God and Nature 2025 #1
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By Sy Garte and Anikó Albert
Welcome to the first issue of God and Nature for 2025, a year that is already shaping up to be one for the history books. As Christians and as scientists, many of us may have a lot to deal with as the year unfolds. Let’s not forget to pray and remember that Jesus is our stalwart guide in all things.
We start this issue with new contributor Abbie Schrotenboer, whose essay is a timely reminder that the depth of winter is not a time of death but of dormancy. Robert Strauss discusses the difference between thinking of God as laughing at us as opposed to smiling upon us, in the context of the church’s response to scientific findings. Veteran essayist Paul Carr writes about the amazing story of the creation of the universe, resulting in what he calls “children of the universe—humans.”
Daniel King and Gabriel Swinney write about the fallenness of the physical world as revealed by both Scripture and science and consider the correct response by Christians. Michael Colon, another newcomer to the magazine, treats us to a poetic and spirit-filled nature tribute focusing on the trails of Bear Mountain in New York State. Closing out the essays, Ranjit Thuraisingham presents a discussion of wave and particle duality with a surprising twist of how the realities of quantum physics could relate to human consciousness and the role of the Holy Spirit in human personal identity, especially in light of dementia.
On Camera: Scripture in Creation columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom contributes a photo-poem about David’s efforts to transport the Ark of the Covenant, along with lovely seasonal photos evoking the image of careful stepping. Mike Clifford, our columnist from Across the Pond, writes about his own unique style of teaching engineering students, making us wish to be able to audit one of his classes. Engineer and chef Kristine Johnson, in her column Food for the Soul, presents us with a recipe for a meal perfect for fellowship and special occasions. We close with two moving poems by veteran contributors, Christopher Eyte and Andrew Budek-Schmeisser.
We hope you enjoy this issue, and please consider sending us your essays, stories, poetry, and art. (Note that the submission page is working, and your submissions are delivered, even though you might not get an immediate response.) Blessings to all!
Sy Garte, Ph.D. Biochemistry, is Editor-in-Chief of God and Nature, and the author of “The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith”, (Kregel) and “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel). He has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities and was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He blogs at The Book of Works, and his website is sygarte.com. Sy is Vice President of the Washington DC ASA Chapter, and a fellow of the ASA.
Anikó Albert grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and is a graduate of Eötvös Loránd University. A serial migrant, she taught English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, high-school Spanish in Kingston, Jamaica, and English and various subjects in Alameda, California. She is currently the Managing Editor of God and Nature, and Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.
Welcome to the first issue of God and Nature for 2025, a year that is already shaping up to be one for the history books. As Christians and as scientists, many of us may have a lot to deal with as the year unfolds. Let’s not forget to pray and remember that Jesus is our stalwart guide in all things.
We start this issue with new contributor Abbie Schrotenboer, whose essay is a timely reminder that the depth of winter is not a time of death but of dormancy. Robert Strauss discusses the difference between thinking of God as laughing at us as opposed to smiling upon us, in the context of the church’s response to scientific findings. Veteran essayist Paul Carr writes about the amazing story of the creation of the universe, resulting in what he calls “children of the universe—humans.”
Daniel King and Gabriel Swinney write about the fallenness of the physical world as revealed by both Scripture and science and consider the correct response by Christians. Michael Colon, another newcomer to the magazine, treats us to a poetic and spirit-filled nature tribute focusing on the trails of Bear Mountain in New York State. Closing out the essays, Ranjit Thuraisingham presents a discussion of wave and particle duality with a surprising twist of how the realities of quantum physics could relate to human consciousness and the role of the Holy Spirit in human personal identity, especially in light of dementia.
On Camera: Scripture in Creation columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom contributes a photo-poem about David’s efforts to transport the Ark of the Covenant, along with lovely seasonal photos evoking the image of careful stepping. Mike Clifford, our columnist from Across the Pond, writes about his own unique style of teaching engineering students, making us wish to be able to audit one of his classes. Engineer and chef Kristine Johnson, in her column Food for the Soul, presents us with a recipe for a meal perfect for fellowship and special occasions. We close with two moving poems by veteran contributors, Christopher Eyte and Andrew Budek-Schmeisser.
We hope you enjoy this issue, and please consider sending us your essays, stories, poetry, and art. (Note that the submission page is working, and your submissions are delivered, even though you might not get an immediate response.) Blessings to all!
Sy Garte, Ph.D. Biochemistry, is Editor-in-Chief of God and Nature, and the author of “The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith”, (Kregel) and “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel). He has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities and was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He blogs at The Book of Works, and his website is sygarte.com. Sy is Vice President of the Washington DC ASA Chapter, and a fellow of the ASA.
Anikó Albert grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and is a graduate of Eötvös Loránd University. A serial migrant, she taught English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, high-school Spanish in Kingston, Jamaica, and English and various subjects in Alameda, California. She is currently the Managing Editor of God and Nature, and Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.