God and Nature 2026 #1
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By Sy Garte and Anikó Albert
Welcome to our first 2026 issue! We pray you all had a wonderful Easter holiday and (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) are ready for spring. In this issue we have essays from both veteran contributors and newcomers to the magazine. We start off with Fred S. Cannon’s deep dive into the language of Genesis 1 and Acts 17 to emphasize the harmony between the biblical message that “God made of one blood all ethnicities” and what science tells us. Editor-in-Chief Sy Garte presents an essay about agency as a key component of life that distinguishes it from the nonliving world, as discussed in his recent book Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God.
Reverend Terry Defoe returns to God and Nature with an essay on hermeneutics focusing on the importance of understanding the cultural contexts in which the biblical message was written and the difference between literal and literary interpretations. Newcomer Kristin Siaw has contributed a fascinating photo-essay discussing the various ways art and technology can use inspiration from nature in new designs. Another newcomer, Drew McGinley, tackles the problem of trying to derive moral obligation toward the environment from a morally neutral science and offers a theocentric view as the solution. Finally, veteran contributor Kenell Touryan gives us a contemplation on the nature of light as understood in physics and as a metaphor for Christ’s presence in the world.
Our three faithful columnists are back: Cheryl Grey Bostrom's words and stunning photography capture the magic of the aurora; Mike Clifford discusses judgement and assessment in an academic environment while guided by Christ-centered values, and Kristine Johnson gives us another mouth-watering look at feeding our souls, this time focusing on meatballs.
In addition, we are happy to present two poems by new contributors: “Living Among Giants” by Eugene Curry, and “Creative Intelligence” by Jessica Renee Dawson.
We hope you enjoy this issue! Please consider sending us your essays, stories, poetry, and art. (Note that the submission page is working, and your submissions are being 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), “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel) and "Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God" (Tyndale). 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. His Substack is "Faithful Syence" 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 our first 2026 issue! We pray you all had a wonderful Easter holiday and (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) are ready for spring. In this issue we have essays from both veteran contributors and newcomers to the magazine. We start off with Fred S. Cannon’s deep dive into the language of Genesis 1 and Acts 17 to emphasize the harmony between the biblical message that “God made of one blood all ethnicities” and what science tells us. Editor-in-Chief Sy Garte presents an essay about agency as a key component of life that distinguishes it from the nonliving world, as discussed in his recent book Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God.
Reverend Terry Defoe returns to God and Nature with an essay on hermeneutics focusing on the importance of understanding the cultural contexts in which the biblical message was written and the difference between literal and literary interpretations. Newcomer Kristin Siaw has contributed a fascinating photo-essay discussing the various ways art and technology can use inspiration from nature in new designs. Another newcomer, Drew McGinley, tackles the problem of trying to derive moral obligation toward the environment from a morally neutral science and offers a theocentric view as the solution. Finally, veteran contributor Kenell Touryan gives us a contemplation on the nature of light as understood in physics and as a metaphor for Christ’s presence in the world.
Our three faithful columnists are back: Cheryl Grey Bostrom's words and stunning photography capture the magic of the aurora; Mike Clifford discusses judgement and assessment in an academic environment while guided by Christ-centered values, and Kristine Johnson gives us another mouth-watering look at feeding our souls, this time focusing on meatballs.
In addition, we are happy to present two poems by new contributors: “Living Among Giants” by Eugene Curry, and “Creative Intelligence” by Jessica Renee Dawson.
We hope you enjoy this issue! Please consider sending us your essays, stories, poetry, and art. (Note that the submission page is working, and your submissions are being 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), “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel) and "Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God" (Tyndale). 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. His Substack is "Faithful Syence" 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.