." (Jn 2:13)
"My God, wilt Thou leave me?" (Mt 27:46)Let me not be separated from Him eternally.
"This is eternal life,That they might know Thee, the only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast
sent." (Jn 17:3) Jesus Christ...
Pascal’s ConversionPascal’s Conversion
Let me not be separated from Him eternally.
"This is eternal life,That they might know
Thee, the only Thee, the only true God,true God, And Jesus Christ, whom Thou
hast sent." (Jn 17:3)
Joy, joy, joy, Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.tears of joy.
Pascal’s conversion to Christianity. Found in the lining of his coat on his deathPascal’s conversion to Christianity. Found in the lining of his coat on his death
Certitude. Certitude.
Feeling. Joy.Joy. Peace.Peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
"Thy God and my God." (Jn
20:17)Forgetfulness
of the world and of everything, except God.
Monday, Nov 23, 1654
Pascal’s Conversion Pascal’s Conversion (cont)(cont)
“ “Jesus ChristJesus Christ
I have separated myself from Him:I have separated myself from Him:I have fled from Him,I have fled from Him,
denied Him,denied Him,crucified Him.crucified Him.
Let me never be separated from Him.Let me never be separated from Him.We keep hold of Him only by the ways taught in the We keep hold of Him only by the ways taught in the
Gospel.Gospel.
Renunciation, total and sweet.Renunciation, total and sweet.Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my
director.director.Eternally in joy for a day's training on earth.Eternally in joy for a day's training on earth.
"I will not forget thy words." (Ps 119:16) Amen."I will not forget thy words." (Ps 119:16) Amen.
Pascal’s Conversion Pascal’s Conversion (cont)(cont)PRAYER (traditional language):Almighty God, who didst grant to thy servant Blaise Pascal a Great intellect, that he might explore the mysteries of thy creation, and didst kindle in his heart a love for thee and a devotion to thy service: Mercifully grant to us thy servants, according to our several callings, gifts of excellence in body, mind, and will, and the grace to use them diligently and to thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
PRAYER (contemporary language):
Almighty God, who gave your servant Blaise Pascal a great Intellect, that he might explore the the
mysteries of your creationmysteries of your creation, and who kindled in his heart a love for you and a devotion to your service: Mercifully give us your servants, according to our various callings, gifts of excellence in body, mind,
and will, and the grace to use them diligently and to your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for everGod, now and for ever.”
(translation by Emile Caillet and John C. Blankenagel, Great Shorter Works of Pascal, Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1948). See http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/233.html
Solomon’s Sage Advice
Solomon’s Sage Advice Solomon’s Sage Advice for Scholars...for Scholars...
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd. embedded nails-given by one Shepherd.
12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. 12b. Of making many books there 12b. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies is no end, and much study wearies the body. the body. 13. Now all has been heard; here 13. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.whole [duty] of man.
Ecclesiastes 12
Finish