After reading or hearing about certain aspects of my personal life, some have desired to know more precisely about my own values and religious beliefs. If these topics are of no significance to you, I understand; simply surf on elsewhere. But if they interest you, continue reading. Though I was initially reluctant to post this information on my web site (https://www.jmtour.com), I ultimately decided that the inquisitive should learn from the source rather than from hearsay. Moreover, it might lessen the need for me to individually address the many questions that are arising. However, I suspect that after this posting, the level of questions might even increase since upon exposing oneself on these topics, inquiries (and sometimes inquisitions) can be catalyzed. If you disagree with me on any of the points listed here, that is perfectly fine. You, too, are free to believe as you like, and in that I wish you well. I have no desire to spend my time addressing other’s conflicting arguments, so I will avoid confrontations and further defenses. If you are so inclined to contest these points, I invite you to post your personal statement on your own web site.

Origin of Life, Intelligent Design, Evolution, Creation and Faith
(Updated August 2019)

I have been labeled as an Intelligent Design (sometimes called “ID”) proponent. I am not. I do not know how to use science to prove intelligent design although some others might. I am sympathetic to the arguments and I find some of them intriguing, but I prefer to be free of that intelligent design label. As a modern-day scientist, I do not know how to prove intelligent design using my most sophisticated analytical tools— the canonical tools are, by their own admission, inadequate to answer the intelligent design question. I cannot lay the issue at the doorstep of a benevolent creator or even an impersonal intelligent designer. All I can presently say is that my chemical tools do not permit my assessment of intelligent design.

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I wrote this letter in response to several questions posed to me by a sincere Orthodox Jewish friend, Michael. He maintains that I, as a Jew, need to live under the Law of Moses, regardless of the fact that I acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. His proof texts are Acts chapters 15 and 21. Although I do not have permission to web-post Michael’s letter to me, I restate his thesis in this letter so as to provide you with the context.

Dear Michael:

Four times I read and then further studied the copy of your July 28, 1989 letter to Cardinal Lustiger (a Jewish believer in Jesus) which you sent to me. You told me before and now you have written to me that the Cardinal never responded to your letter “which itself [is] a sort of reply.” Therefore I want to be sure to reply to you lest you think that all Messianic Jews do not reply to letters. I waited these several weeks since I did not want to be found shooting from the hip. Your arguments are thoughtful, therefore they deserve a thoughtful response. I wanted to consider them with due prayer and study. For the most part, and specifically concerning the portions in the Book of Acts which you use as proof texts, I was unable to get any significant insight from several respected scholarly texts. Thus, as I am exhorted in the scriptures, the Holy Spirit will himself teach me (I Jn 2:27), and upon him I am relying regarding my own recent studies of those passages. I have found Bethel Ministries to also be a helpful resource and I have used some of their thoughts here when I reference other passages. Additionally, my daughter, who I hope you can meet some day, made several suggestions that I also included.