Center for Research in Science

The Topic: The new atheism claims that God can’t exist because if He does, He would have done a much better job of creating the universe. These atheists overlook the many different purposes God has for the universe He created. In addition to designing the universe to provide a home for humanity, God has more than ten other reasons for the cosmic designs He chose.    The space-time theorems demonstrate time is finite. New measurements establish accelerating cosmic expansion. This expansion apparently forces the end of human consciousness leaving humanity without hope, purpose, or destiny. Yet, the anthropic principle, anthropic principle inequality, fine-tuned time and location for our viewing of the cosmos, and our unique biological drives argue for humanity’s ultimate purpose. The greatest cosmic fine-tuning appears to be the optimization of the physical laws so as to encourage us to turn from evil to virtue. The Bible declares that time and the physical laws will end when evil is conquered and that our ultimate purpose and destiny lies not here but in a realm beyond time and physics.     Hugh Ross launched his career at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age seventeen he was the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars," some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe.

Not all of Hugh's discoveries involved astrophysics. Prompted by curiosity, he studied the world's religions and "holy books" and found only one that proved scientifically and historically accurate: the Bible. Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelation in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission.

He and his colleagues at Reasons To Believe keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology.

Reserve* a place at a luncheon discussion with guest speaker Karl Giberson, who will share his personal spiritual journey as a physicist and scholar.

*626/387-5738

The Topic:  Intelligent design, creationism, and evolution have always been hot topics for debate in America. Creationism and intelligent design are usually seen as the province of religious people, while evolution belongs to scientists. But what about committed Christians who find something lacking in the idea of creationism or intelligent design? Can you still be a Christian and support the idea of evolution? Karl Giberson believes you can. Raised a fundamentalist who firmly believed in creationism, Giberson abandoned his creationist beliefs while working on his Ph.D., but not his belief in Christianity. In his talk, Giberson will explore the history of the controversy that swirls around evolution and shows why - and how - it is possible to believe in God and evolution at the same time.

Lecture/Luncheon by Reservation  (626/387-5738)

Keeping with the CRIS lectures theme for 2008-09, A Worldview of Difference, Denis Lamoureux will discuss God's Call - Coming to Terms.  

Lamoureux is professor of science and religion at St. Joseph's College in the University of Alberta, Canada. He has three earned doctoral degrees in dentistry, theology, and biology.

Denis O. Lamoureux is professor of science and religion at St. Joseph's College in the University of Alberta, Canada. He has three earned doctoral degrees in dentistry, theology, and biology. He is co-author with Phillip E. Johnson of a book on the creation-evolution controversy titled Darwinism Defeated? The Johnson-

Lamoureux, a former young-earth creationist, now calls himself an evolutionary creationist and lectures and writes widely on the topic

About the Topic 

A view prevalent today is that religion, especially Christianity, is anti-scientific. Dr. Rogstad will present evidence that this view is highly exaggerated and in fact, the opposite it true, namely that science is grounded on key characteristics of the Christian Worldview. He will also discuss scientific discoveries in the last century that support the truth of Christianity.

Dave Rogstad developed an interest in science early under the influence of his Norwegian immigrant father, and an older brother who allowed Dave to explore his math and science books. After graduating from Caltech with a B.S. in physics, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in physics, also from Caltech, doing research in radio astronomy. After spending several years as a radio astronomer, including two years in the Netherlands, he began his career as a NASA scientist.  

During his 31 years at Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Dave worked on such high-profile projects as "Star Wars," developing the supercomputers used to simulate national defense scenarios. He also led a technical team that contributed to saving the Galileo Mission to Jupiter.

 About the Topic

Scientists today view the universe very differently compared to scientists in Darwin’s day due to breakthrough advances in our understanding of duration, extent and history of the universe. Dr. Zweerink will emphasize some of the more significant advances including big bang cosmology, design in the universe and the idea of habitable zones. He will then discuss how knowledge of these advances might have affected Darwin’s thinking as he developed his theory of biological evolution.

Jeff Zweerink thought he would follow in his father’s footsteps as a chemistry professor until a high school teacher piqued his interest in physics. Jeff pursued a B.S. in physics and a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Iowa State University (ISU), where he focused his study on gamma rays—messengers from distant black holes and neutron stars.

Upon completing his education, Jeff taught at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Postdoctoral research took him to the West Coast, to University of California, Riverside, and eventually to a faculty research position at UCLA. He has conducted research using the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and participated in such research efforts as the Solar Two Project and the Whipple Corporation.

Marty Michelson, professor of Old Testament at Southern Nazarene University, holds the Ph.D. in OT studies from the University of Manchester in the UK.   He is a recent participant at the Metanexus Institute, where he presented “Subject, Self, and Soul:  Transdisciplinary Approaches to Personhood” in 2008, and in 2007, “Transdisciplinarity and the Unity of Knowledge: Beyond the Science and Religion Dialogue.”

Distinguished apologist, JP Moreland, entitles his lecture, An Historical Perspective on the Christian Worldview and its Impact on the Development of Modern Science.

James Porter Moreland, better known as JP Moreland, is currently Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California. He received a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Southern California.  

Moreland is a prolific Christian author, lecturer, and debater on a wide range of philosophical, religious, and social issues. He is best known for his contributions to contemporary philosophical apologetics, his critiques of materialism and naturalism, and his defense of Christian theism. Moreland also serves as fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture which is considered the hub of the intelligent design movement.