The Rocks Don’t Lie: A Geologist Investigates Noah’s Flood

The Rocks Don’t Lie: A Geologist Investigates Noah’s Flood by David R. Montgomery

I’ve been very interested in the Science vs. Religion for several years, but my reading had mostly been in the area of Creationism vs. Evolution. However, when I heard Derek Colanduno interview David R. Montgomery about his new book “The Rocks Don’t Lie” on Skepticality, I was intrigued. Could this be a good introduction to the science and history of Geology and a rebuttal of claims of a global flood? Then when I learned that I could get a copy of the book in return for a donation to the wonderful National Center for Science Education (NCSE), I was guaranteed to read it.

Personhood – Beyond Abortion

As you may have heard, the North Dakota legislature passed a Personhood Measure that would define life as beginning at conception. It’s not in force yet, but it will be if the people of North Dakota pass a referendum making this measure an amendment to the state constitution. I hope that the citizens of North Dakota follow the wise lead of the citizens of Colorado and Mississippi and reject this overly-broad measure.

I’m not alone in this. Even many pro-life Republicans oppose this measure. Why? And why did deep red Mississippi reject it?

They reject this because it’s more than an abortion bill – it’s a sledgehammer with large negative side effects.

Building an Ethical Alternative for our Children

About a year ago, I started worrying about the Boy Scouts. When I was a kid, I was in the Cub Scouts for a year or two, but I quit for a reason I no longer remember, and I hadn’t really thought about them much in the meantime. However, I realized that my boys were getting close to the age when they might want to join the Cub Scouts, and I didn’t know how I would respond to that.

Like many others, I liked some aspects of what the Boy Scouts teach (leadership, outdoor skills, etc.), but am really uncomfortable with other parts (prohibition of gays, “Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God.”, etc). I wouldn’t push my kids into scouts, but what if they wanted to join? Would I let them join an organization that would teach them that their father could not be a good citizen?

No, I wouldn’t.

Instead, I decided to try to find an acceptable alternative, or to create one if I couldn’t find one.

It’s Back… Intelligent Design Bill Reintroduced in Missouri

Last year, a Missouri State Representative, Rick Brattin (R-District 55), sponsored a bill that would have damaged science education in Missouri by attacking Evolution. Brattin received a firestorm of negative attention (he even took down his Facebook page in reaction*), and the bill died in committee.

Unfortunately, he is trying again.

A Final Day with the Three Great Monotheisms

Today’s the last day of our trip. I’m writing this as we’re getting ready to fly home this evening after spending a final day in and around the Old City. We spent the day exploring the history and sites of the three great Monotheisms: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

More Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Today we experienced a mix of standard tourist fare and life in Israel/Palestine well off the beaten path.

Back to Jerusalem – Sights, Shopping, More Thanksgiving, and Politics

We’re back in Jerusalem for the last three days of our trip. We started the day nervous about how much we still wanted to see and how little time we had left. But between a busy day walking around the Old City and the growing desire to go home to see our boys, we’re now feeling that we’re going to be just fine with what we will be able to see.

Thanksgiving Day in Israel

Happy Thanksgiving. It’s interesting to be out of the country on the major holidays. I’ve been gone for a couple of Independence Days, and now this is the second Thanksgiving I’ve been gone (for the first, in 1999, I had a nice French seafood dinner in England with an Israeli-American friend) *.

What this shared with those other holidays is that the act of travelling means that we don’t think about the holiday much. This Thanksgiving is unique, though, in that there’s something concrete and specific to be thankful for – the cease fire has held so far.

Enjoying the Travel Bubble in Galilee

Sitting down for dinner at a nice Lebanese restaurant on the Sea of Galilee, I connected my phone to wifi to see an IM from a friend:

Him: How’s the mood over there?
Me: Earlier, it was “overrun by Philipino tourists”, but otherwise it depends on who you talk to. Why?
Him: The Tel Aviv bombing hasn’t rattled you?

That’s how the News Bubble works while traveling: we knew about the general troubles and tension, but we were unaware of the big news of the day, a bus bombing in Tel Aviv that hurt over a dozen Israeli Jews. We were too busy enjoying Galilee to see the news.

A Day of Ups and Downs (Jordan Valley and Galilee)

This has been a day of ups and downs, both literally (being well below sea level near Jericho and ascending to the top of Mt. Tabor) and figuratively (seeing beautiful Roman and Byzantine ruins between getting searched by Israeli police and spending time in an auto repair shop).