Science takes a bite out of vampires

WASHINGTON - It may be the season for vampires, ghosts and zombies. Just remember, they're not real, warns physicist Costas Efthimiou.

Obviously, you might say.

But Efthimiou, a professor at the University of Central Florida, points to surveys that show American gullibility for the supernatural.

Efthimiou takes out the calculator to prove that if a vampire sucked one person's blood each month — turning each victim into an equally hungry vampire — after a couple of years there would be no people left, just vampires. He started his calculations with just one vampire and 537 million humans on Jan. 1, 1600 and shows that the human population would be down to zero by July 1602.

Take that Casper, Dracula and creepy friends.

All this may seem obvious, but to Efthimiou and other scientists, the public often isn't as skeptical as you might think. Efthimiou points to National Science Foundation' reports showing widespread belief in pseudosciences — such as vampires, astrology and ESP.

More than 1 in 3 Americans believe houses can be haunted, a 2005 Gallup poll showed. More than 20 percent of Americans believe in witches and that people can communicate with the dead. TV shows such as "Medium" and "Ghost Whisperer" are popular.

University of Maryland physics professor Bob Park, author of the book "Voodoo Science," said scientists have to keep telling the public what seems all-too-obvious.

"There are things that we need to point out that are crap," Park said.
It's gotten so bad, Park has a hard time watching movies these days. Not Efthimiou, who liked the horror movie "The Ring."

"I have nothing against movies," he said. "I have nothing against people who like them, as long as they don't mix reality with fiction."

And Halloween? Both physicists will suspend disbelief when vampires, ghosts and zombies come to their doors.

"I give them candy and I feign fright," Park said. "They enjoy it, what the heck. The problem is the ones that never get over it."

I do thinks it's funny how many of our own youth group believe so many crazy things. Do you know how many chain e-mails I get so that I won't have some toothless visitor come to me at 3:00am. I wish my own students would be able to put away myth & fantasy and understand who they are positionally in God's eyes with Christ as their savior & representative.

Well I still pray for them daily, as they are our future...

"Stick to your guns if you believe in somethin no matter why cause it's better to be hated for who you are then be loved for who your not"
- Van Zandt

Was that the 5th Commandment or the 5th Amendment??

So here is the question of the day (Almost everyday).

What do you do if you're a teenage believer & your parents aren't. (Or at least make decisions & choices that are unbiblical).

I get asked this almost once a week by some student, youth or child somewhere. It is a very hard position to be in. The best thing to remember is that God is in control & you will be blessed if you follow Gods teachings.

This means that you are to honor your mother or father in all things. As an example if your parents make you stay home from church or youth group so you can babysit your siblings, let the repair guy in or even help with household chores. Do this! Honor your parents & do this in loving service to God. Remember you're honoring your parents, which is God's command, and you are doing this unto the Lord. This is a perfect chance for a double blessing (You know if you don't argue & fight your parents will be equally pleased).

What if your parents are believers and making bad decisions? This is a bit stickier, you are still to honor your mother & father but as a believer it isn't all about you. You should be helping everyone walk right with God. It is a difficult position to be in, you're their child that THEY have raised & now you're going to correct or council them? No! I do not believe this will ever work. But if they claim to be believers when you get a chance, bring it back to God and His word. Have them see what God says about it, it's not about you, it's not about them, it's about God. Either they believe and will correct & repent from their decisions or they won't.

Their decisions on the matter will show you where their heart really is.

Matthew 6:19-20 discuss the heart issue that should be considered.

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

So you, as a child of God & a child of your parents. Honor them both & reflect God in all you do. Let God be God & you be you, a glorious chosen child of God. Let your parents see the truth & pray diligently for them that they too will learn to love God & glorify Him!



"Stick to your guns if you believe in somethin no matter why cause it's better to be hated for who you are then be loved for who your not"
- Van Zandt