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Show Sunday, January 21, 1990 Bishop says PITTSBURGH (AP) A United Methodist bishop says congregations in. that big but shrinking denomination are not evangelizing as much as they should, and they should be held AP Religion Writer Ever since humans began, they've looked for something to blame for their problems. Adam and Eve blamed the "serpent." Psychiatrists blame childhood traumas. Astrologists lay it to the planets. Anything but self. Now comes an emerging new culprit: the "genome." The genome is the full set of genes, or inherited bodily regulators that determine much of a person's makeup. But just how much is a question that casts a shadow on the essence of humanity itself. The "mystery of the gene is stimulating a new era of philosophical and theological thinking about the nature" of human life, said the Rev. J. Robert Nelson, a noted theologian, ecumenist and specialist in scientific ethics. The issue impinges directly on concepts of faith, God, human origins, behavior, sin and morality, he said. To the extent that it is established that genes not only control physical characteristics but also fix certain behavioral traits would to that degree contradict "free will and he said. That freedom to decide on one's own conduct and course of action is the basis of individual responsibility and a central biblical view of humanity's special dignity and distinction from other creatures. Nelson, director of the Institute of Religion at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, said in a telephone interview: "If it is conceded that genetics determines all-tim- 1965. Bashore said, "We need to redirect resources from places that aren't taking off to churches that will take off in the name of Jesus Christ." Bible study has 2 Sunday sessions AMERICAN FORK - The Faith in American Fork is having a series of special Bible studies on Sunday morning and evening, 1 j First at a.m., the group is studying "Baptist Distinctives." It is a study about what Baptists beliefs and what makes the church different. t At the Sunday evening service, 7 p.m., the series is on the subject of f' Jesus Christ as the Light in the Gospel of John." I Anyone interested in knowing more about the Baptist Church is invited. Call Pastor Robert A. Hays 3 &t for more information. Nursery facilities are always 10-1- 6-- almost the total person, then there's nothing left for morality. "But I don't think it will go that far. We do have free will. It's the old question of how much nature '756-619- or nurture has to do with a to serve in the England, London South LDS Mission. Farewell Jan. 28, 9 a.m., Orem Sharon Stake, 545 S. 800 E., Orem. Enters MTC Feb. 7. Jan, 24. ; Kirk L. Larsen, son of Kim H. and Katie Jean Larsen of Ephraim, has accepted a call to serve in the Oklahoma Tulsa LDS Mission. Enters MTC Jan. 24. Shawn Christian Bandley, son of Walter and Greta Bandley, has been called Elder R. Jeffrey Mugleston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald G. Mugleston of Highland, has been called to serve in the Canada Vancouver LDS Mission. Farewell today, 1 p.m., Highland 7th LDS traditional concepts AP Laserphoto The Rev. J. Robert Nelson discusses genetic science. person. Nevertheless, he said the power of the genome to govern human characteristics and dispositions is turning up increasingly, and religious institutions should come to grips with that reality. "I wonder why moral theologians are not pursuing it," he said. He has initiated a three-yea- r project on "Genetics, Religion and Ethics" to spur inquiry into the area. A first conference of molecular biologists, doctors, theologians and public policy makers has been scheduled for March 30. It is by the American Medical Association, the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, plus about 10 denominations. "The whole threat of sociobiolo-g- y is that we have no free will at all, that we simply do what our genes tell us to do," Nelson said. If they "are the rule of life," he added, "we're going to have a lot of questions for traditional norms. How much flexibility should there be in moral standards, if some behavior is uncontrollable?" He said evidence is mounting of genetic causes not only of physical makeup and a growing list of That search goes on in a long time tension between two opposing notions of human life, the "materialistics," viewing it as only physical matter, and the "spiritual," seeing its essence as the eternal soul or mind. Biblical insights see humanity as combined body and soul, a "psychosomatic" whole. Elder R. Brandon Taylor, son of Robert and Pamela Taylor, Pleasant Grove, has been called to serve in the Ohio, Cleveland LDS Mission. Farewell today, 2:20 p.m., Pleasant Grove 16th Ward Chapel, 193 N. 400 E. Enters MTC Jan. - ideas for pages of work charts, job cards, system cards, checklists, incentives and rewards, organizing bedrooms and more! Teaches good work habits for children of all ages. $5.95 Job Chart Reusable, colored and coated. Mark each day with stickers or markers. $1.95 mam PERFECT m EMDTOM, est and cut debts. 4. a way to get your home to work for where your heart is. 2. a tax benefit. 3. debt consol- idation. 4. family vacation. 5. an investment. 6. college' Rainbow colored, reusable chart. Check off daily with stickers or markers. $1.95 Family Job Chart cards into the pockets Complete family job system on one chart. Ready to use. Insert the name and organizes family job assignments. $5.95 and rotate weekly. This chart promotes Family Resource Manual easy-to-acce- sections, including: Family Activity Calendar Family Home Evening Planner Family Home EveningAgenda Family GoalsFamily Council Family Interviews With binder $25.95 Problem-solvingWbrkshe- Family Job Assignments Fat her's Blessings Family Journal Family Keepsakes Without binder $ 15.95 equity loan (ek'wiAe r 4. Deseret Book HM1 226-092- 8. 1. a way to 7Z. V J Mountain America C1IDIT con- UNI ON People Helping People' solidate bills, pay less inter University Mall 'Equity Loan based on 75 224-005- J n. pi: 1. the experts at Mountain America. Call them today at ' way to free up the equity in your home and create a line of credit." 2. a way to draw against that credit line as you need the Ion) n: money. 3. a i H 1 3 you. 5. a way to maximize your tax benefits. equity specialists education. Create-A-Cha- rt . The Utah County Minister's Fellowship will be hosting a Don Francisco concert at 6 p.m., tonight. The concert will be held at Rock Canyon Assembly of God Church, 3410 N. Canyon Road, Provo. Don Francisco is a noted Christian musician and composer. He has nine albums on the Christian market at this time and his song, "He's Alive," is No. 39 on the country music charts, sung by Dolly Parton. The concert is free and the public is invited. Child care will be provided. in 1. 15 concert tonight environment the materialistic theory of life seems to prevail, it is contradicted by "emerging data- of genetic science itself," Nelson said, a mm npiiw Ward Chapel, 4679 W. Wasatch Drive, (Canyon Road), Highland. Teaching Children Responsibility Fellowship hosts While in the present home (ham) n: Divided into human of adding: "Research in molecular biology and biochemistry is rapidly discovering heretofore unknown characteristics of the DNA molecule as the quintessential unit of life. And the new knowledge gives support and comfort to both the materialists and the idealists." diseases and susceptibility to others, but also of "predermined patterns of personal behavior." Some of these are psychopathic, such as schizophrenia and manic depression, he said, but people m 7 7:30-9:3- free will, voluntary choice, decision making and ethical rectitude are merely illusions," he said. To reject this "extreme ideology" must not "make us blind to ... the range of genetic effects on human behavior," he said, and the search to understand them is "as mandatory as it is awesome." Solutions for your resolutions Child's four-sessio- n, al Missions Don and LaNeice Stott of Manti have accepted a call to serve an LDS mission at the New Zealand Temple. Enter MTC A NEPHI workshop will be presented in Nephi for four months. The workshop titled,' "Know Your Religion," will be held at the Nephi Stake Center, 351 N. 100 West, Ne0 p.m. phi, Tuition will be charged. The first class will be taught Jan. 27 by Stephen E. Robinson, a professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU, who will teach to the topic, "A Pratical Guide to the Atonement of Christ: What is It and How Does It Work?" Susan Easton Black, associate professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU, will address the topic, "A Prophet Foretold: A Family Prepared," on Feb. 24. On March 24, "Songs and Scenes of the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History" will be taught by Duane E. Hiatt, director of Mediated Productions, BYU. Max L. Waters, professor of Information Management and Graduate Business Communications at BYU will teach the final class April 21. He will address the topic, "Being Engaged in a Good Cause." "Know Your Religion" is a program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints Educational System designed to help individuals increase their knowledge and understanding of the gospel. Those interested in attending should contact John Ludlow. also may be "genetically disposed" or even "genetically de termined to alcoholism or sexual deviation. Kleptomania, compulsive stealing, also may be genetically caused, and perhaps even gambling, he said, while "compulsive inclination toward violent and criminal activity" is argued among geneticists. All this raises the question of the extent to which good or objec-tionbehavior is "due to free choice" or "due to our genomes." Some "hard-lin- e dogmatism" in the field maintains that "our By GEORGE W. CORNELL accountable for it. Bishop George Bashore of western Pennsylvania told a recent denominational congress on evangelism: "We are developing processes for the evaluation of clergy throughout our' denomination, but I believe we are; much more cavalier in calling our congregations to accountability for what they are doing." The United Methodist Church has 8.9 million members, making it the nation's second largest Protestant but the membership denomination, has declined steadily for 25 years from an e high of 11 million in Independent Baptist Church 'Know Your Religion' set Another scapegoat shows up for human conduct the 'genome' churches need to redirect resources - ' D Religion The Daily Herald, Provo, Utah Loan to Value. 1 Equal Housing Lender. |