.
By Ed Gerritsen, April 2010
Collection Overview
Abstract
Professor of physics at Calvin College. The collection includes critiques, book reviews, advertisements, articles, prepared statements, reactions, correspondence, a lecture, and an interview. It details the controversy regarding Van Till's book, The Fourth Day.
Biographical Note
Howard J. Van Till was born on 28 Nov 1938 in Modesto, California. Van Till attended Calvin College and graduated with a BS in 1960. He furthered his education at Michigan State University, where he earned his PhD in physics in 1965. As he was doing post-doctoral research at the University of California at Riverside he was also teaching at the University of Redlands. His area of focus was in solid-state physics.
In 1967 his alma mater, Calvin College, asked him to join the faculty of the physics department. Van Till accepted the position, and he would remain with the college for the next thirty years. He began his career at Calvin teaching Astronomy 110. Eventually Van Till switched his focus of solid-state physics to astrophysics. He even went on sabbatical leave for a year to the University of Texas-Austin and the McDonnell Observatory in 1974.
Besides being a gifted educator and lecturer, Van Till was also a talented writer. He has written a great number of publications in professional journals such as Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation as well as religious periodicals like the Banner. However, in 1986 Van Till faced controversy regarding his first book, The Fourth Day. Soon after the book was released some members of the Christian Reformed Church community strongly criticized Van Till's work and even questioned the validity of his faith. For four years Van Till was investigated by the college regarding his eligibility to teach. Despite the investigation, Van Till continued to work at Calvin College until his retirement in the late nineties. Standing by Van Till's side throughout the ups and down was his wife Betty and their four children-Steven, Roger, Nancy, and Mary Beth.
Van Till is one of the founding members of the International Society for Science and Religion. He has been a member of professional societies such as the American Astronomical Society and American Scientific Affiliation. Van Till continues to speak and write on issues of science and religion. More recently, Van Till has expressed his journey from Calvinism to free thought, and even gave a presentation to the Freethought Association of West Michigan in 2006.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Papers],
[
All]
- Series 1: Papers
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Critique of The Fourth Day by S. E. Waldron --- 1988
- Folder 2: Reviews of The Fourth Day by L. De Koster and R. C. Newman --- 1987
- Folder 3: Reviews of The Fourth Day by H. Vander Goot and T. B. Dozeman --- [undated]
- Folder 4: Review of The Fourth Day by H. Vander Goot --- [undated]
- Folder 5: Booklet, Old Wine in a New Skin (Review of The Fourth Day) --- 1988
- Folder 6: Adrian Blaukamp's advertisements in the Grand Rapids Press --- 1989
- Folder 7: Grand Rapids Press letters to the editor re: Leo Peters's advertisements --- 1988-1992
- Folder 8: Grand Rapids Press, articles re: creation/evolution debate --- 1988-1991
- Folder 9: Photocopy, Leo Peters advertisements in the Grand Rapids Press re: Van Till --- 1988-1991
- Folder 10: Originals, Leo Peters advertisements in the Grand Rapids Press re: Van Till --- 1988-1991
- Folder 11: Dutch newspaper article, re: creation/evolution debate --- [undated]
- Folder 12: Chicago Tribune Magazine, re: creation/evolution --- 20 Jan 2008
- Folder 13: Detroit News and Detroit Free Press articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1988
- Folder 14: Dordt College publication Pro Rege article, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1989
- Folder 15: Christian Century article, "Evolutionary Science and the Dilemma of Freedom" --- 1967
- Folder 16: Unidentified article, "New Reformation?" --- [undated]
- Folder 17: Reformed Journal article, "Faith and Science," by Howard Van Till --- 1986
- Folder 18: The Outlook articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1988
- Folder 19: Perspectives article, "Retelling the Creation Story," by Howard Van Till --- 1995
- Folder 20: Calvin Seminary KERUX articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1988
- Folder 21: Calvin Spark articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1988-1989
- Folder 22: The Standard Bearer articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1987
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Christian Renewal articles, re: creation/evolution debate --- 1986-1991
- Folder 2: United States News and World Report cover story, re: creation/evolution debate --- Dec 1991
- Folder 3: Prepared statement by the Board of Trustees re: Three Professors --- 1988
- Folder 4: Reaction to Board of Trustees press release by eight seminary students --- 1988
- Folder 5: Statement to Board of Trustees by four faculty members --- 1987
- Folder 6: Calvin Board of Trustees letter to CRC Denomination re: Report on Howard Van Till --- 1991
- Folder 7: Letter from D. Gish to S. Jansma Sr. "Evolutionary Indoctrination at Calvin College" and Van Till's response to Jansma
- Folder 8: Heresy charge brought to Synod against Howard Van Till by L. De Koster and L. Peters --- 1988
- Folder 9: Templeton Lecture, When Faith and Science Meet --- 1992
- Folder 10: Booklet, The Cosmos: Nature or Creation? by Howard Van Till --- 1984
- Folder 11: Report, "Vibrationally Exited Silicon Monoxide in the Orion Nebula" --- [undated]
- Folder 12: Theodore Plantinga's critique re: Intricate Illusion or Creator's Handiwork? --- 1987
- Folder 13: Banner, "Voices" letters on Adam and Joshua's Long Day --- 1969
- Folder 14: Statement of apology from J. R. Sittema (First CRC, Pella, IA) --- 1987
- Folder 15: Ring Star letter to CRC consistories re: The Fourth Commandment --- [undated]
- Folder 16: Synodical Advisory Committee Reports re: Three Calvin Professors --- 1988-1989
- Folder 17: Letter from La Grave CRC Council to members re: Leo Peters --- 1988
- Folder 18: ASA/CSCA Newsletter articles re: three professors --- [undated]
- Folder 19: Grand Rapids Magazine, interview with Howard Van Till --- Dec. 1991
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Papers],
[
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