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For immediate release: January 25, 2008
Under the towering skyline of downtown Minneapolis, about hardy souls braved yet another bitterly cold Minnesota evening on Thursday, January 24 to hear Dr. Christopher Hook call for another reformation. The director of ethics education at the Mayo Graduate School (the educational arm of the world-famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN), Hook said that the looming challenges of biotechnology threaten to overwhelm a very under-prepared North American church.
Hook’s was the second of two lectures in an annual event entitled the Sixth Annual Faith and Bioethics Lecture, which is sponsored by the MacLaurin Institute. Having lectured earlier in the day at the University of Minnesota’s Medical School, Professor Hook came to Bethlehem Baptist Church for a lecture on “Bioethics and the Church: Present and Future Challenges.”
Biotechnological challenges include technologies of creation and re-creation. Technologies of creation, as Hook labels them, actually had their start 30 years ago with the first “test-tube baby”, and are typically used extensively in dealing with infertility. One of the current and most controversial of these technologies is embryonic stem cell research, which Hook says is very unpromising. For example, he said, if the research can be successfully utilized to treat the 17 million diabetics in the USA, it will require fertile women to donate up to1.7 billion eggs. This is a highly unreasonable expectation, said Hook.
Chimeras (the joining together of different species) are another dangerous technology of creation, said Hook, but it is being abetted by philosophers like Princeton’s Peter Singer who wants to assign personhood to many large mammals other than humans. This effort, like so many biotech efforts, depends upon reducing human beings to machines.
“We must return to the centrality of the incarnation,” said Hook, referring to the well-established biblical truth that in Jesus God became a human being. The doctrine of the incarnation also needs to be vigorously applied to what Hook calls technologies of re-creation, which utilize technology to enhance existing human life. These usually involve the integration of neural with electronic circuitry, along with brain implants. The net effect of many of these re-creational technologies will be the eventual capacity to utilize human thought in order to effect outcomes in the external world. Citing the real risk of biohackers, Hook asked, “Will we constrain access to these technologies in order to prevent their harmful uses?”
Acknowledging that he may be seen as modern Luddite, he worries that our cultural milieu is ripe for the worst of these biotechnological innovations to threaten our lives in extraordinary and unforeseen ways. The self-help mentality, the willingness to employ cosmetic enhancements, the medicalization of every aspect of life, and the obsession with legal and illegal drugs are all significant cultural risk factors, along with the attacks on medical conscientious objection (permission for health care workers to not provide services when it violate their consciences). A central cultural theme is the “limitless potential of science” (a term used by John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign).
Hook’s greatest concern, however, is that the church is completely unprepared for this and is and will be impotent with respect to impacting biotechnology policy. Almost all branches of the Christian church are failing us or, in some cases, even opposing us on these issues, he said. One alarming statistic is that only 9% of pastors read theology, indicating that truth is less important to church leaders than is management expertise.
Pointing to the Clapham community of late 18th and early 19th century in London, Hook asserted that here was a community of believing Christians who took their theology and biblical perspective into the fabric of the cultural and political life of England. Indeed, they were extraordinarily influential on 19th century Great Britain, in particular through the well-known efforts of William Wilberforce (the subject of the recent film Amazing Grace), who led the effort to ban slavery and slave trade.
Professor Hook’s lecture events, both at noon and in the evening, were co-sponsored by the Christian Medical and Dental Association and the Catholic Medical Association, and supported with gifts from Dr. and Mrs. Ross Anderson, Dr. and Mrs. Steve Bergeson, and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Aldridge. The Seventh Annual Faith and Bioethics Lecture, scheduled for January 2009, will feature Dr. Dan Sulmasey.
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TRANSITION TO A NEW LEADER IS UNDERWAY
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January 6, 2009 |
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Student Apologetics Training Conference 2009
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November 20, 2008 |
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Jan. 23 - 7th Annual Faith & Bioethics Lecture
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November 20, 2008 |
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Former Toro CEO Shares His Leadership Experience
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November 19, 2008 |
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Do Perspectives on Population Matter?
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May 7, 2008 |
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The Tale of Three Ossuaries
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April 21, 2008 |
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Legal Scholar Compares Modern Political Practice to the “Gelasian Thesis”
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March 13, 2008 |
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Deconstructing Secular Economic Guilt
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February 26, 2008 |
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Is Charity Without Faith Dead?
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February 26, 2008 |
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Budget Reduction Forces Staff Cutback
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January 25, 2008 |
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Hundreds Gather for First Ever Campus-Based Apologetics Training Conference
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January 5, 2008 |
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What Happens if the Sun Sets on the West?
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November 27, 2007 |
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Is Tolerance Still Tolerable in the West?
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November 16, 2007 |
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Lecture Addresses Question of Unbelief
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November 16, 2007 |
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Does Theology Belong in the University?
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November 9, 2007 |
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Can a Defeated Messiah Save Hollywood Celebrities?
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November 8, 2007 |
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Is God Innocent?
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November 5, 2007 |
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Are America’s Moral Levees Breached?
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November 1, 2007 |
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Does Washington Know the West's Recipe for Freedom?
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October 25, 2007 |
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Whatever Happened to Human Dignity?
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October 15, 2007 |
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Forgiveness Therapy Offers Hope to Abused Spouses
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October 7, 2007 |
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Spiderman Over Science? The Western Embrace of Magic
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October 4, 2007 |
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A Dramatic Wag Challenges Darwin's Worldview
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October 1, 2007 |
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From Reason to Skepticism to Mysticism: Must the West Continue Down This Path?
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September 27, 2007 |
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What Made the West a Uniquely Musical Civilization?
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September 20, 2007 |
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Minnesota Daily Covers First Lecture in Mangalwadi Series
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September 20, 2007 |
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10-part Series to Examine the Soul of Western Civilization
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September 18, 2007 |
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Institute Expresses Condolences to Those Affected by Bridge Tragedy
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August 2, 2007 |
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Three University of Minnesota Veritas Conversations Planned for Fall
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July 27, 2007 |
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Bob Osburn Discusses World Religions on the Radio
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July 24, 2007 |
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Forum to Address Charitable Choice Issue
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July 18, 2007 |
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Institute's New Campus Minister Discusses Student Group
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June 5, 2007 |
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Institute Is Planning 2007-2008 Event Schedule
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June 5, 2007 |
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Os Guinness Is Featured Speaker at the Institute's 25th Anniversary
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April 30, 2007 |
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Trade, Claims Dean, is Critical for the Poor
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April 20, 2007 |
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New Testament Scholar Unfolds Counter-Cultural Implications of Luke and Acts
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April 13, 2007 |
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Dr. Theo Stavrou to Receive Mentoring Award
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April 9, 2007 |
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Christianity Has a “Strange” Understanding of Truth, Says Sweet
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April 2, 2007 |
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Our Modern Understanding of Freedom is Nihilistic, Says Hart
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March 27, 2007 |
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Institute's Library Catalog Now Accessible Online
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March 6, 2007 |
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Religious Persecution is Worsening Globally, Says Marshall
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February 26, 2007 |
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Dialogue Is Essential in Cultivating Civic Engagement, say Wolterstorff and Bernstein
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February 21, 2007 |
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Theo Stavrou to Receive Christian Faculty Mentoring Award
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February 12, 2007 |
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Biblical Feminism Inspired by 19th Century Missionary Movements, Says Haddad
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February 2, 2007 |
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Symposium to Address Civic Engagement
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January 30, 2007 |
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Institute to Offer Recommended Books Through Amazon.com
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January 24, 2007 |
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Palliative Care, Not Physician Assisted Suicide, Says Dr. Robert Orr
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January 24, 2007 |
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Campus Minister Joins Institute Staff
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January 22, 2007 |
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Christian Medical and Dental Personnel Potluck
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January 11, 2007 |
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Cal DeWitt on Speaking of Faith Program
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January 11, 2007 |
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In Search of a Theology of the Soul
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December 27, 2006 |
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Writer Challenges Assumptions of Public Debate
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December 22, 2006 |
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Intelligent Design Proponent Declares State-Mandated Materialism Is Impermissible
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December 7, 2006 |
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Church and State: The Debate at Tate
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December 4, 2006 |
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Flannery and the Fundamentalist South: Opponents of a Nihilistic Church
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November 20, 2006 |
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Oxford Philosopher Offers 2007 Holmer Lecture
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November 13, 2006 |
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Article Claims Jesus' Forgiveness was as Political as it was Religious
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November 9, 2006 |
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Institute Board Member Receives Award
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November 6, 2006 |
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Europe Better Demonstrates the Christian Ideal, Says Middelmann
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November 2, 2006 |
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Turkish Journalist Addresses the Pope's September 12 Lecture
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October 22, 2006 |
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International Journalists Question Media Treatment of Intelligent Design
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October 20, 2006 |
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Minnesota Daily Editorializes for Religion Requirement
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October 11, 2006 |
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“Recover the Wonder,” Declares Esolen
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October 11, 2006 |
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Elaine Pagels Leaves Questions Unanswered
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October 6, 2006 |
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Professor Argues That Modern Education Is “Debunking” Wonder
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October 3, 2006 |
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Conference Stresses Strength of Christian Vision for the Environment
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September 25, 2006 |
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Conference to Address Balance Between the Human, Engineered and Natural Worlds
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June 28, 2006 |
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Institute Fellow Discusses Da Vinci and the Authority of Scripture
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June 26, 2006 |
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Consumerism Conferences Ends With Call for Green Martyrs
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May 3, 2006 |
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Michael Novak Lectures on Clash of Civilizations
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April 28, 2006 |
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Lecture to Address Clash of Civilizations
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April 18, 2006 |
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David Shenk Offers Response to Lecture Report
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April 17, 2006 |
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Institute Lectures Span Economics, Education, and Ethics
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April 7, 2006 |
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Conference to Challenge Consumerism’s Grip on American Christianity
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April 4, 2006 |
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Muslim-Christian Dialogue at the University of Minnesota Is Strategic
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March 24, 2006 |
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Philosopher Peter Singer Speaks at the University of Minnesota
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March 24, 2006 |
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Institute Welcomes Two New Staff Members
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March 22, 2006 |
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Institute Board Chair Wades Into Intelligent Design Debate
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March 20, 2006 |
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Freedom of Conscience Is Central to Religious Liberty, Says Faith and Law Lecturer
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March 8, 2006 |
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Lecture to Address How to End the Culture War Honorably
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February 23, 2006 |
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Veritas Forum Concludes with Lecture on the Resurrection
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February 4, 2006 |
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Krister Sairsingh Defends Truth in Opening Veritas Forum Lecture
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February 2, 2006 |
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Father Neuhaus Addresses Culture Wars
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December 26, 2005 |
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Richard Winter Addresses Desire for Perfection
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December 21, 2005 |
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U Student Named Rhodes Scholar
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November 29, 2005 |
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Ganssle Addresses Reason and the Knowledge of God
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October 11, 2005 |
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Michael Behe Spoke to Packed Crowd of 500
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October 4, 2005 |
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Online Christian Studies Library Now Available
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August 5, 2005 |
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Writer Criticizes Embryonic Stem Cell Fairy Tales
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July 29, 2005 |
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Nancy Pearcey Book Wins Award
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July 14, 2005 |
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Conference to Honor Former U of M Professor Rutherford Aris
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July 7, 2005 |
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"The Bench" Promotes Worldview Understanding
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April 22, 2005 |
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Professor Reedy Lectures on Christian Faith and Economics
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March 23, 2005 |
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Author Makes Case for Preserving the Life of Terri Schiavo
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March 23, 2005 |
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Udo Middelmann Addresses Issue of Being Human
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March 9, 2005 |
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Dallas Willard Lecture on TV
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January 4, 2005 |
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Dallas Willard Challenges the Academy
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November 9, 2004 |
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How Do We Achieve Cultural Authority?
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November 3, 2004 |
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Overflow Crowd Hears Author of The Question of God
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October 27, 2004 |
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New Article Challenges Some of Our Allegiances
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October 15, 2004 |
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John Angus Campbell Delivers Challenging Lecture
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October 1, 2004 |
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Gay Marriage Debate Draws Overflow Crowd
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September 17, 2004 |
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Institute Lectures to be on Cable Access TV
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August 23, 2004 |
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Institute Releases Exclusive Interview With Nancy Pearcey
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August 12, 2004 |
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Professors Challenge Stem Cell Research
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August 6, 2004 |
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Institute Announces New Giving Opportunities
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August 4, 2004 |
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Institute Announces New Class
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July 22, 2004 |
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L'Abri Celebrates 50 Years This Month
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June 17, 2004 |
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Institute Concludes 2003-2004 Lecture Season
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April 27, 2004 |
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God and the Global Marketplace
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March 24, 2004 |
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Dramatic Price Reduction for Christian Studies Courses
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March 15, 2004 |
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Deconstructing The Da Vinci Code
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March 10, 2004 |
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Nancy Pearcey to Lecture on Christian Mind
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March 10, 2004 |
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New Book Looks at Missions and Entrepreneurial Strategies
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March 2, 2004 |
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Institute Involved in Public Debate
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February 13, 2004 |
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Business Ethics and Faith
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February 11, 2004 |
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Institute-related Faculty to Lecture on Religion and Science
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February 11, 2004 |
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O'Connor Examines Udo Middelmann's Critique of the American Church
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February 6, 2004 |
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How Do We Distribute Our Wealth?
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February 6, 2004 |
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Business Lecture Series Resumes on February 2
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January 28, 2004 |
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Dr. John Patrick to Deliver Annual Pro-Life Lecture
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January 14, 2004 |
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Has Society Disconnected Sex From Marriage?
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January 14, 2004 |
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Biblical Reliability Conference to Address Challenges to Scripture
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January 5, 2004 |
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Intelligent Design Symposium Held at the U of Minnesota on November 15
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November 18, 2003 |
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What Role Does Art Play in Our Daily Lives?"
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October 17, 2003 |
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Did Chief Justice Moore Go Too Far?
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October 17, 2003 |
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Are Christians Suffering Persecution at the Hands of Liberals?
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October 14, 2003 |
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Michael Paulsen Lecture Will Tackle Conventional View of Religion in the University
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October 2, 2003 |
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J. Richard Pearcey Challenges Madonna
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September 26, 2003 |
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Business Lecture Series Begins Monday
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September 25, 2003 |
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Vishal Mangalwadi Receives Honorary Doctorate
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September 19, 2003 |
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Thought-provoking New Article on the Message of Media
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September 16, 2003 |
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New Testament Survey Course to Begin in January
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November 29, 2002 |
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Dr. Jeffrey Polet Highlights the "Monstrous Logic of Terror"
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Rutherford Aris Passes Away
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5th Annual Faith and Law Lecture, March 9
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Faculty Mentoring Conference Brought Together Scholars From Around the Country
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Bob Osburn speaks March 9 at 3:30 pm
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Two U of M Professors Debate Intelligent Design
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Dr. Kent Talked About Role of Ideology in Shaping Scientific Thought
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Does Proselytizing Make Enemies or Disciples?
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Wheaton Scholar Finds Value in Judeo-Christian Values for Biodiversity Conservation
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Narnia on Tour Comes to Twin Cities
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Nancy Pearcey to speak on C-SPAN
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Nigel Cameron Addresses Cloning Issue
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More Than 600 People Attended Biblical Reliability Conference
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Schapp Sees Hope for the Future of Literature
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Gay Marriage Debate on TV
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University Professor Discusses 'Axiomatic Christianity'
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