Intelligent Design may be a controversial subject, but there is no question that the speakers for the second Norman Levan Faculty Seminar series held in Bakersfield College’s Fireside Room April 21 spoke intelligently on the subject.
BC President Bill Andrews remarked before the start of the seminar, “What makes a faculty a faculty? Sharing insights and research,” he said.
Speaking further of the necessity for the seminar, Andrews said, “We (faculty) never took enough time for academic dialogue as undergrads.”
After Norman Levan was presented by Andrews with a plaque declaring BC’s appreciation for his service, moderator and former interim BC President Bob Allison explained the “ground rules” for the seminar and remarked wryly, “My role will be brief, moderate,” to moderate laughter.
The first speaker was American and world history professor Daymon Johnson who explored Intelligent Design from the historical perspective. Johnson addressed the question “is the universe 6,000 years old or is it 6 billion?”
Johnson spoke at length, citing the opinion of noted scientist and Christian, Dr. Hugh Ross, who hosts the Trinity Broadcasting Network show, “Reasons to Believe.”
Ross, a “progressive creationist,” according to Johnson’s lecture, believes science is compatible with religion. Ross, a doctorate fellow from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to Johnson, is an astrophysicist and writer of “dozens” of books including “Creator of Cosmos.” According to Johnson, “creation science,” an apparent branch of “progressive creationism,” emerged