Reasons to Believe

Where Science and Faith Converge

The mission of Reasons to Believe (RTB) is to spread the Christian gospel by demonstrating that sound reason and scientific research—including the very latest discoveries—consistently support, rather than erode, confidence in the truth of the Bible and faith in the personal, transcendent God revealed in both Scripture and nature.

Founder and president Hugh Ross says he launched his career at age 7, during a trip to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age 17, he became the youngest person to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. He completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto) before moving to the U.S. for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech, he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars"—some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe.

Yet not all of Hugh's discoveries involved astrophysics. His curiosity also prompted him to study the world's religions and "holy books," and he found that only one book proved to be scientifically and historically accurate: the Bible. When he shared his journey to faith in Jesus Christ, he was surprised to discover how many people believed or disbelieved without checking the evidence.

Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelations in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict each other became his unique message. Encouraged by family and friends, he began communicating that message as broadly and clearly as he could. In 1986, he founded the science-faith think tank Reasons to Believe. He and his colleagues at RTB—biochemist Fazale Rana, astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink, and philosopher/theologian Kenneth Samples—keep tabs on the frontiers of research so they can share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, Hugh has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, A Matter of Days, Creation as Science, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, More than a Theory, and Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job.

RTB has 207 (and counting) trained volunteer apologists on its team of influencers, who make use of the ever-increasing scientific evidence for the existence of the God of the Bible. Over 46 chapters and networks help spread the ministry of Reasons to Believe throughout the world. Plus, RTB offers innovative programs—consistent with Salvo's goal of engaging the culture—that provide specific training in science apologetics and worldview thinking.

Reasons Institute, a distance-learning program, is the premiere content provider of science apologetics courses. It aims to equip people with cutting-edge reasons to believe in the God of the Bible, so they may be strengthened in their faith and empowered to engage skeptics. The program features four different educational tracks—personal growth, certificate in science apologetics, continuing education units in biblical studies in partnership with the Association of Christian Schools International, and college credit.

Reasons Academy offers a high-school science apologetics program designed to prepare students to stand strong in the faith amid the challenges of a secular culture. At least four types of students benefit from this program: those intrigued by science; those considering a career in science, engineering, or medicine; those asking tough questions about the Bible's reliability; and those preparing to face worldview challenges in the college classroom.

Visit www.reasons.org for an array of equipping resources (many of them free), such as email subscriptions, podcasts, blogs, and more. •

From Salvo 25 (Summer 2013)
Subscribe to Salvo today!

If you enjoy Salvo, please consider giving an online donation! Thanks for your continued support.