|
Source: New York Times A discouraging year Today, as a year ago when we posted a similar report, there is no shortage of discouraging news headlines, among them (as of 1 Jan 2026): A war in Ukraine that has continued for nearly four years, killing or injuring hundreds of thousands on each side. Continue reading Some good news after a discouraging year Is modern society progressing or declining? Updated 10 January 2026 (c) 2026 Introduction It is widely believed that modern society is in sharp decline. Among the ills cited are skyrocketing rates of crime, divorce, teenage sex, teenage births and drug abuse; war; and a general decline in personal morality and religiosity. There is also concern Continue reading Is modern society progressing or declining? Updated 8 June 2025 Life expectancy, 1770-2023; source: Our World in Data First the bad news Today there is no shortage of discouraging news headlines, among them (as of 8 Jun 2025): A war in Ukraine that has dragged on for three years. A war in Gaza that raises questions about the long-term Continue reading Behind the scary headlines: Sustained scientific and social progress Is the cruelty in nature consistent with Judeo-Christian theism? Updated 14 January 2025 (c) 2025 Introduction One aspect of nature in general and evolutionary theory in particular that gives many Judeo-Christian believers some pause is its reliance on forms of competition that in many cases we would consider cruel. Parasites often destroy their living hosts Continue reading Is the cruelty in nature consistent with Judeo-Christian theism? Updated 26 July 2025 (c) 2025 Space aliens made this rock Extraterrestrial aliens made this rock While out hiking, I found this rock. The following table gives measurements made on the rock. The first two rows give the overall length and width of the rock. Each of the next six rows, after the Continue reading Aliens made this rock: The post-hoc probability fallacy in biology, finance and cosmology Are there benefits to religious belief and participation? Updated 23 July 2025 (c) 2025 Introduction Recently several books written by prominent authors have been published that attack religious belief as a pernicious delusion. The four most prominent authors are Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens, who collectively are often called the “new Continue reading Are there benefits to religious belief and participation? Are natural laws in conflict with Judeo-Christian theism? Updated 14 January 2025 (c) 2025 Introduction In the past few decades, modern science has uncovered a world that is far vaster and more awe-inspiring than ever imagined before, and has uncovered a set of elegant natural laws that govern the universe, deeply resonating with the notion Continue reading Are natural laws in conflict with Judeo-Christian theism? [The following is a copy of a book review, written by the present author, which appeared in the Reports of the National Center for Science Education.] The Failures of Mathematical Anti-Evolutionism, Cambridge University Press, 2022, 292 pages. Reviewed by David H. Bailey Although modern science has uncovered a universe that is far vaster and Continue reading The Failures of Mathematical Anti-Evolutionism Are Noah’s ark and flood literal scientific facts? Updated 14 January 2025 (c) 2025 Introduction In Williamstown, Kentucky, a full-scale reproduction of Noah’s ark is now open to the public. Claimed to be the largest all-wood structure in the world, it is 155 m (510 ft) long, 26 m (85 ft) wide, and 16 m Continue reading Are Noah’s ark and flood literal scientific facts? Does modern science repudiate miracles? Updated 23 July 2025 (c) 2025 Introduction One common area of contention in the science-religion arena is the question of miracles. Creationist and intelligent design writers, among others, typically define miracles as contraventions of natural law and thus conclude that modern science is fundamentally at war with Bible-based religion. Kevin Continue reading Does modern science repudiate miracles? |
||
|
Copyright © 2026 SMR blog - All Rights Reserved Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa |
||