God and Nature ​ Winter 2023
​letter from the editors
By Sy Garte and Aniko Albert
Welcome to the first issue of God and Nature for this (hopefully) happy new year of 2023! Fresh from the ASA Winter Symposium, you can now unwind by the fire with this winter issue.
We lead off with an essay from a newcomer to the magazine, Kathleen Braden, who offers a thoughtful theological perspective on our relationship to animals. The next article, by yours truly (Sy), reports on an intriguing paper with potentially breakthrough implications. Pastor Terry Defoe presents an inspiring sermon on Psalm 19 (often called the "scientist's psalm"), and Jeff Greenberg gives a scientific and theological tour of the nature of chemical and other kinds of bonding. Chris Barrigar presents a thoughtful video about agape love, which can be watched directly from the magazine or by a link to YouTube.
Our three columnists have each contributed stellar (or in one case, lunar) material. Cheryl Grey Bostrom lifts her eyes and camera towards the heavens this time and brings us photos of the moon, accompanied by words from Psalm 139. Doug Phillippy continues his explorations of mathematical concepts such as infinity and paradoxes, and Mike Clifford reports on ongoing efforts at his university, including his own project, to create more diverse and inclusive curricula.
Please enjoy this issue, keep warm, and remember that spring is not far away—there is just enough time to get your essay, poem, story, or letter ready to submit to God and Nature for the spring issue!
Sy Garte, Ph.D. Biochemistry, is Editor-in-Chief of God and Nature, and the author of The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith. He has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities, and was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He blogs at The Book of Works, and his website is sygarte.com. Sy is Vice President of the Washington DC ASA Chapter, and a fellow of the ASA.
Anikó Albert grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and is a graduate of Eötvös Loránd University. A serial migrant, she taught English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, high-school Spanish in Kingston, Jamaica, and English and various subjects in Alameda, California. She is currently the Managing Editor of God and Nature, and Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland. ​