Odds & Ends

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Brandon Haught

— President Obama lifted the previous administration’s ban on stem cell research. The Miami Herald has a story about its affects on Florida. Tampa Bay online has another. And the Palm Beach Post has yet another.

— Approximately 44 species of invasive reptiles are slithering around South Florida. Canopy Meg talks about what can be done about it.

Harnessing the creativity of ecology undergraduates, the Sarasota County/New College science partnership proposes to control invasive pythons through a research and action program that uses best practices accumulated from scientists and environmental managers around the country. Such a program would involve research, networking with herpetologists, and vigilance by citizens and regional government staff.

— The Shroud of Turin is still of interest? Shroud of Turin Photographer Barrie Schwortz will give a presentation at the Shell Point Retirement Community.

— A Baptist professor talks about how pastors need to learn to accept science.

“Should we prepare ministers to equip people to live in a world that has not existed for a century, if ever?” he [Glenn Hinson] asked. “Should ministers stick to teaching the Bible and not assume a responsibility to help people to relate their faith to findings of science? This is the issue that stands behind the shibboleth that the Bible is inerrant and infallible on any issue it touches.”

Hinson said letting such a view of Christianity prevail would result in “the reduction and deprivation of any meaning of this faith.”

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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5 Responses to Odds & Ends

  1. S.Scott says:
    March 10, 2009 at 6:15 am

    Well then … he must not be a real christian. /snark

  2. Pete Dunkelberg says:
    March 10, 2009 at 7:58 am

    Another instance:

    My grandfather is a moderate old-fashioned Baptist, but my dear grandmother is a very conservative Lutheran and sent me creation-science materials when I was little; I am pretty much sure this is how I found out about the topic and became interested in the evolution/creationism debate – an interesting case of unintended consequences if you think about it. Anyway, the two have been married for 60 years and still go to different churches on Sunday, never having agreed to choose one or the other, so the family also provides an interesting example of the virtues of religious tolerance. We got caught up for a few hours and as I was leaving, I actually heard my grandmother make the first conciliatory statements towards evolution that I had ever heard. Evidently there was a new pastor at her church, and the pastor had given a sermon which, while not really endorsing evolution and the old earth, stating that it perhaps wasn’t the most important issue for God or man to have a theological dispute about. The statement that, for God, we are all still living in the seventh day of creation (which is obviously not a literal day) seems to have made an impact on her.

  3. Jonathan Smith says:
    March 10, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    I recently spoke to local church pastor over evolution/creationism and his response was quite a eye opener,
    He said ‘There are many church doctrines such as creationism, or a literal concept of hell, that we know that are plainly not realistic. How ever, we have been preaching these concepts vigorously for two hundred years.
    How do we go about telling our church members we were wrong”

  4. PatrickHenry says:
    March 10, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    Jonathan Smith Says:

    How do we go about telling our church members we were wrong

    He’s got a bigger problem — what’s he gonna say when he gets to the Pearly Gates?

  5. Jonathan Smith says:
    March 10, 2009 at 4:51 pm

    PatrickHenry Says:

    “what’s he gonna say when he gets to the Pearly Gates?”

    Or to:

    Buddhism: Nirvana
    Ancient Egyptian: Aaru
    Islamic: Jannah
    Jewish: Olam Haba
    Mormon: Celestial Kingdom
    Celtic: Tír na nÓg • Mag Mell
    Viking : Valhalla
    Scientology: Theta

Comments are closed.