An interesting article was recently published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (December 2024 edition). It is titled “Models in Christianity and Chemistry: Truth or Utility” written by William Wood PhD.

Articles in PSCF typically become open access through the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) website one year after they are published. So, you will need to wait a bit before you see the article in its entirety (unless you are an ASA member like me).

Wood states that a good model is “both useful and true.” There are caveats of course. Objective models in science can become outdated as new data emerges. Bohr’s model of the atom is an example of a model that is outdated.

Wood also states that when theology attempts modeling in a manner similar to science, there are two main criticisms:

1) God is indescribable so the “God data” is never accurate.

2) Theology models risk not being representative of every individual’s relationship with God.

He also states that people who attempt theological modeling through the realm of science are often accused of scientism. Wood is making a good point here. This idea is ridiculous as the last thing those who are scientism-friendly want is theology’s input. I think it is quite obvious that the New Atheist movement and the U.S. Evangelical movement both refuse to accept contributions of religion or science, respectively. I can’t imagine why these two extremes in metaphysics would want to throw out additional ways to observe the world — yet they do.

We already have models in Christianity: the Trinity, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, the Bridge-to-Life model, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura — these are all models. Models exist in other religious traditions as well.

Where do we go from here? I propose two ideas that need further study:

First, the objectivity of nature can provide a subjective bridge to our relationship with God. As an example, the proton is made up of 3 quarks. They are connected by the incredibly powerful strong nuclear force. How is this finding in nature not a metaphor for the Trinity? As another example, Simon Conway Morris (an internationally known evolutionary biologist) has proposed that evolutionary change has limits in creativity. How is this idea not a potential metaphor for purpose in our universe?

Proton made up of 2 up and 1 down quarks

Second, science necessarily advances. If science advances, this means that our objective and subjective ideas about the world must necessarily advance. As observations about the world necessarily advance, theology MUST change as humans gain more objective knowledge. Psalm 8 makes this point when it states, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” The writer of this Psalm is making an observation (looking at the stars of the Milky Way) and then proposes a theory (God still cares for inconsequential humans). This idea is inductive reasoning. Yes, it is a religious statement, but it is still inductive reasoning often used in science.

The Pleiades

There is an opportuity in which we can use natural observation and human subjective thought to make a real difference in the lives of many people of the Christian faith. We can use this same “real difference” to care for the poor, the sick, and even our enemies.

For example, we can combine such ideas when considering better ideas for the theological concept of atonement theory. Many Christians consider that Jesus’s death on the cross occurred only as a result of “penal substitutionary atonement.” In other words, God took God’s vengeance for all of humanity’s sins out on Jesus Christ. This description of God sounds maleficent. This description of God sounds like God eternally will never comprehend why humans even exist which gets complicated if God desired our species to exist in the first place.

“Night at Golgotha” by Vasili Vasilievich Vereshchagin (1869)

However, as we obtain more scientific data about nature and can propose hypotheses about nature in light of known science. We can think about how God’s relationship to our species exists for God “that you are mindful of them.” Perhaps God is always luring for the good. Perhaps Christ died for our sins not because of God’s vengeance but because humans are inherently a violent species. We would kill our God in Christ simply because that is what we do. Perhaps God, even in the crucifixion, still loved us, cared for us, and still lured for the good without forcing us to be good. This divine love is infinite in time and eternal in setting.

Perhaps our observations through science will give us a better understanding of how God loves every entity in the universe.

Odds and Ends:

Please read this editorial titled, “Will They Come for PubMed Next?” I worry greatly about the future of medical science in our country. This article exacerbates my fears.

Also, my book (“A Theology of the Microbiome“) now has an audio version! This is exciting!

image created by Gemini Advanced

My country (the United States) is just going through a weird / awful / bizarre time. Even if I keep the politics out of the discussion, the anti-science movement in my country is truly insane. It always has been a problem in American churches, especially since the 1900s. Christian fundamentalism has hurt science, hurt religion, and hurt society. Fundamentalist movements in other religions have done likewise. The anti-science aspect of Christian fundamentalism now has spread into secular society. Other countries are experiencing this problematic issue as well, but Americans tend to be large and loud when we decide to act like idiots. For example, up to 700,000 Americans died during the U.S. Civil War over the issue of slavery. We killed almost one million people over a moral issue with only one correct answer — slavery is wrong.

So, yes, I am very depressed about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. being nominated as head of U.S. Health and Human Services. I am a physician and specifically a pediatric gastroenterologist. I have seen the deleterious effects of lack of medical care, inability to access medical care, and refusal to access medical care. I have seen the devastation caused by children who do not get vaccinated. I am super hopeful that RFK Jr. backs off on his anti-vaccine views. Perhaps he will just work on improving the food industry. Who knows?

Even in my home state of Utah, I recently have corresponded with the Utah House Chair of Health & Human Services about a state bill giving parents more freedom in denying their children access to the newborn screen. Unreal. The newborn screen is a simple blood test that can diagnose very severe diseases early in an infant’s life in order to 1) begin medical therapy, 2) extend a child’s life, and 3) give the child a healthy life. I can’t imagine why a parent would deny their child a chance to get screened early (with subsequent treatment) for phenylketonuria early, cystic fibrosis as well as myriad of terrible, preventable diseases.

I will say that the Bible’s book of Ecclesiastes is probably one of the most powerful yet least read books in the canon. It presents a dark picture of humanity. When I see our species making terrible decisions, this book’s verses come to me.

2:11 “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

2: 18-21 “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.”

5: 8-10 “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

Depressing? Yes, but pretty darn accurate when one considers how our species treats the weak and oppressed. We not only can be cruel to others but also to other species and to our planet. Perhaps there are genetic or epigenetic aspects or our cruelty. Our human obsession with crazy conspiracy theories? This problem is likely due to evolutionary pressure. You can go down a dark metaphysical hole here when you read or see the news.

I have no answer for such problems. Human awfulness is not solvable. Theodicy cannot be explained.

I do have one thought, however. Perhaps during our limited time on this planet, we are given the possiblity of helping the “other.” Yes, it is always great to donate money to good causes. It is great to explain to your friends about the real problems of the world. However, can you give water to a single homeless person? Can you help a lone elderly person across the street? Can you be kind to your nextdoor neighbor even if they disagree with you politically? Such simple things are hard…very hard.

Jay McDaniel’s essay on butterflies provides an excellent metaphor here. The life of the butterfly is so very short, but in that time period of its life, the butterfly is integral to the ecosystem of the whole world (including humans). We humans often don’t realize that such insects are working in the background. The simple pollination of one plant has downstream creative effects in time which benefit the plant, the plants around it, the soil, the city where the plant resides, and Earth. In many ways, this is panexperientialism — all reality experiencing the good act of that one butterfly.

We, as humans, can mimic the butterfy. A simple act of doing the right thing has huge implications for our world. The “right thing” isn’t necessarily a moral call. It is a call for creativity. It is a call between our species and the divine for the universal experience of producing ever more creativity in time and and in space. I made the figure below (I know it is kind of poorly made) to explain my idea.

This is not a Christian call to creativity. I may be Christian, but this call for creativity encompasses all religions and encompasses the lack of religion. It is the simple human decency of caring for the other. It may have the natural, evolutionary roots of altruism. It may be a supernatural desire calling each of us to be good to the “least of these.” I think it is the combination of the both as God is in the world. It calls for a Hegelian dialectic encompassing both the objective and subjective aspects of reality and of creativity. We can do more.

We can be kind. We can be like a butterfly and influence the world.

Odds and Ends:

1. I was interviewed for the podcast, “(Re)Thinking Faith with Josh Patterson.” He is a liberal Christian like me, so we talked quite a bit about metaphysics and kindness. I cussed a bit and probably was too opinionated. It should be out soon.
2. I’m a big fan of the liberal arts. I am currently reading, “The Evidence Liberal Arts Needs”. It is a good book. Consider reading it. Here is the link.

image generated by Meta AI

Today is Sunday, February 9, 2025. Although I live in the states, I will not be watching the Super Bowel today. I actually like sports, but I hate long infomercials. The Super Bowl is definitely the penultimate form of infomercial. So, I went to a bar and danced with my spouse last night, went to church today, played some Pickleball this afternoon, and now am sitting and writing.

I really have enjoyed writing on this blog. I’m not sure it makes an impact, but as I have become older, I have found writing to be more and more relaxing.

Anway, let’s talk about telemores.

Telomores are an immensely important part of DNA that many people are not aware of. They are repetiitive pieces of DNA that exist at the ends of chromosomes. They serve a protective function.

Image of telomeres from UCSF. The telomeres are red. The chromosomes are blue.

You could metaphorically consider a telomere as the equivalent of a hard hat on a person’s head. If some big piece of equipment falls and hits the hard hat, the person’s head is protected.

The mechanism involving telomeres is similar. As cells divide, the ends of chromosomes get frayed and are at risk of not functioning. The telomere really is not involved with eventual protein formation — although there are some exceptions. If the chromosomes get frayed at the end during the process of DNA replication, the subsequent fraying or injury at the end of the chromosome just affects the telomere with no real effect on the purpose of the chromosome. Once the telomere is shortened to the point of not being protective , a cell can die or can quit dividing.

For example, human cells in a culture medium only divide by mitosis for 40 to 60 cylces before they stop reproducing. This braking effect is due to the telomeres being slowly worn away.

Telomeres are associated with controlling cell division and may have some effect on aging. It makes sense in the setting of aging. Telomeres are slowly removed –> cells quit functioning well –> organs start having issues –> humans age.

Different organisms have very different telomere length. A kilobase (Kb) is 1000 DNA base pairs. The typical little house mouse has telomere length of 150 kb. Protozoans can have 18 kb telomere length. Humans have a telomere length of 10 to 15 kb. It is weird that mice have such long telomeres. They are eaten by everything, so the longer length probably has to do with keeping their health in prime condition in order to have maintenance of muscle strength and organ function as a way to avoid predation. Healthy mice are less likely to be eaten than sick mice.

A great review article on telomeres is here.

Now on to theology and philosophy. In my recent book (“A Theology of the Microbiome“), I posit that reality is both objective and subjective. Seeing red affects the cones of the human retina to allow us to see the color. This effect is objective. The way we perceive red emotionally or psychologically is subjective. I would bet that my feelings about red are different than those of the neighbors on my street.

Mark Rothko, “Untitled”

Telomeres shorten with cell division and DNA mitosis. This cellular event is natural and expected. This shortening is objective in observation. However, telomeres also can shorten with subjective change via the effect of epigenetics. Epigenetics cause inherited change in a manner that eventually affects DNA inheritance.

There is fascinating research in this area.

Chronic stress in a human likely shortens telomere length due to psychological stress leading to oxidation and downstream telomere damage.

Adults who suffered maltreatment / abuse as children appear to have shortened telomere length compared to controls.

Depression may shorten telomere length with more problematic depression shortening telomere length even more.

Many, many research articles exist in this arena.

As someone who has studied in the fields of process theology and open & relational theology (see my prior posts), I will make some observations that warrant further theological study:

1. Telomeres are affected by direct genetic factors (objective) but also by environmental or psychological stress (subjective). This knowledge provides a theological and perhaps philosophical insight into how reality actually works.
2. I may not be able to objectively keep my / my neighbor’s telomeres from shortening, but I can indeed subjectively help. My neighbor may need food. My neighbor may need shelter. My neighbor definitely needs kindness. My country (and our whole world) currently seems to discount kindness. However, I can be kind to the neighbor or stranger. I am helping their life immeasurably (and measurably when considering telomere length).
3. Being kind to your neighbor, is probably healthy for you as well.
4. If I support the concept of panexperientialism in which all of nature has experience. If all of nature at every level of reality has experience, then I can further contend that God is involved in the experience of everything — from quark to quail, goat to galaxy, unicellular organism to universe. God is there in the midst of nature and in the midst of humanity with all of its joys and tragedies. In such a theological model, God realizes when we are being kind to the neighbor or stranger, and the effects of kindness and love go up and down the ladder of experience in nature. A kind act to one individual scales up to culture and society. It also scales down to our telomeres.

From a Christian perspective, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) subjectively aligns with our daily, objective, real-world experience.

My summary: Let’s all try to be a bit more kind. Your neighbor and your neighbor’s chromosomes will thank you.

image created by Meta AI

I get particularly angry when fraudsters cheat people out of money, especially when the victim is older or has a mental processing disorder (dementia, for example). Fraudsters are everywhere — at work, in our neighborhoods, and in our religious or social groups.

Fraudsters are great at convincing people to excessively worry about issues related to death. Their behavior is very devastating as none of us want to shuffle off the old mortal coil too early, and some anxious people are willing to pay large amounts of money for unproven or unethical therapies to prevent death.

I found this great editorial in Gastroenterology which is the biggest gastroenterology journals in the world. I receive the journal because I am a gastroenterologist and belong to the American Gastroenterological Association. The editorial was interesting because this article has nothing to do with my field.

The article, “Hacking Death in Dublin” was written by Seamus O’Mahoney who does research in the field of end-of-life care. The article discusses his experience attending the Longevity Conference sponsored by the Longevity Escape Velocity Foundation. I had not heard of this conference or this foundation.

When reading the article, one quickly gets the impression that O’Mahoney was amazed at the potential for fraud as well as a lack of the conference attendees’ understanding of death. I would agree with him.

Here are some quotes:

“The longevity biotech industry has a significant intersection with artificial
intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. Blockchain was frequently mentioned,
as was the ‘tokenization’ of longevity research funding, or ‘tokenomics.’ (I witnessed much mangling of the English language at this summit.) I was struck by how many of the biotech entrepreneurs lacked any medical or bioscience background.”

Ugh. You can pretty much bet that fraud will be involved when cryptocurrency and blockchain are mentioned as a positive. Also, why would one invest in a product when the entrepreneurs have no real science background?

“Aubrey de Grey, who majored in computer science, remarked that ‘the medical profession is at the trailing end of most conversations.’”

Ugh. Mr. de Grey is expressing a repetitive, tiresome statement. I am amazed how people who do not work in medicine have no understanding about the progress of medical science. Sure, the field progresses slowly at times (like all of science!!!!), but the advances in my time of being in medicine (since 1991) have been amazing! Such comments seem similar to statements made by the anti-vaccine movement in their belief that all healthcare should not be trusted. We do have those physicians who do shady work, but they are few and far between (just like lawyers, engineers, or teachers who do shady stuff).

“A recurring theme of the summit was the industry’s hatred of regulatory
bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).”

Ugh. I am shocked, SHOCKED, that so-called entrepreneurs hate safety mechanisms. Please note my sarcasm.

“The radical accelerationist wing sees death as an affront, and its defeat as a moral imperative. One young member of this militant group told the summit: ‘We really need to get our shit together! We are dying! Why don’t we go Moonshot or Los Alamos?!’ He argued that all longevity research—its funding, execution, and publishing—should be ‘permissionless.’ ‘Who are they to tell us what to do with our bodies?’ he asked indignantly.“

Ugh. Comments like this from the young man in the article feel like someone who has financial privilege. This young man should go work in a developing country to see what “We are dying” really means. I have worked in Africa. I have worked in pediatric ICUs. I have seen real suffering. Also, this young man seems to not understand the second law of thermodynamics. Yes, we are dying. We are all dying. Everyone will die. Death is natural but perhaps preventable, at times, with good available hygeine, safe food, a clean environment, and prevention of deadly diseases.

“Doubt and uncertainty are at the heart of science, but doubt and uncertainty were not much in evidence at this summit, where the atmosphere was more akin to a cult, a gathering of true believers.”

Ugh. And “yes”, I have friends and family members who take some pseudo-science ideas as serious as religious dogma. It does seem, at times, cult-like.

You may be reading through this post and getting more and more depressed. I get it. I’m a practicing physician, and I am exposed to such crazy ideas on a regular basis. We can think about solutions. Some solutions may be global; others may simply consist of convincing a friend of family member about the realities of life and the objective nature of science.

And the emphasis should be on “reality.” The sad experiences of life (disease, injury, trauma, anxiety, death) are simply reality — nothing less, nothing more. We all may have many experiences during our lifetimes, but we all will die. The religious person, the atheist person, the agnostic person, the person who has no understanding of what death means — we will all die. We may have a belief in an afterlife. We may have no belief in an afterlife. We may state we do not know. In reality, NONE OF US know what happens after death. However, we all should recognize death will occur and be kind to others around us.

Photo of an ancient Roman cemetery (Wikipedia)

Interestingly, research has found risk factors do exist for people who have an extreme fear of death. Being an older female decreases the risk; believing in cryonics increases the risk.

Death anxiety is a real thing. It may lead to hypochondriasis. I worry that individuals with severe anxiety about dying may fall for foolishness as described in the article above.

One thing that probably helps ameliorate a severe fear of dying is cognitive based therapy. No need to invest money in a longevity scam. No need to scream into the void about how unfair life is. Cognitive based therapy, when does well, can be extremely helpful. Finding meaning in life, regardless of one’s metaphysics, also has been shown to be helpful.

Another thing to consider is to learn the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy will progress no matter what you try to do to prevent it. Take comfort that everything will reach a thermodynamic equilibrium. Everything that is material will end. The final end may not be the case spiritually or metaphysically, but all useful energy in our universe will end.

Some people have told me that theology is a pointless endeavor. There are many reasons to disagree with such a statement. Theology, when done well, can be preventative when one is exposed to the next “great idea” hypothesizing about living forever (materially at least).

Theologians (or people with good theological training) can talk and should talk about fraud — financial, religious, and metaphysicial. Theologians can talk about a better way to exist in a world in which we all die. Theologicans can talk about a better way to understand that birth, life, and death are natural.

Human society needs to recognize that we will all reach our natural limits.

image created by Meta AI