Pebble in the Pond:

Beginning A Dialogue on Science & Religion

Pebble in the Pond:

Beginning A Dialogue on Science & Religion

Thus far in the story (1)….Thus far in the story (1)…. God created nature AND the Bible, so

there is no conflict between the two systems that are trying to understand them;

Science actually arose and was fostered by Christianity - the supposed conflict is mythical;

Science works to understand the natural world and is always open to correction (plus, a surprising number of hard scientists are religious and attend Church regularly);

God created nature AND the Bible, so there is no conflict between the two systems that are trying to understand them;

Science actually arose and was fostered by Christianity - the supposed conflict is mythical;

Science works to understand the natural world and is always open to correction (plus, a surprising number of hard scientists are religious and attend Church regularly);

Thus far in the story (2)….Thus far in the story (2)…. There are several ways that science

and Christianity can interact; we prefer dialogue and/or integration. Problems arise when individuals use science and/or religion for their own devices;

Each of us have a framework/blanket of beliefs; adding and subtracting beliefs is difficult. When considering ‘beliefs’, we need to use triangulation.

Science moves forward using paradigms; paradigms are resistance to change. Paradigm shifts occur in many areas other than science.

There are several ways that science and Christianity can interact; we prefer dialogue and/or integration. Problems arise when individuals use science and/or religion for their own devices;

Each of us have a framework/blanket of beliefs; adding and subtracting beliefs is difficult. When considering ‘beliefs’, we need to use triangulation.

Science moves forward using paradigms; paradigms are resistance to change. Paradigm shifts occur in many areas other than science.

All previous classes available at

www.timlightfoot.com/Focus

All previous classes available at

www.timlightfoot.com/Focus

Today:The Genetics of

Christianity

Today:The Genetics of

Christianity

The God GeneDr. Dean Hamer

The God GeneDr. Dean Hamer

Proposes that there is at least one gene that predisposes humans to be spiritual.

Proposes that there is at least one gene that predisposes humans to be spiritual.

Linkage is the thingLinkage is the thing If you can measure a trait, you can tell if

it is inherited. CR Cloninger - Developed the self-

transcendence scale (STS) Hamer & colleagues gave the STS to

328 males & 673 females (avg. age =32)

They then correlated these results with whether specific genes were ‘active’

If you can measure a trait, you can tell if it is inherited.

CR Cloninger - Developed the self-transcendence scale (STS)

Hamer & colleagues gave the STS to 328 males & 673 females (avg. age =32)

They then correlated these results with whether specific genes were ‘active’

The “God” gene?The “God” gene? Found an association (linkage)

between variations in VMAT2 and STS.

Just one base pair difference (either A or C)

If the subjects had a “C” base in this gene then they scored much higher on STS (47% of total).

Found an association (linkage) between variations in VMAT2 and STS.

Just one base pair difference (either A or C)

If the subjects had a “C” base in this gene then they scored much higher on STS (47% of total).

LimitationsLimitations

Does scale measure spirituality? Probable that there is more than

one gene Tells us nothing about how the

protein produced leads to spirituality.

Does scale measure spirituality? Probable that there is more than

one gene Tells us nothing about how the

protein produced leads to spirituality.

Adam & Eve - genetic style

Adam & Eve - genetic style

Mitochondrial Eve - 150,000 years agoCann, et al. Nature 325, 31 - 36, 1987

Y-chromosome Adam - 60-90,000 y agoYuehai, et al. Science 292, 1151-1153, 2001

Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) 3000 - 1000 B.C.

Rohde, et al. Nature 431: 562-566, 2004

Mitochondrial Eve - 150,000 years agoCann, et al. Nature 325, 31 - 36, 1987

Y-chromosome Adam - 60-90,000 y agoYuehai, et al. Science 292, 1151-1153, 2001

Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) 3000 - 1000 B.C.

Rohde, et al. Nature 431: 562-566, 2004

Extensions to the real-world

Extensions to the real-world

Genetic applications all around us

Food we eat, clothes we wear

As Christians, are we ready to deal with the

implications?

Genetic applications all around us

Food we eat, clothes we wear

As Christians, are we ready to deal with the

implications?

The Sputnik of our timeThe Sputnik of our time

Satellite Cells (aka: STEM CELLS) NOT JUST EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Precursor cells The promise?

Learn what activates and directs the cell to form certain types of cells

Satellite Cells (aka: STEM CELLS) NOT JUST EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Precursor cells The promise?

Learn what activates and directs the cell to form certain types of cells

Chips for allChips for all

Microarrays Glass slides - 1 cm x 1 cm Put a sample on the microarray Find out which genes are active Current chips cover

25,000 - 38,000 genes

Microarrays Glass slides - 1 cm x 1 cm Put a sample on the microarray Find out which genes are active Current chips cover

25,000 - 38,000 genes

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

A pinch of this, a snip of that

A pinch of this, a snip of that

SNPs Single nucleotide polymorphism

Predisposition to diseases The promise?

Quick determination of predisposition to certain diseases

Individualized drug prescriptions

SNPs Single nucleotide polymorphism

Predisposition to diseases The promise?

Quick determination of predisposition to certain diseases

Individualized drug prescriptions

Nature’s light switchNature’s light switch siRNA

Short-interfering RNA

siRNA Short-interfering RNA

DNA RNA Protein

Transcription Translation

DNA RNA

Transcription

Protein

Translation

siRNA

The promise:A way to control viruses, bacteria, genetic diseases, etc., etc.

So, are you ready?So, are you ready?

Joe Bob and Jim Bob

aka: The Follow-up to Dr. Sally Jessie Springer

(the unseen commercial)

Joe Bob and Jim Bob

aka: The Follow-up to Dr. Sally Jessie Springer

(the unseen commercial)

Joe Bob and Jim Bob(the unseen commercial)

Joe Bob and Jim Bob(the unseen commercial)

QuickTime™ and aDV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The Elephant in the RoomThe Elephant in the Room

The E-word: some thoughts

The E-word: some thoughts

Focus class experience Not going to justify, defend, or argue for

a specific side Remember, evolution is correctly used

as a scientific construct, not a philosophical construct

Just be informed use triangulation Tim’s Evolution Triangulation

Focus class experience Not going to justify, defend, or argue for

a specific side Remember, evolution is correctly used

as a scientific construct, not a philosophical construct

Just be informed use triangulation Tim’s Evolution Triangulation

The E-word: some thoughts

The E-word: some thoughts

One benefit of controversy: science goes to answer questions e.g. evolution of the eye e.g. monkeys typing Shakespeare

Experience counts

One benefit of controversy: science goes to answer questions e.g. evolution of the eye e.g. monkeys typing Shakespeare

Experience counts

The Elephant in the RoomTerry Kettering (with apologies).

The Elephant in the RoomTerry Kettering (with apologies).

There's an elephant in the room.There's an elephant in the room.It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it.It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it.

Yet we squeeze by with "How are you?" and "I'm fine…Yet we squeeze by with "How are you?" and "I'm fine…And a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.And a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.

We talk about the weather.We talk about the weather.We talk about work.We talk about work.

We talk about everything else…We talk about everything else…Except the elephant in the room.Except the elephant in the room.

We all know it is there.We all know it is there.We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together.We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together.

It is constantly on our minds.It is constantly on our minds.

The Elephant in the RoomThe Elephant in the Room

It has hurt us all.It has hurt us all.But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.

Oh, please, say its name.Oh, please, say its name.Oh, please, say ”evolution" again.Oh, please, say ”evolution" again.

Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.For if we talk about it,For if we talk about it,

Perhaps we can talk about its life.Perhaps we can talk about its life.Can I say ”evolution" to you and not have you look away:Can I say ”evolution" to you and not have you look away:

For if I cannot,For if I cannot,then you are leaving me alone…then you are leaving me alone…

in a room…in a room…with an elephant. with an elephant.

Terry Kettering (with apologies).

Next week:

Truth & the Dialogue

Next week:

Truth & the Dialogue