Karen L. Willoughby Free-lance writer   How is this for a view of science and religion that one may not hear all that often in today’s high-tech world of research and advancement?   Today’s scientific advances owe their genesis to Christianity - and every new discovery of the cosmos is an affirmation of God at work in the universe he created. Karen L. Willoughby Free-lance writer   How is this for a view of science and religion that one may not hear all that often in today’s high-tech world of research and advancement?   Today’s scientific advances owe their genesis to Christianity - and every new discovery of the cosmos is an affirmation of God at work in the universe he created.   The view certainly is not an oft-cited one. But it is the one that noted scientists and educators presented in addressing a recent "Cosmos and Creator" conference sponsored by the Discovery Institute public policy think tank in Seattle.   "Christianity was the midwife bringing modern science to birth in the mid-1700s," emphasized Sir John Polkinghorne, an Anglican priest and a physicist at Cambridge University.   As such, both science and Christianity have … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor The Bible begins ever so simply, with a clear pronouncement - "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."   It is a logical starting place. Probably since the dawn of reason and imagination, humans have wondered how they got here and how the world began. The Bible begins ever so simply, with a clear pronouncement - "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."   It is a logical starting place. Probably since the dawn of reason and imagination, humans have wondered how they got here and how the world began.   Ancient people groups had a variety of answers - almost all of which involved one or more god or spirits. Even as science began to take hold and humans started to find the answers to some of their questions of existence, there was general consensus - someone was in charge of the world.   Someone had planned all of this.   Science and religion moved together.   However, during the 1600s, science and religion began to separate. The idea of natural law began to take hold - there was an established orderliness to things. In time, many scientists and theologians accepted the idea that … [Read more...]

Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding. Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding.   Someone sent me an E-mail - okay, stop right here. Take e-mail for instance. Hate it. Anxiety washes over me every time I click that little "Send" symbol. Who knows how it goes, even where it goes for sure. One false move, and the epistle zooms off to the black hole of cyberspace. I am so old, I remember writing by hand a postal card, sticking a penny stamp on it and trusting the postal service to get the card to the proper recipient, even if it was later than sooner. I touched it, felt it, tasted the yukkie glue on the stamp, … [Read more...]

If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome. If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome.   The actual convention starts on Tuesday morning at 8:00 with inspirational singing. The meeting ends at 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday.   The Convention is open to anyone wishing to attend. You do not have to be an elected messenger from your church to attend, only to vote. While convention planners do not necessarily intend the meetings to be come-and-go affairs, that is exactly what they are! You can choose whatever session you wish to attend.   This year’s convention features music from mass choirs supported by full orchestra as well as outstanding soloists. The music is comparable to the best available anywhere.   This year’s convention sermon will be preached by Louisiana’s own Fred Luter, Jr., pastor of … [Read more...]

This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College. This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College.   Let me say to the trustees, you’ve done well. As a former trustee, had I been given the honor of still being on the board, I would have voted with you. My wife and I are graduates of Louisiana College and we are both proud of your decision. We agree wholeheartedly with your actions in adoption of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.   I would say to anyone who disagrees and threatens to "keep their money," a fountain is no match for Biblical truth. Louisiana College was founded by people who stood for truth and wanted Christ at the center of the College. What’s more important - money or truth? As a Christian I’ll take truth over a fountain any day. Carl Weiser Rustburg, Va. … [Read more...]