The Big Bang and Creationism

Question The Cosmos #1: Introduction and Water on Mars

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sun, 7 Aug 2011 19:38:00 -0700

Here folks, the first episode of the new podcast!

Question The Cosmos #1: Introduction and Water on Mars

Please visit the NEW blog at: http://questionthecosmos.blogspot.com/ and send e-mails to:

questioningthecosmos@gmail.com

Enjoy!!!!

A New Podcast is Afoot...

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sat, 6 Aug 2011 18:12:00 -0700

Hi folks!

I don't know if any of you are still following my old blog hoping I'd come out with a new podcast. I know, I never did. However, times change. An old college buddy of mine (who I actually met while making the podcast), who has since gone on to get his Masters degree, and I, are teaming up to make a new podcast called Questioning the Cosmos. It will be of a similar format to the Big Bang and Creationism podcast.

I have added a link to this post to the teaser video I made to promote our new podcast. Hope it gets you guys excited!

Update

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:54:00 -0700

Sorry, no new podcast yet. Amazing how little time I have after working 35-40 hour work weeks! I'll draw up an episode before the week is out, hopefully have it out thursday or friday (my days off). In other exciting news for the show:

1) I am planning to host a lecture in my hometown about evolutionary theory. I will try to get video recording of it, and put it in video podcast format so you all can see the real-life me in action :)

2) I have spoken with Tom Bridgman, who has co-authored a paper with G.P. Jellison on the variable speed of light claim; I am going to try and formulate some good questions and have him for an interview, which he would be glad to do again!

3) For those of you that think the show is one-sided; I've managed to (probably) get a Creationist on the show. A recent website, righteousresponders.com/ , has come up claiming to be able to "absolutely destroy" the theory of evolution. Though I sincerely doubt this claim, as I've heard it before by other Creationists, they seemed like a good place to start getting Creationist guests. They should respond to me within the week. It's not Ken Ham, Carl Wieland, or Kent Hovind, but it'll do for now!

Quantum Cosmology

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:23:00 -0700

The Big Bang singularity is not the very origin of our universe. Developments in quantum cosmology have shown us that the Big Bang singularity does not actually exist, and the universe continues on prior to what classically appears as the beginning of the universe. This podcast analyzes quantum cosmology.

Quantum Cosmology

First Video Podcast!

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:14:00 -0700

Video Podcast — Introduction to the Big Bang Theory

I decided to sneak you guys a video podcast! I hope you like it. It comes in two parts, it's on youtube.

An Introduction to the Big Bang Theory (Part 1)
An Introduction to the Big Bang Theory (Part 2)

Here a full link; thanks to my buddy Scott for putting it together and getting it uploaded!

Discussion on The Watchmaker Argument

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:21:00 -0700

Okay, well, we eventually got it recorded, it sounds like it was stitched together like Frankenstein's monster, but it's here nonetheless.

Interview

Brief Update

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:37:00 -0700

Sorry it took so long to get this up... it's kind of pointless for the show, but hopefully some of you catch this message. My media uploading thing does not work now that I am back home so things are a bit annoying, as I can't upload anything!!!!

My friend uploaded this for me:

Brief Update

EDIT: Okay, Skypecast is horribly buggy and (as we just found out) doesn't work on my computer! We are going to play around with things a bit, I won't be able to join in the conversation, but I will be able to type out responses. I suppose if we just the people we do, we can invite them into the chat too.. and do just a normal chat.)

AGAIN EDIT: Okay, listen up. My skypename is bigbangcreationism. Add me if you want to join the conversation, and I will let the host know what your screen name is, so we can add you. Skypecast Beta is reallllllllyyy buggy, so we are just doing a normal conversation. If you want to join in, just let me know!

ANOTHER EDIT: Well, the Skype thing was a dismal failure. We'll try it later today but his recording software didn't even work for a regular conversation.

Live Discussion!

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:03:00 -0700

My friend from college, who runs his own podcast (The Thought Experiment) is going to have me on his show to discuss with him William Paley's Thought Experiment on the Watch and the Watchmaker, a very pertinent claim made by Creationists and Intelligent Design advocates. The show will be live on Skype (show details can be found here) at 11 AM PST.

Hope some of you will tune in and check it out. If you have a mic and want to talk feel free to join us in the discussion!

Debate Proposition

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:00:00 -0700

I've been meaning to make this new post for a while now, but I've been lazy and sick; anyways here goes:

I've received a proposition for a fun little debate by R.C. Metcalf. His website can be seen here. Dr. Metcalf's credentials include a doctorate in health professions, a M.S. in Science Education, and a partially completed M.S. in Theology (taken from the back of his book, Letter to a Christian Nation: Counter Point, as seen on his site) Dr. Metcalf's original post and other related posts I will put in full here; let me know what you guys think about this debate idea? I am very interested in knowing what you think of it.

"Hi Robert,

I've listened to several (but not all, yet) of your podcasts and I must say I find your comments refreashing. Nevertheless, while refreshing in your approach, I would contend that you are mistaken about quite a few things. I was going to send you an e-mail, however I thought your other bloggers may wish to throw in their comments to my forthcoming suggestion.

Let me give you some background on me... I am a Christian and also a scientist (not to be confused with an oxymoronic "Christian Scientist"). I was raised in a completely atheist home, so I tend to buck the trend that folks like Harris and Dawkins like to proclaim, that most people become Christians because they are taught Christianity as children.

I recently finished a book entitled "Letter to a Christian Nation: Counter Point," which as you may have guessed, is a response to Sam Harris. It is one of three response books by different authors, each providing a unique perspective: a theologian (Doug Wilson) , a historian (Mike Leahy), and a scientist (yours truly).

I, too, have a podcast going, though mine is newer than yours with only 3 episodes thus far. It's entitles "Think Again with RC Metcalf." Now to my question...

What would you (and your listeners) think of the two of us producing a series of podcasts in something of a debate format? "Deuling Podcasts" if you will... We both try to air something weekly in response to the others most recent broadcast. Our responses wouldn't take up the entire half hour, so as to leave room for listeners' questions.

Let me know what you think... and please... everyone else on this blog, chime in, too!

All the best,
RC"

"Hello,

This sounds like just what my podcast needs; a little debate action.

I'll make a new thread on the blog for your post, and ask about the idea in the next show, which should come out sometime next week.

Is there anything specifically you want to debate on, or is it a sort of all-around religious debate?

Take care,
Robert"

"Robert,

Well, I'm happy to take suggestions from listeners, so we can entertain their ideas once we get some. In the meantime, we could begin with something that I hear questioned a lot. Where does morality come from? How do we account for moral behavior on Darwinian naturalism?

Or we could discuss Stephen Jay Gould's NOMA concept, which is one area where we differ. I agree with Dawkins (rarely, but on this one I do...) that if the God hypothesis has any hope of being validated it must be testable scientifically. Dawkins wrote in The God Delusion, "God's existence or non-existence is a scientific fact about the universe, discoverable in principle if not in practice." I believe that Dawkins is on the right track.

So, there are a couple of suggestions to get us started. Perhaps when you produce your next podcast you could put out those suggestions and one or two of your own and see what the listeners think. I'll keep a watch on the blog for responses.

(Go ahead and copy this to the new thread, if you like. I'll be away from the computer most of the day tomorrow, but I wanted to give you some feedback before I hit the sack.) Goodnight!" — R.C. Metcalf

Again, let me know what everyone thinks about this debate idea?

Yet another delayed podcast...

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:26:00 -0700

It's been two weeks. I was going to put out the episode this weekend but a nice bout of food poisoning stopped me from doing that. I've had a few tests and quizzes that have kept me busy in the mean time. Sorry for the intermittent, unpredictable showtimes. I never really know what's going to come at me with school. I'll be out in about two weeks though.

Answering Questions

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:10:00 -0700

This episode is just me responding to various questions I have received on subjects concerning the Big Bang, Evolution, and critical thinking in general.

Answering Questions

Going to have to stall a bit again...

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sun, 13 May 2007 11:43:00 -0700

I will be releasing a podcast this week, but it's going to have to be on Wednesday. I have midterms on Monday and Tuesday (and unfortunately Tuesday's midterm is late in the evening). I've got the episode all planned out; but I need to really cram for these exams. I'll try my best to have it up and running by Wednesday. I apologize again for this delay.

No Episode This Week

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Fri, 4 May 2007 12:04:00 -0700

Sorry, I won't be able to put out an episode this week. I've got a final draft of an English essay due on Monday amongst other various assignments that are going to occupy my time this weekend. I haven't forgotten about the questions e-mailed to me. I'll be able to put out an episode next week.

Sorry again.

Dealing With Creationism

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 13:19:00 -0700

A great question this week by a listener, which leads into the more general question and show topic of "How should we deal with Creationism?"

Dealing WIth Creationism

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:25:00 -0700

I have to post this separately, apparently the iTunes music store only linked to the two images I linked, and didn't include the actual podcast... sorry about the confusion.

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:45:00 -0700

Got new microphone. Hope I come in clearer. I got ahold of Creationism's Trojan Horse and so will be discussing that for the entire episode. If my voice changes throughout the episode, I forgot I had my retainer in halfway through...

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

Here are the links I promised:

Creationisms' Trojan Horse
Word-for-word Comparsion of Of Pandas and People

You can find a lot of other good information on their website.

The Geometry of the Universe

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:04:00 -0700

This weeks episode is going to be discussing the Creationist claim about the changing nature of science and their problem with it. The topic for this week's episode is the geometry of the universe and how this geometry affects the evolution of the universe. I also discuss the recent finding of protein in a T-rex bone which verifies the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds (in this case, the chicken!)

The Geometry of the Universe

Here are some links I found helpful in wrapping my mind around the notion of non-Euclidean geometry:
Hyperparallel lines in hyperbolic geometry
Geometry of the Universe
Hyperbolic geometry

Note: the lines on Wikipedia's Hyperbolic geometry page don't look like they would be parallel to the first line. This is just a problem with the drawing. The parallel lines only "touch" at infinity. They close in asymptotically towards the line but never touch.

P.S. Sorry about any strange background noises you heard (including my nose near the end!), the dorm isn't exactly the quietest place to record a podcast!

All Things Thermodynamics

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Sun, 8 Apr 2007 12:06:00 -0700

This is my first episode in over half a year. I've decided to make my triumphant return back to podcasting. Because it's been so long, this episode is going to resemble my first one somewhat — I stumble, stutter, and get stuck a lot. Don't worry, I'll pick it back up as time goes on.

This episode is going to be giving you some info on what I've been doing for this half a year, and then I get right into the rest of the show. The Creationist Claim I touch on is Robert Gentry's "Polonium Halos". The actual topic of discussion for this episode is Thermodynamics. E-mail me with any questions — I am positive I went too fast when talking about Thermodynamics.

All Things Thermodynamics

Get Ready... for some new episodes

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:20:00 -0700

Well, after two quarters of school I've finally decided to bring back The Big Bang and Creationism podcast. I noticed I still had quite a few subscribers and... well... I've been quite active at my college in terms of promoting evolution and arguing with Creationists, etc. I've also learned quite a bit in my physics class — recently we covered Thermodynamics, which is what I am going to make the first come-back show on.

So, look forward to a podcast coming out sometime soon — hopefully within a week and a half. I've got to get all my old information and remember how to upload the podcasts etc. and my computer is at my dorm (but break is over in 6 days).

So, hopefully a lot of you who were subscribed are still interested in the show — feel free to e-mail me with questions — I'd be more than happy to try and address them for the show.

Looking forward to putting out a new podcast,

Robert

EDIT: I am having trouble getting logged onto OurMedia (imagine that...), hopefully I can resolve the situation. The podcast is already made and good to go.

No More Episodes Until I Regain Some Interest…

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Wed, 8 Nov 2006 13:25:00 -0800

Yes, I have not made any more episodes in about two months now. I am well aware of this. There is no need to tell me. I apologize for not writing this sooner. I do not plan on coming out with anymore episodes of this podcast until my interest in this topic returns. Right now, basic mechanics in my physics class has caused my interest to lower somewhat. No worries, more complex stuff to come, it should revitalize my interest in doing this podcast.

So, do not look forward to any more new episodes for a while. Perhaps next year with the start of the new quarter.

P.S. Kathyrn, I am taking away your moderator privileges. You can express your anger in a PM to me, but I'm not going to let you insult me on my own forum.

Stellar and Supernova Nucleosynthesis

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Thu, 7 Sep 2006 16:02:00 -0700

This episode addresses a claim by Kent Hovind that involves the origin of the heavy elements. The rest of this episodes covers the life of a star and exactly how stars fuse all elements past helium, ending in a supernova to produce every natural element past iron.

Stellar Nucleosynthesis

Shattering The Myths of Darwinism Part 2

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:54:00 -0700

This is the second installment (and final, for now) of my critique of Richard Miltons' book Shattering the Myths of Darwinism. The topics covered mainly concern various radiometric dating methods.

Shattering The Myths of Darwinism Part 2

*Sorry it took so long to get the podcast out, father forgot to upload it so he had to wait until Monday to try again.

Shattering the Myths of Darwinism Part 1

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Fri, 4 Aug 2006 14:19:00 -0700

This week's podcast will be a discussion and criticism of the claims made within Richard Milton's book Shattering the Myths of Darwinism". The claims covered in this week's episode deal with abiogenesis, the geologic column, and polystrate fossils.

Shattering the Myths of Darwinism Part 1

EDIT: I had made the podcast before I received a reply about the Geologic Column from the USGS. Today I received a response which confirmed what I had said in the podcast: the complete geologic column depends on the presence of the layers, and NOT the thickness of the sediment because the thickness will be different in places with different sedimentation rates.

Richard Milton's Website

Polystrate Fossils
Response by Talk.origins
Information about the Joggins "Fossil Forest" Formation
Davies S.J.1; Gibling M.R.
Architecture of coastal and alluvial deposits in an extensional basin: the Carboniferous Joggins Formation of eastern Canada
Sedimentology, Volume 50, Number 3, June 2003, pp. 415-439(25)

Abiogenesis Claims
Zircon: evidence of early oceans
John W. Valley, William H. Peck, Elizabeth M. King, and Simon A. Wilde
A cool early Earth
Geology (Boulder) (April 2002), 30(4):351-354
Criticism of Murray Eden's paper *My own access to the article was denied; I didn't feel like paying around $30 to have access to it for a day.

Geologic Column
Geologic Column In North Dakota, etc.
Counter-claim by Trueorigin.org (its.org, not .com)
*note, their claim was disproven by the USGS, as I discovered via e-mail this morning.

Time

rlippens@wavecable.com (Robert Lippens) — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:50:00 -0700

This podcast will be discussing the nature of time and will talk a bit about time travel. The Creationist claim for the week is in regards to the Law of Biogenesis. I also make mention of a mistake I made in the previous podcast.

Time

The Big Bang and Creationism

Question The Cosmos #1: Introduction and Water on Mars

A New Podcast is Afoot...

Update

Quantum Cosmology

First Video Podcast!

Discussion on The Watchmaker Argument

Brief Update

Live Discussion!

Debate Proposition

More Questions

Yet another delayed podcast...

Answering Questions

Going to have to stall a bit again...

No Episode This Week

Dealing With Creationism

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Intelligent Design Movement

The Geometry of the Universe

All Things Thermodynamics

Get Ready... for some new episodes

No More Episodes Until I Regain Some Interest…

Stellar and Supernova Nucleosynthesis

Shattering The Myths of Darwinism Part 2

Shattering the Myths of Darwinism Part 1

Time