01.12.07
Posted in Biotechnology, WWJD in a Postmodern World, General at 1:42 pm by Ted
A recent National Post article raises a lot of concerns for Christians AND society. What value do we have as humans if we are not “Perfect”? Thoughts?
Read on:
Call for more fetal tests raises concerns
Ethicists fear it could lead to more abortions
Siri Agrell
National Post Saturday, January 06, 2007
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada will recommend next month that all expectant mothers undergo screening for fetal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome — not just those over the age of 35, as is the practice.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada will recommendnext month that all expectant mothers undergo screening for fetalabnormalities such as Down’s syndrome — not just those over the age of 35,as is the practice. The recommendation, to be released in the society’s journal on Feb. 1, echoes a bulletin issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists this month and comes on the heels of a study that suggests amniocentesis –an invasive procedure done during pregnancy to screen for Down’s syndrome and other congenital defects — carries less risk of miscarriage than was previously believed.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada will recommendnext month that all expectant mothers undergo screening for fetalabnormalities such as Down’s syndrome — not just those over the age of 35,as is the practice.The recommendation, to be released in the society’s journal on Feb. 1, echoes a bulletin issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists this month and comes on the heels of a study that suggests amniocentesis –an invasive procedure done during pregnancy to screen for Down’s syndrome and other congenital defects — carries less risk of miscarriage than was previously believed.But while these pronouncements may provide guidance for expectant parents and some degree of comfort for women facing such tests, they could also present ethical concerns about where the information provided by these procedures will lead.
Dr. Andre Lalonde, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Ottawa and the executive vice president of the SOGC, said the society decided to issue the recommendation so that a greater number of women would have the option to terminate their pregnancies should fetal abnormalities be detected.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
07.21.06
Posted in Biotechnology, Discipling This Generation For A Digital World at 9:57 am by Greg Bitgood
In my book I compared our present age to the amazing work of Mary Shelley, Frankenstien, written in the early 19th Century. The world was undergoing a simular transformation in her day, from a rural, agricultural society to an industrialized world. Scientist were slowly replacing the authority of the clergy and an enlightened culture was throwing off the fetters of a religious worldview. Was this good? Perhaps a better question is; ‘Was it inevitable?’
Her book sounded an alarm that the unfettered mind can take us into some very dark places. I recommend that any and all serious science minded explorers should read her book carefully.
Today, the Promethean attitude of our commercial lead scientific exploration is taking us down some very bright and very dark paths. (In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the Titan who had no respect for the gods and would ridicule even the mighty Zeus. In order to help mankind he stole fire from Mount Olympus and created great consternation from the gods toward mankind). The bright paths are towards great innovation in medicine but the dark paths include such horrors as the mass destruction of human life in it’s earliest forms through stem cell research, the marriage of machine and man, and the development of supermen soldiers.
Please feel free to comment on some of the issues you see in this search for more scientific ability and knowledge.
Permalink
04.29.06
Posted in The Doubling of Computer Power at 4:57 pm by Greg Bitgood
Gordon E. Moore was a co-founder of the technology giant Intel. More than half of all computer chips in the world come from his company. In 1965, Moore observed that the rate of our technological development was doubling every 18 months. In 1975, he expanded this prediction of doubling to every 24 months. He based this “law” on the amount of transistors that can be put on a computer chip at relatively the same size and cost. It has continued to hold true to this day. Every two years, computer power has continued to double and this pace doesn’t seem to be slowing any time soon.
What are you thoughts on this?
Greg Bitgood
Permalink
Posted in Informationalism at 4:50 pm by Greg Bitgood
Informationalism can be summed up on one word: Google.
Google’s Corporate Information Webpage states this mission very plainly: “Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” So far they are on track to do just that in the next ten years.
- What will this mean for education?
- How will this change the psyche of the digital human?
- Should all information be available to all?
Let us know your thoughts.
Greg Bitgood
Permalink
Posted in The Communicaiton Revolution at 4:37 pm by Greg Bitgood
The world is changing and we are in a Communication Revolution. This Blog is evidence of the very reality.
- Are we in a Gutenberg time? What does this mean?
- How comfortable are you in the digital universe?
- Are you a Digital Immigrant or a Digital Native?
“New technologies in the communication of information bring about radical changes in the existing hierarchies of power and it is never pleasant for those at the top as the Vatican discovered when Luther got his dander up.”
Blog, Hugh Hewlett, Chap. 3, Time 01:53:56
If Hugh is right then the Guetenbergs of today are Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin. My only questions now is “Who is the next Martin Luther and what will he have to say?”
Greg Bitgood
Permalink
Posted in Discipleship at 4:27 pm by Greg Bitgood
There are three main ideas that I convey in my book on the topic of Discipleship (Discipleship the Biggest Word in Christianity). If you look at Matthew 28:18-20 which is typically called the Great Commission you will see two of the aspects very clearly:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
The first aspect is what I call the context of discipleship, that is, “go and make disciples of the nations.” The word of nations here is “ethonos” in the original language which means people groups or cultural groups. We must become equipped to reach these people groups and in order to do this we must, in some, respects identify with the cultures we are trying to reach. Check out 1 Cor. 9: 19-23. Thus we must become familiar with the Digital World if we are going to reach that world.
The second aspect is the curriculum of discipleship. The is what we are to disciple those we reach in and towards. Unlike the context, the curriculum will never change. Jesus told us simply that we should be “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The specific aspects of the curriculum may be applied a bit differently depending on the context which leads us to the last aspect of discipleship.
The last idea that I have begun to see is the method of discipleship. I use the idea of apprenticeship in my book. Apprenticeship brings in the ideas of a mentor and a disciple but also brings the larger context of accountability based upon the jurisdiction the apprenticeship happens. Let me illustrate: In an electrical apprenticeship the curriculum is both the physical laws of electricity and the specific way a jurisdiction will apply those laws. Both the apprentice and the journeyman (mentor) are under the accountability of a specific jurisdiction. If this is taking place in Europe then they will apply the laws of electricity differently where they use 220, three phase, voltage. If it is here in North America then they would use 110, two phase, voltage. The code (curriculum) will apply different rules based upon the different application of electricity. The jurisdiction of discipleship is managed by the local church. Thus both journeyman and the apprentice must still have a relationship with the local church in how the curriculum applies to the particulars of a specific culture. If we were discipling in a primitive culture then women may not need to wear tops. The church would help them decide when it was appropriate to go without a top. Obviously, in our North American culture we would have a different application of the ideas of chastity.
Let me know your thoughts on these three ideas.
Greg Bitgood.
Permalink
Posted in Discipling This Generation For A Digital World at 3:28 pm by Greg Bitgood
I would like to solicit your comments about my book. I am not suggesting that you have had to read it all before you post. You can go into the Book Companion Site and read the first couple of pages for each chapter. There are six sub-topics I that would facilitate some good blogging: discipleship principles, the present communication revolution, globalization, informationalism, biotechnology or bioethics and the doubling of computer power and where this will take us.
I will be looking for many of my friends and fellow disciples to help with these topics. Please join the dialog.
Greg Bitgood
Permalink
Posted in General at 1:17 pm by Greg Bitgood
We invite you to sign in and begin to comment on the various quesitons posted. These questions are there to initiate comments. If you want to have a higher level of participation to post articles and links let me know: greg@christianthinker.org or just add a comment to this post.
Thanks for entering the dialog:
Greg Bitgood
Permalink
« Previous entries