Intelligent Bird Solves 8 Step Puzzle
A friend just sent me a video clip of a Crow revealing their amazing abilities to problem solve.
Back in 2009 Reasons to Believe posted a Todays New Reasons to Believe article on the intelligence of Corvids. The Corvid family comprises Ravens and Crews. You can read the original post here: Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
Now a series from the BBC has captured the astonishing capabilities of the Crovids. You can see a short excerpt from the series on YouTube here:
Are crows the ultimate problem solvers? - Inside the Animal Mind: Episode 2 - BBC Two
Corvids: The Birds Who Think Like Humans article from io9 may also help to show the amazing cognitive capabilities of the Corvids.
These are truly remarkable metal capabilities for an animal. Moreover, Chimpanzees are not able to accomplish this feat without significant teaching and training from humans first. Corvids are capable of problem solving like this directly from the wild.
As the TNRB article shows... Caledonian crows [though not quite matching ravens in intellectual prowess] outperform monkeys in their ability to retrieve food from a trap tube–from which food can be accessed only at one end.” They also refer to an experiment demonstrating that “crows can also work out how to use one tool to obtain a second with which they can retrieve food, a skill that monkeys and apes struggle to master.” Evidently, certain bird species exhibit greater powers of the mind than do apes. (See crows’ cognitive powers in action here.).
When it comes to which animal, between the Corvids or Apes, shows the closest metal capabilities to humanity, Corvids win hands (or wings) down.
Now that's a disconnect between Darwinian Theory and reality. Food for thought there!
04 April, 2015
Happy Easter!
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
Isaiah 53 New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 53 New International Version (NIV)
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 53:8 Or From arrest
- Isaiah 53:8 Or generation considered / that he was cut off from the land of the living, / that he was punished for the transgression of my people?
- Isaiah 53:10 Hebrew though you make
- Isaiah 53:11 Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have the light of life.
- Isaiah 53:11 Or (with Masoretic Text) 11 He will see the fruit of his suffering / and will be satisfied
- Isaiah 53:11 Or by knowledge of him
- Isaiah 53:12 Or many
- Isaiah 53:12 Or numerous
13 March, 2015
Creation and the Bible course is back - Sign up now!
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March 10, 2015
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Creation and the Bible Course
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22 February, 2015
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists
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Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists
By Krista Bontrager
Modern science was birthed out of a Christian worldview. Many of the early pioneers of science—such as Galileo and Copernicus—were either Christians or working within the realm of Christian presuppositions.
Unfortunately, the current cultural climate between science and Christianity isn't as friendly. In fact, some adults actively discourage bright young Christians who show promise in the fields of math and science away from pursuing a career as a scientist, engineer, or medical researcher. Parents are concerned about whether their child's education will compromise that child's faith. According to researcher David Kinnaman of Barna Group, only 1 percent of young adult pastors ever address science in their teaching—even though more than 50 percent of the 18- to 29-year-olds in the church aspire to careers in science and technology. And students often struggle to carve a career path that will result in them achieving their dream to become a scientist. This is why Reasons to Believe is inaugurating a brand new summer youth program called The Lab. Our vision is to actively influence tomorrow's influencers by encouraging Christian students to once again consider a career in science as a noble profession. Over the course of the next five years, we want to find 150 to 200 of the brightest young Christian minds and help them lay the groundwork for their calling. The Lab, an elite 3-day summer experience for ages 16–22, is designed to energize students who desire a career in science, math, engineering, or medical fields. We want to support students in their career paths by helping them draw connections to their faith and discussing emerging arenas of research and how they can be a part of them from a distinctly Christian point of view.
Parallel sessions for parents will be available to equip them to support their student's educational journey.
The Lab will run July 9–11, 2015, at Reasons to Believe's headquarters in Covina, CA.
If you know of young Christians in your community who are aspiring to become scientists, encourage them to apply and join us as we empower future physicists, astronomers, chemists, biologists, and medical researchers for the kingdom of God. Applications for The Lab are now being accepted. There are up to 30 spots available for 2015. Although applications will be accepted through June 21, priority will be given to early applicants.
For more information and to apply, visit reasons.org/thelab.
****
Krista Bontrager
Krista Bontrager is the dean of online learning at Reasons to Believe. She is a teacher at heart and enjoys teaching the Bible to all ages. She has an MA in theology and another in Bible exposition from Talbot School of Theology.
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(855) REASONS or (855) 732-7667 | tnrtb@reasons.org
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Introducing On-Demand Reasons to Believe Courses
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March meeting for the Sydney Chapter for Reasons to Believe
We had a great time kicking off our Navigating Genesis small group study. We have decided that we are going to try to meet every two months in order to cover the eight part group study. In light of that, we plan to set aside the first Friday evening of every second month as our meeting schedule for the group study.
In light of this, the next meeting details are:
Date: Friday, 6th March
Time: 8:00pm
Subject: Navigating Genesis – session 2
For the location, you can contact us via the Sydney Chapter RTB email address:
Sydney.Australia@reasons.org
Also, Alan’s book has recently been published. I’ve just stated reading it! Called The Genesis of Life by Alan Marshall its very accessible if you’re not particularly scientifically minded and I am every much enjoying it.
You can get it in Kindle and Paperback at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/The-Genesis-Life-Alan-Marshall/dp/1628716185/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1422846836&sr=8-2), so check it out.
24 December, 2014
Merry Christmas to you from the Sydney Chapter for Reasons to Believe
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Merry Christmas and may God bless you!
The Sydney Chapter for Reasons to Believe
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