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Uniformitarianism and Creationary Astronomy
Full text linkUniformitarianism is commonly viewed as antithetical to young-earth creation, given uniformitarianism’s reputation as the framework that freed the sciences from Moses, to use Lyell’s phrase. Young-earth creation affirms a history that features dramatic and unique events. This appears diametrically opposed to uniformitarianism, which is associated with the belief that the present is the key to the past. However, this perception may reflect a simplistic understanding of the origin and tenets of uniformitarianism.
In Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle (1987), Stephen Jay Gould demonstrates that the controversy surrounding the discovery of deep time was not only between gradualism and catastrophism, but also between two dichotomous views of the nature of time. These dichotomous views can be metaphorically described as an arrow (directional, progressive) versus a cycle (consistent, predictable). Gould argues that while both metaphors are necessary to comprehend the nature of time, Uniformitarianism favors time\u27s cycle at the expense of time\u27s arrow.
Gould outlines four distinct ways in which Lyell defines the term “Uniformitarianism” (1987, 119-124). Of these, two comprise “a set of methodological statements about proper scientific procedure” (1987, 118): these are (1) the invariance of physical law and (2) the uniformity of process. The other two comprise “a group of substantive beliefs about how the world really works”: these are (3) the uniformity of rate and (4) the uniformity of state. When viewed through the lens of the debate over time’s nature, it becomes evident that Lyell’s four tenets of uniformitarianism reflect a philosophical preference towards time\u27s cycle.
Turning to Scripture, we see both metaphors of time in Creation Week. Time’s arrow is evident in the sequential and progressive events which bring order and fill the primordial formless emptiness of Genesis 1:2. Time’s cycle is apparent in the regular cycles established in the course of Creation Week – the signs and seasons, days and years of Genesis 1:16. This is consistent with an understanding of God, the sovereign Creator, creating a universe with a purpose and destiny (time’s arrow) that operates in a consistent manner based on His faithful character (time’s cycle).
Because Creation Week uses both of these metaphors of time, we find that certain tenets of uniformitarianism actually do comport with Scripture. These would be the uniformity of natural law (Hebrews 1:3, Genesis 8:22, Jeremiah 33:25) and the uniformity of process, which, properly understood, is an extrapolation of the uniformity of law. It is only Lyell\u27s uniformities of rate and of state which conflict with Scripture, as these uphold time’s cycle to the exclusion of divine interventive events, such as the creative events of Creation Week.
During the 9th ICC, Sarah Maithel began a discussion on the roles and limits of uniformitarianism in creationist geology (Maithel 2024). This discussion should be extended to the field of creationary astronomy. Creationary astronomy differs from other disciplines of young-earth creation in its relation to time. In geology and biology, creation scientists can study processes that have occurred in the millennia since Creation Week. In astronomy, due to the vast sizes and distances involved, the objects of our study date almost exclusively to the time of Creation Week. This means that an understanding of Creation Week processes is critically important in astronomy.
As we have demonstrated, Creation Week invokes the cyclicity of time foundational to uniformitarianism, specifically in the principles of the uniformity of law and of process. We should allow these principles to guide our efforts to build a creationist model of astronomy. Creation astronomy may benefit from the metaphor of time\u27s arrow and time\u27s cycle as we seek to understand apparent age, stellar formation and development, and other features of the cosmos.
Gould, Stephen Jay. 1987. Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle: Myth and Metaphor in the Discovery of Geological Time. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Maithel, Sarah A. (2023) The Role of and Limits on Uniformitarian Principles in Creationist Sedimentology Research, Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism: Vol. 9, Article 47
The Language of Organizational Communication
Full text linkOrganizational communication is a broad field that has been studied extensively in many contexts. However, there was limited research on the specific vocabulary, features, surrounding attitudes, and effects of the language of organizational communication. I conducted a case study on an admissions office at a small private university in the midwestern United States to explore this topic. I observed the admissions counselors and collected audio data on internal conversations amongst them and interactions with prospective students and their families. I then transcribed the audio into a corpus and conducted a keyness analysis for the most important and frequent words in both their interactions with each other and their interactions with guests. With the results of the keyness analysis I constructed a survey of all the admissions counselors on the team and also interviewed three counselors. I found that there were professional jargon terms used frequently in internal conversations among counselors but avoided with guests. I also found that there were specialized non-jargon terms that the counselors used frequently with guests but never with each other. Additionally, I found that computer-mediated communication and small talk were also key elements of the organizational language within the admissions office. Finally, I found that the counselors felt that the environment and culture of the admissions office was motivating and comfortable with open and frequent communication listed as the primary factor for this. In this paper, I further detail these various findings and discuss their practical implications for both this small university admissions office and other organizations
Scrutinizing the Critical Edition of Chopin\u27s Étude Op. 25, No. 1: Insights and Challenges
No full textThis article examines the widely used critical edition of Chopin’s Étude Op. 25, No. 1, analysing the editorial approach, inherent challenges, and interpretative decisions that shaped its final form. Published by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute Polish Music Publication, this edition aims to preserve Chopin’s original intentions through a careful examination of primary sources, including autographs and first editions. However, discrepancies and misleading editorial interventions raise concerns about its authenticity and reliability. This study evaluates the persuasiveness of the edition, scrutinizing the rationale behind its editorial choices and their impact on performance practice. While the edition provides valuable insights and practical guidance, it ultimately falls short of serving as a definitive, authoritative text. The discussion underscores the necessity of discerning the composer’s original intent while ensuring the credibility of the musical text. This analysis brings to light the need for performers to critically engage with editorial interpretations and recognize the significant role of edition selection in shaping artistic and interpretative decisions
Competition in Music Education: Changing the Approach for the Student’s Benefit
Full text linkAn influential component of music in modern schools is the participation in competition. The tradition of competition in music education is not a recent invention, but its longstanding history does not guarantee its effectiveness in teaching music to students. Competition in music does provide positive outcomes for students. While exploring these positive outcomes of competition, consideration must be given to the positive effects of competition that are directly benefiting the students and specifically their musical education. The approach that is taken to competition in music education attempts to create positive outcomes, but the nature of competition often distorts students’ views of music and diminishes their learning of and about music. If too much emphasis is placed on competition, which is not uncommon, then the nature of music can quickly lose its identity as a form of art. Since competition in music has benefits, it should not be completely removed from music education. However, since competition in music also has drawbacks, those involved in music education should implement the changes that would benefit the students and their education
Chemistry: The Interplay of Two Careers
Full text linkWhen people think about the most famous composers, they probably envision men whose lives were entirely consumed by music. However, the lives of some composers demonstrate how music can be one of a few important parts of someone’s life. Two specific examples are Alexander Borodin and Charles Ives. In addition to being a composer, Borodin was a loving husband and successful chemist, who made advancements in his field of study. Similarly, Ives was a lover of baseball and a life insurance agent, who also made advancements in his field. Studying these men’s lives shows how a career in music can be an integral part of someone’s life without wholly defining it
Discovering Clara McMillan\u27s Commonplace Book and Creative Writing
Full text linkAs a daughter of Cedarville’s life writing author, Martha McMillan, Clara McMillan often assumed the duties of recording the happenings of Cedarville in Martha’s journals while her mother was away. Her handwriting appears in a number of journals, including the 1889 volume that I partially transcribed in 2024. However, due to a significant discovery, Clara’s literary journal has been recovered from a barn on what used to be the McMillan property. This journal contains stories that Clara adapted and recorded from writers such as Edward Everett Hale and Margaret Mantel Merrill. While Clara copied many stories, the research team and I have discovered that a select few of these stories are Clara’s original products. Featuring short stories and poems, this journal contains traces of a historic creative writer in Cedarville, and I propose to examine how these masterful literary pieces reflect Cedarville’s culture in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Because one of the stories involves a local commencement ceremony, students of Cedarville University and members of the Cedarville Village community can relate to Clara’s works. Studying these pieces from Clara’s literary journal gives Cedarville students and villagers an example of a woman who, through pieces of creative writing and literary recordings, captures the essence of not only Cedarville culture, but also American culture at large during this time period of history
Effects of Freezing on Insulin Regulation of Intracellular Solute Concentrations in the Freeze-Tolerant Spring Peeper (genus Pseudacris)
Full text linkMan’s exploration of harsh environments has often been informed by phenomena observed in animals. A prime example is the cryobiology (the study of life in cold, harsh conditions) of certain North American frog species. In this case, scientists have observed members of the frog genera Dryophytes, Pseudacris, and Rana, among others, which survive harsh North American winters. In the winter, these frogs undergo a frozen state, during which their body tissues and fluids freeze. Once spring arrives with warmer temperatures, these frogs are then able to re-emerge apparently unharmed by the process. Various studies have been conducted to explain the molecular pathways that lead to this amazing ability. This study seeks to analyze the presence of the insulin signaling pathway in species of genus Pseudacris. To accomplish this, specimens of freeze-tolerant Pseudacris species were incubated, euthanized at different stages of entering into their frozen state, and preserved at -80 C so that their proteins could later be extracted and analyzed. Specimens from non-freeze tolerant species were also prepared in similar fashion, so that their proteins could be compared to the freeze-tolerant species. The proteins extracted from these specimens were then analyzed using ELISA and western blot testing to characterize the proteins and compare insulin content between the extracts from these frogs
Improving Outcomes: Increasing Referral Rates through STOP-BANG Questionnaire Integration
Full text linkObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common, yet underdiagnosed sleep disorder associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, hypertension, and perioperative complications. Despite its prevalence, OSA often remains undetected in primary care settings, leading to poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. Early screening using validated tools such as the STOP-BANG questionnaire has demonstrated effectiveness in identifying at-risk patients and guiding timely interventions. This quality improvement project (QI) pre/post test aims to implement the STOP-BANG questionnaire to increase referral rates in a cardiology clinic. A search of multiple databases verified that the STOP-BANG questionnaire is a reliable instrument that has been used to screen patients for OSA to assist in early identification of those at risk for OSA and prompt referral. The anticipated potential contribution of this project is the advancement of evidence-based screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in clinical settings, leading to earlier referral to assist in identification and intervention for at-risk patients. By implementing the STOP-BANG questionnaire as a standardized screening tool, this initiative has the potential to reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed OSA, mitigate associated comorbidities such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and improve overall patient outcomes. Additionally, integrating a structured screening process into routine clinical practice may improve workflow efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and inform future quality improvement initiatives aimed at addressing sleep-disordered breathing in high-risk populations
The Gift of Transience
Full text linkIn a world where time seems to slip through our fingers, work is focused on celebrating the gift of transience. For many years, I wrestled with the sting of time passing by. Clinging to the paradise of my childhood years, I found comfort in nostalgia, looking back to the good times. Fearing the future, I desperately grasped at every moment in an attempt to capture it before it slipped away. This tiring pursuit continued for years until I brought my frustration to God, and He revealed that I have been in His hand all my life. Just as He had been the artist of every noteworthy moment thus far, so would He continue to paint my days with color. As it is written, “For what He has started, He will finish.” This revelation changed my perspective and inspired my work. Instead of mourning the passage of time, I look boldly ahead, trusting that God\u27s abundance will continually prevail.
In the past few years, my main goal has been to cast a wide net in terms of the mediums I use. From painting, to printmaking, to sculpture, I strive to illustrate my impression of the emotional forms within a moment. With slightly exaggerated detail and natural, fluid compositions, I elevate otherwise overlooked features. Through my current works, I aim to convey the spirit of celebration and gratitude I feel toward the gift of fleeting beauty. To achieve this, I have sought to create a balance of precision and play. This is evident in my artistic process, where I prioritize being driven by improvisation and then refining that foundation. My oil and watercolor paintings venture into abstraction, inviting the viewer to experience a memory with me and form a connection of their own. In my Artist Talk titled “The Gift of Transience”, I hope to share my testimony, my artistic process, and my current work
Joyful Tunes
Full text linkThis art piece is called \u27Joyful Tunes\u27 and was done in 2023. Its dimensions are 6x6 inches and it was done fully with alcohol markers in a realistic art style. This piece depicts a lively jester character playing his violin for a dog companion in a colorful and relaxed setting. I experimented a lot with character design and storytelling, and thought about how I could bring forth an interesting and convincing composition. This piece was a part of a portfolio that involved storytelling specifically, and turning real-world scenes into something that was more fantastical. I wanted this piece to bring a sense of comfort, playfulness, and joy to the viewer, as if they were also able to enjoy the fun company of these two characters