Website of Dr. Brian C. Thomas

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Washburn University

Links related to the nature and process of Science...

• The Process of Science: and its Interaction with Non-Scientific Ideas A booklet available in PDF format from the American Astronomical Society.
  
  
• Understanding Science A great site with lots of examples about how science actually works, including case studies and tips on how to apply scientific reasoning to everyday life.
  
  
• An Ancient Universe: How Astronomers Know the Vast Scale of Cosmic Time A booklet available in PDF format from the American Astronomical Society.
  
  
• Nature of Science Hosted by University of California Museum of Paleontology.
  
  
• The Nature of Science Hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
  
  
• Is Scientific Inquiry Restricted To Nature? Blog post about the method and limitations of science.
  
  
• Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial NOVA program on the historic federal case Kitzmiller v. Dover Board of Education, in which the judge concluded that the movement known as "Intelligent Design" is not science.
  
  
• The Alternative-Science Respectability Checklist Blog post related to the "Knowledge Filter"

Links related to the interaction of Science and Religion...

• Can a world class scientist also be a devout Christian? Discussion from NPR's "Talk of the Nation" with two scientists who are Christians.
  
  
• Can an Evangelical Believe in Evolution? Testimony of Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project and Evangelical Christian. (PDF file)
  
  
• Asteroids, Stars, and the Love of God A conversation with George Coyne and Guy Consolmagno, two astronomers and Jesuit preists, about how they see the interaction of their science and their faith. (This is an episode of the public radio show 'Speaking of Faith')
  
  
• Quarks & Creation A conversation with John Polkinghorne, theologian and particle physicist, about how he sees the interaction between science and faith. (This is an episode of the public radio show 'On Being')
  
  
• God and the Genome A talk and Q&A with geneticist Francis Collins (video)
  
  
• The Fish Wars A very nice and easy to understand description of the nature of the controversy over evolution and creation.
  
  
• The American Scientific Affiliation Affiliation of Christians in science, includes many relevant articles.
  
  
• Religious Perspectives on Evolution Some resources on religious perspectives on evolution.
  
  
• Evolutionary Christianity Conversations with Christian leaders and esteemed scientists.
  
  
• A short note on Intelligent Design for students. A short note pointing out that it is possible to be a religious believer and accept the scientific evidence for an old universe and evolution of life, with links to other resources and recommended reading. Find more on this topic here.
  
  
• Nonoverlapping Magisteria An article by Steven J. Gould regarding the differing "domains" or regions of study that science and religion occupy. This is a particularly good article and well worth reading closely.
  
  
• BioLogos Site devoted to answering a wide range of questions about how science and religion can be compatible. Focused on Christianity, but with implications for other religions as well.
  
  

Some books on this topic:

• Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose?
  
  
• And God said, "Let there be evolution!": Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an, and the Theory of Evolution
  
  
• Saving Darwin: How to Be a Christian and Believe in Evolution
  
  
• Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World
  
  

And finally, some of my own thoughts on these issues...

• What's Wrong with Intelligent Design? Some thoughts on why Intelligent Design ideas fall short, for both scientific and theological reasons.
  
  
• Why is evolution important and why should it be taught in school? My response to this question.