God and Nature Summer 2022
Letter from the editors |
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By Sy Garte and Aniko Albert
We postponed this Summer issue from the usual mid-July release to mid-August in order not to conflict with the Annual Meeting of the ASA in San Diego—the first in-person meeting in three years. We are sorry we could not be there in person this year, but we were able to tune in remotely. Feedback from this gathering has been wonderful, and it is certainly one more sign that normality is back in many ways, for which we thank God.
In this issue, we start with two essays from students. Toby Engelking discusses a current topic of great interest in science and religion: neurotheology—the intersection of religion with neuroscience. Caitlyn Kelley presents a thorough exploration of creation care based on biblical hermeneutics. These two excellent essays should inspire other students to submit their work to God and Nature, and we encourage all those in contact with students to share this issue with those who might be so inclined. Editor Sy Garte contributes an essay on the connection between hunger and purpose in evolutionary theory. Beth Madison, a soil scientist (and prior contributor) gives us a lyrical and metaphorical treatment of cultivation of the garden of our spiritual life. The final two essays from ASA veterans Lorence Collins, and Ken Touryan cover some answers to questions about evolution (Collins) and the relevance of the metaphor of the “tentmaker” for today’s world of evangelism in precarious situations (Touryan).
We are blessed with two photo-essays in this issue. Thomas Jay Oord returns to God and Nature with an inspiring video of some of his photos with theological commentary. And photo columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom brings another series of beautiful photos in a scriptural context.
"Across the Pond" columnist Mike Clifford is back from his one-issue vacation with a thought-provoking piece about sin and fighting climate change with carbon credits. Finally, we have a poem by geologist and ASA fellow David Campbell entitled “Just, In Time.”
Please enjoy this issue and help to spread the word about God and Nature to your friends and contacts in real life and online. We are always happy to receive your essays, poetry, photos, and comments. Please use the Submissions page to send us your contributions.
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. He is currently Visiting Professor at Rutgers University and has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities. He was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He is the author of five books, over 200 scientific papers, and numerous articles on science and faith. 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 Co-Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.
We postponed this Summer issue from the usual mid-July release to mid-August in order not to conflict with the Annual Meeting of the ASA in San Diego—the first in-person meeting in three years. We are sorry we could not be there in person this year, but we were able to tune in remotely. Feedback from this gathering has been wonderful, and it is certainly one more sign that normality is back in many ways, for which we thank God.
In this issue, we start with two essays from students. Toby Engelking discusses a current topic of great interest in science and religion: neurotheology—the intersection of religion with neuroscience. Caitlyn Kelley presents a thorough exploration of creation care based on biblical hermeneutics. These two excellent essays should inspire other students to submit their work to God and Nature, and we encourage all those in contact with students to share this issue with those who might be so inclined. Editor Sy Garte contributes an essay on the connection between hunger and purpose in evolutionary theory. Beth Madison, a soil scientist (and prior contributor) gives us a lyrical and metaphorical treatment of cultivation of the garden of our spiritual life. The final two essays from ASA veterans Lorence Collins, and Ken Touryan cover some answers to questions about evolution (Collins) and the relevance of the metaphor of the “tentmaker” for today’s world of evangelism in precarious situations (Touryan).
We are blessed with two photo-essays in this issue. Thomas Jay Oord returns to God and Nature with an inspiring video of some of his photos with theological commentary. And photo columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom brings another series of beautiful photos in a scriptural context.
"Across the Pond" columnist Mike Clifford is back from his one-issue vacation with a thought-provoking piece about sin and fighting climate change with carbon credits. Finally, we have a poem by geologist and ASA fellow David Campbell entitled “Just, In Time.”
Please enjoy this issue and help to spread the word about God and Nature to your friends and contacts in real life and online. We are always happy to receive your essays, poetry, photos, and comments. Please use the Submissions page to send us your contributions.
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. He is currently Visiting Professor at Rutgers University and has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities. He was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He is the author of five books, over 200 scientific papers, and numerous articles on science and faith. 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 Co-Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.