Faith vs. Science

This is not a book on theology, nor is it a highly technical scientific analysis. It’s really just a conversation—between me and a hypothetical, non-hostile unbeliever. My purpose is to help scientific people see that religion is not just for kooks and to help religious people see that science is not just for atheists.  Persons skilled in debate will quickly notice that I have utilized a variety of methods to advance my arguments such as logic, rhetoric, presentation of scientific/experimental data, and even narrative. I realize this mixture of methods is in itself a fault and sometimes appears self-contradictory.  However, keep in mind that this book is written in a conversational tone.  In real life conversations, people utilize a variety of methods to make their points. That’s what I’m doing here—opening up a reasonable, educated conversation about God, science, and life itself in ways that work best for me.


AUTHOR BIO - 

He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in biological science from the University of Mississippi in 1979 and 1981, and his Ph. D. degree in medical entomology from Mississippi State University in 1984. In December of 1985 he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and served as a medical entomologist in the Epidemiology Division of the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas, for three and a half years. In 1988 he was named Best Academic Instructor in the Residents in Aerospace Medicine Course and Company Grade Officer of the Year. For two decades, Dr. Goddard served in the capacity of State Medical Entomologist at the Mississippi Department of Health, Jackson, Mississippi, where he designed, implemented, and supervised all vector control programs relating to public health throughout the state of Mississippi.


Dr. Goddard has authored or co-authored over 160 scientific publications in the field of medical entomology and is the author of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Affecting Military Personnel, published by the U.S. Air Force, Infectious Diseases and Arthropods, Second Edition, published by Humana Press, and Physician's Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, Fifth Edition, published by Taylor and Francis (CRC). In 2003, the physician's guide won an award in the British Medical Association's "best medical book of the year" competition. Dr. Goddard has been featured in Reader's Digest and on a series entitled "Living with Bugs" on the Learning Channel. In 2001, Dr. Goddard published a novel about a mosquito-borne disease outbreak entitled, The Well of Destiny, and in 2006-07, published two more novels, this time about virus behavior (Vital Forces) and unethical scientific research (Endless Present). Dr. Goddard frequently presents seminars and guest lectures nationally and internationally on "Arthropods and Medicine" and related topics. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Mississippi Mosquito and Vector Control Association, and the Mississippi Entomological Association. His main research interests are the ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, but he also publishes on a wide range of medically important arthropods.


Keywords – Faith, Science, Religion, Evolution, String Theory, Fossils, Prophets, God, Human, Universe, Bible, Creation