45 research outputs found
Faith seeking understanding
The debate between faith and science is an ongoing and dynamic conversation marked
by the need to consistently factor in new data generated by the sciences, and new
perspectives developed in theology. In this book, a group of theologians and ethicists
provide insights into the debate from a faith perspective. The basic thesis permeating
the discussions is that faith and science are capable of enriching and complementing
each other, albeit in their own unique way. What unifies faith and science is the search
for truth. What differentiates them is the unique lenses they employ to find the truth.
In the end, both scientists and theologians must take into account all the pathways and
lenses that lead us to a better understanding of reality. This study presents concrete
examples of how theological knowledge and scientific data can be fruitfully used and
integrated to develop new horizons of understanding.
The general aim of this contribution was to narrow in on some of the burning themes
that are driving the faith or science scholarly debate. Each contributor highlights a
different aspect of the debate. The topics addressed include theoretical perspectives
on the science-faith relation, the ancient scientific worldview of the creation narratives
in Genesis, evolution and human origins, science and African Pentecostalism, faith and
the Fourth Industrial Revolution, science and transhumanism, science and traditional
medicine, and the role that faith and science can play in the human quest for meaning.
Most of the contributors approach the topic from a post-foundationalist and postpositivist
epistemological point of view. A wide range of hermeneutical methods is
employed, ranging from systematic biblical-theological perspectives to literary and
source criticism. Analytical, normative and existential philosophical arguments are also
utilised throughout the course of the book. The most important contribution of the
book lies in the transdisciplinary perspectives that emanate from the discussion. The
ways in which the authors go about integrating theological and scientific perspectives
to address ultimate questions about meaning and to inform moral discourse show
that religion still has an important role to play in a world increasingly shaped by
technological rationality. At the same time, it indicates that religion and science do not
have to stand in conflict with each other. If the two lenses on reality engage in mature
dialogue, they can enrich, inform and, on some occasions, even correct each other.
The target audience of this book includes theological scholars, natural scientists and
science philosophers.
This book contains no plagiarism, and none of the work has been published elsewhere
Faith seeking understanding
The debate between faith and science is an ongoing and dynamic conversation marked
by the need to consistently factor in new data generated by the sciences, and new
perspectives developed in theology. In this book, a group of theologians and ethicists
provide insights into the debate from a faith perspective. The basic thesis permeating
the discussions is that faith and science are capable of enriching and complementing
each other, albeit in their own unique way. What unifies faith and science is the search
for truth. What differentiates them is the unique lenses they employ to find the truth.
In the end, both scientists and theologians must take into account all the pathways and
lenses that lead us to a better understanding of reality. This study presents concrete
examples of how theological knowledge and scientific data can be fruitfully used and
integrated to develop new horizons of understanding.
The general aim of this contribution was to narrow in on some of the burning themes
that are driving the faith or science scholarly debate. Each contributor highlights a
different aspect of the debate. The topics addressed include theoretical perspectives
on the science-faith relation, the ancient scientific worldview of the creation narratives
in Genesis, evolution and human origins, science and African Pentecostalism, faith and
the Fourth Industrial Revolution, science and transhumanism, science and traditional
medicine, and the role that faith and science can play in the human quest for meaning.
Most of the contributors approach the topic from a post-foundationalist and postpositivist
epistemological point of view. A wide range of hermeneutical methods is
employed, ranging from systematic biblical-theological perspectives to literary and
source criticism. Analytical, normative and existential philosophical arguments are also
utilised throughout the course of the book. The most important contribution of the
book lies in the transdisciplinary perspectives that emanate from the discussion. The
ways in which the authors go about integrating theological and scientific perspectives
to address ultimate questions about meaning and to inform moral discourse show
that religion still has an important role to play in a world increasingly shaped by
technological rationality. At the same time, it indicates that religion and science do not
have to stand in conflict with each other. If the two lenses on reality engage in mature
dialogue, they can enrich, inform and, on some occasions, even correct each other.
The target audience of this book includes theological scholars, natural scientists and
science philosophers.
This book contains no plagiarism, and none of the work has been published elsewhere
X-Ray-Diffraction Study of Charge-Density-Waves and Oxygen-Ordering in YBa2Cu3O6+x Superconductor
We report a temperature-dependent increase below 300 K of diffuse
superlattice peaks corresponding to q_0 =(~2/5,0,0) in an under-doped
YBa_2Cu_3O_6+x superconductor (x~0.63). These peaks reveal strong c-axis
correlations involving the CuO_2 bilayers, show a non-uniform increase below
\~220 K with a plateau for ~100-160 K, and appear to saturate in the
superconducting phase. We interpret this unconventional T-dependence of the
``oxygen-ordering'' peaks as a manifestation of a charge density wave in the
CuO_2 planes coupled to the oxygen-vacancy ordering.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
A prospective evaluation of children under the age of 5 years living in the same household as adults with recently diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis
SETTING: A South African suburb with a high tuberculosis incidence (>800/100 000). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and disease in children less than 5 years of age who were in close household contact with adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. DESIGN : Prospective clinical study. SUBJECTS: Children under 5 years of age (of whom >98% had been BCG vaccinated in the neonatal period) in household contact with an adult with tuberculosis. INVESTIGATION: Clinical investigation, Mantoux skin testing, chest radiography, gastric aspirate culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of 155 children younger than 5 years in contact with 80 index cases (83% smear positive), 14% were infected and 34% diseased. Children aged under 2 years had more severe disease (endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchial compression). Of 154 household members aged over 5 years who were assessed, 17 had culture proven pulmonary tuberculosis (13 smear positive) and a further 16 were placed on antituberculosis treatment on the basis of radiological evidence. CONCLUSION: In a high tuberculosis incidence area evaluation of and chemoprophylaxis for childhood contacts of adults with pulmonary tuberculosis is a rewarding procedure. The detection of culture and smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis amongst adolescent and adult household contacts emphasizes the role of contact tracing in the detection of infectious cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and the prevention of the spread of tuberculosis.Articl
Capture-recapture to estimate completeness of tuberculosis surveillance in two communities in South Africa
BACKGROUND: Reliable surveillance is essential for any tuberculosis (TB) control programme; however, underregistration of TB cases due to under-notification of patients on treatment or failure to initiate treatment has been well-documented internationally. OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of capturerecapture methods in estimating the completeness of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB registration in two high-incident communities in South Africa. METHODS: Record linkage between the TB treatment register and two laboratory sputum TB result registers and three-source log-linear capture-recapture analysis. RESULTS: The number of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB cases in the TB treatment register was 243, with an additional 63 cases identified in the two laboratory databases, resulting in 306 TB cases. The observed completeness of the TB treatment register was 79%. The log-linear model estimated 326 (95%CI 314-355) TB cases, resulting in an estimated completeness of registration of 75% (95%CI 68-77). CONCLUSION: Capture-recapture can be useful in evaluating the completeness of TB control surveillance and registration, including in resource-limited settings; however, methodology and results should be carefully assessed. Interventions are needed to increase the completeness of registration and to reduce the number of initial defaulters. © 2011 The Union.Articl
Accuracy and completeness of recording of confirmed tuberculosis in two South African communities
BACKGROUND: Although tuberculosis (TB) treatment registers and laboratory records are essential tools for recording and reporting in TB control programmes, the accuracy and completeness of routinely collected data are seldom monitored. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy and completeness of TB treatment register data in two South African urban communities using record linkage. METHODS: All cases of bacteriologically confirmed TB, defined as two smear-positive results and/or at least one culture-positive result, were included. Record linkage was performed between three data sources: 1) TB treatment registers, 2) the nearest central laboratory, and 3) the referral hospital laboratory. RESULTS: The TB treatment registers had 435 TB cases recorded, of which 204 (47%) were bacteriologically confirmed. An additional 39 cases recorded as non-bacteriological cases in the TB treatment registers were reclassified as bacteriologically confirmed, and 63 bacteriologically confirmed cases were identified from the laboratory databases that were not recorded in the TB treatment registers. The final number of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases was 306, giving an increase of 50%. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy and completeness of the TB treatment register and central laboratory data were inadequate. A high percentage of bacteriologically confirmed cases from both laboratories were not recorded in the TB treatment registers. We are developing an electronic result management system to improve the management of laboratory results. © 2011 The Union.Articl