CONVERGENCE of SCIENCE and FAITH

At the convergence of science (the Book of Nature) and the Bible (the book of Scripture) we see two different kinds of communications. Style, level of detail, and origin of content for both sources is essentially and ultimately one and the same. Appreciating the convergence of these sources could take some study to fully appreciate and that is why topics under Science and Harmony are presented in each respective area within WindowView.org. 

This blog post could be diverse and lengthy, but instead read down the page to see a line of reasoning that illustrates key points from science evidence that supports the convergence of science and faith.

The following outlines how it is that science points back to one and the same author, a mind, creator of universe, Earth, and life:

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LINE OF REASONING

First, ask yourself: why am I here?

Second, why is there a here, instead of nothing at all?

Hebrew (biblical) Scripture indicates a beginning initiated by God. 

Science more recently affirms, a universe initiated from nothing. 

An event, call it creation, ex nihlo, that is Greek for something came from nothing, appears before us. 

We sit here in this room, it took an architect’s mind to design this place. 

That means use of mind to produce information and to design a plan.

Are we a result of something random, unguided, and by chance?

OR

Who designed us?

We have highly specified-complex information inside of us.

Where did that come from?

Science Example: Look at one enzyme (a complex protein molecule, made up of many amino acid molecules linked in a specific sequence) that has a specific function.

Each enzyme has what is called an ‘active site’ that performs the enzyme’s function. Some enzymes are called Allosteric enzymes which typically have multiple active sites located on different protein subunits. 

An active site, for example, is produced by the genome: “Of the possible genes encoding protein chains 153 amino acids in length, only one in about a hundred trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion is expected to encode a chain that folds well enough to perform a biological function!” (Douglas Axe, 2016, “Undeniable — How Biology Confirms Intuition That Life is Designed.” Page 181)

In other words the chance of forming a functional active site is one chance in 10 raised to the 74th power. This site is just one part of the entire enzyme that also needs a particular three dimensional shape. So, put 74 zeros after a 1 and you can see the probability of the active site is essentially nothing. And remember, one expression is that our universe is made up of 10 to the 80th number of particles. Now that makes an interesting comparison!

Further, be mindful that our bodies require some 1300 types of enzymes, some with more than one active site. We also depend on a balance of multiple physiological (metabolic) systems (composed of enzyme functions), organs, and structure supporting life.  Imbalance leads to death.

The information represented by the genome (genetic information) has been demonstrated more and more to have purpose with little to no non-functional sequences. That is there is no junk DNA.

So, not only are proteins highly specified, but the genetic information required to make a protein is just as complex.

Ok, so does life just originate by itself?

Humans (many scientists) now realize that life cannot be created in a test tube. Chemicals required for life need a cell to be produced. The complexity of the chemistry of the cell includes examples of what is called causal circularity. This means all the components and all the chemicals must be present all at the same time, and cannot be derived on a partial basis in order to initiate life. 

The circularity is when the chemical being produced needs the same chemical in the production process. Think about that! Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Origin of life … what about the origin of information making life?

There are numerous other facets to understanding design that points back to a mind as the source of our being.

Scripture simply indicates the Word from God is the source. Words are information and information comes from a mind. The Messiah is identified by Isaiah as “Immanuel,” that is “God with us.” When Yeshua (Messiah, Jesus) is identified by Yochanan (i.e., John) the identification is simple; the Messiah is the Word. The mind of Adonai comes through this incarnate being.

Again, in Scripture the first Hebrew word is ‘bereshit’ or ‘bereishith,’ meaning ‘beginning.’ And the following text describes events that follow to make for the universe, earth, and life.

What science does in recent time is to uncover multiple factors, evidence, and perspectives that indicate the universe, earth, and life are by design. Here is a listing of some categories of that support design and suggest a mind of Designer is responsible:

— The universe, Earth, and life all exhibit numerous examples of what is identified as ‘fine tuning.’ This evidence added together supports the concept of design—our existence is not by chance. Several hours would be needed to describe all facets of fine tuning.

— The genetic code in organisms is highly specified and exhibits a complexity in the way this information is decoded and multiple ways it is read in the process of supporting life functions.

— The only known source for (intelligible, functional) information is a mind. Human minds exceed all other species on Earth in the exhibit of composing music, mathematics, ability to investigate and research, create art forms, etc.

Irreducible Complexity is exhibited by life in various ways: information sequences, numerous molecular machines, bacterial flagellum, construction of the human eye, immune system, blood clotting pathway, and other examples that are appearing over time with new research findings. Bottom line is these are ‘all or none’ … there must be (all parts) present to function—with no stepwise derivation leading up to such entities.

Sudden appearance of life: Eidiacarian Era lifeforms, Cambrian Era animals, Insects, Plants all come with supporting evidence for sudden appearance plus specified complexity with no antecedents.

Developmental Circuitry: In simple terms we can use a electronic circuit board analogy to illustrate the hard wired process of human (and animal) life development. Each phase from fertilization to fetus is guided by a biological processor that directs birth of a being. Any impact that significantly deviates from the established biological circuitry leads to miscarriage.  No mutations assumed to lead to a new types of an organism are thus feasible.

Cells are integrated complex factories: Compartmentation, Information housed and processed, chemical and energy production supported by molecular machines (e.g., ATP-synthase, ribosomes, enzymes), cell ultrastructure Darwin never knew, chemistry inside a cell is immensely efficient, faster, and necessary for physiological function (all must be present all at once to make life) and cannot be likewise reproduced in a laboratory.

Human Being: looking at the numerous cells, tissues, organs, coordinated metabolism and physiology on a tissue to organ to whole body function reveals a balance of processes that support life. Not only is a medical perspective required to comprehend, but all systems reveal engineering and thus complex design.  Too often this is just something assumed, but this fails recognition that humans are a complex, specified, integration of systems that point back to the concept of intelligent design.

Origin of life researchers are now faced with the reality that a primordial soup, a puddle on an open landscape of a primitive planet, various inputs like water, electric discharge, various atmospheric or aqueous chemicals all fail to support life by chance physical and material processes.

All of the above factors, evidence, and perspectives from Scripture and science both point to life and humanity as not by chance. 

And if not by chance, then by purpose and mind, which then presents the possibility life provides an opportunity, that opportunity is to address a question regarding the one whose mind created in the first place. 

Will you join the Creator in a relationship that leads to life beyond this life?

Director, WindowView.org

P.S. This blog post contains information that appears in the ‘Convergence Area’ of window view.org. The Science Area in the near future will be updated with a focus on the lineup of topics noted above.

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End Times Now Underway?

Opinion or Fact?

Watch the news. Tune into a second and third news source. See a pattern in what is being reported?

Ask yourself, do world leaders, their countries, even all of humanity work toward a global coordination to help the longevity of life on Earth? Humans, animals, plants, all life depends on stewardship, love of life, loving each other, and looking to sustain life on Earth. But what is happening around the globe today?

Where a leadership builds weapons of mass destruction, flies rockets over neighbor nations, seeks power by invasion of neighbors, and threats of taking future military action occurs … engaged in battles today that kill neighbors or fellow citizens … this is all evidence for a lack of love and no vision for an Earth sustaining advanced life for generation after generation.

And today, what you see is EVIDENCE FOR ARRIVING at the END TIMES.

Scientists would say we need to work together around the globe to counter climate change and preserve the earthly environment for all species to survive. And that’s good intentions. But the END TIMES events will press in on human life … politics, nationalism, power, material gain … forcing a truth and revealing what biblical prophecy has already foretold … and not assure any type of natural and material future. How do you respond to this … today?

End times is the end of this era of human history. The chronology of future events is already described in the biblical account of what to expect in the future … unless, in reality, the future is now upon us.

A world leader who tells his country to invade, kill, destroy, and disrupt the neighboring people’s home … is a world leader who is sin and an enemy to the One who gives us life. Psychologically sick, arrogant, and distorted in values … look, see, identify with ease those world leaders who today are taking us to the End of This Age … because of them … we have arrived at the END TIMES.

Then ask yourself: “Where can I read about what the end times brings to humanity and the Earth?”

Director, windowview.org

P.S. And every day while you live there is an opportunity to …

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Who Is Objective About This Life

Bottom line up front: Scroll down this blog and you’ll find two books recommended, one by Dr. Hedin and the other by Dr. Meyer. Read one or both and your life and perspectives on who you really are may be dramatically clarified and make for life changing evidence–your WindowView perspectives may well lead to awesome wonder. And this is a statement made by a PhD scientist who is writing up entires for this blog! [book links are provided at each blog post below]

DATA IS VITAL: At the WindowView home page there is reference to a model with four compartments that hold data for Science, History, Theology, and combined Archeology plus Paleontology. The key to understanding the illustration is that each compartment holds information. But data if objective is not based on bias, interpretation, opinion, political influence, or worldview. Data does not matter where you are on this planet–what matters is finding the origin of your life. WindowView is about perspectives and thus data if collected in legitimate and good fashion becomes solid evidence for something. Follow the evidence where it leads!

SOURCES OF DATA: Science data is not to be confused with ‘scientists’ who sometimes say things beyond what the evidence supports, NOR theology data is to be tied to ‘theologians’ who make their commentaries, which may or may not be appropriate. If you are objective, then you keep asking: What is the core information here in scientific results to studies or what is the primary set of key points that are the core data of biblical writings (and by this we mean Scripture in the Bible, both original Hebrew and Greek texts).

Both recommended books review some history to science, developments that help illustrate what science data has been gathered as well as logic and reason to a theistic perspective on your life’s origin. You may be surprised that it is information and mind that makes for an origin. We live on a special planet, in a special universe, and have been given texts that project guidance for human life … but more than guidance, the theological data reveal a timeline of events past, present, and yet to come. Once you grasp the specifics from what science data really tell us about our complexity and specificity to being alive … that alone begs a shift in our understanding of life now and going forward. So then the scriptural timeline is supported by specific data in the Hebrew and Greeks texts–that at first may seem far fetched–become much more reason-able.

If you are truly objective, you will have no problems reading either the book by Dr. Hedin or D. Meyer … both point to intelligence, special conditions, and reasons to think life really is special.

Director, WindowView.org

Visit WindowView and see, think, and consider the most important life opportunity with data and evidence from the following:

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April 2021 New Book – A Must Read

For those who have read other books by Dr. Meyer, you already know how careful, well researched, and a good read his presentations have been … this book is no less important, valuable, and of sound mind. Full description at book sales website appears below …

The New York Times bestselling author of Darwin’s Doubt presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology. The book Return of the God Hypothesis goes a bit further than Darwin to bring together science evidence on one hand and an assessment of the beast theological perspective! Read and you will see the big picture!

Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. 

Meyer argues that theism — with its affirmation of a transcendent, intelligent and active creator — best explains the evidence we have concerning biological and cosmological origins. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. In so doing, he reveals a stunning conclusion: the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God. 

Hope the above information is helpful … click on the image above or here to see the book for purchase.

Director, WindowView.org

Visit WindowView and see, think, and consider the most important life opportunity with data and evidence from the following:

Convergence

Life’s Choice

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MARS – NASA Rover – CAUTION

History in the making comes as the NASA Martian rover, Perseverance, landed on Mars February 18, 2021.

So many people are wondering, will the rover’s instruments finally find evidence for life on Mars (be it in the past or living today). One would fully expect a rapid conclusion that such evidence is proof of Darwin’s theory on evolution.

CAUTION: Any evidence for life on Mars is possible, but the conclusion regarding evolution and life elsewhere in the universe is not only premature, but could very easily be false and totally misleading.

Persons with a material naturalism perspective have no expectation for anything but ‘nature’ to explain life. However, life contains information that is far superior to any chance origin. In fact,. highly specific and complex information supports the concept of Intelligent Design. And design certainly provides a viable explanation for life created life on Earth.

And microbes adapted to Earth’s extreme environments (e.g., in and near a volcano as one example, where there is extreme heat) could be ejected by volcanic eruption on Earth and that ejecta could travel from Earth to Mars and thus seeding life on Mars. But truth be told, rock from Mars comes to Earth as meteorites and ejecta from Earth likewise travels to Mars.

The WindowView page regarding life on Mars has been posted for well over a decade. Evidence for design has only increased. We recommend the following pages for your reading and review:

Life’s Molecular Machine Tools by Design

We are Carbon-Based Robots by Design

Life on Mars

Director, WindowView.org

PS for other Science Area articles take a look at the Science page Directory.

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Climate Change Thru Time

Soon the Change Area of Windowview.org will add more perspectives on climate change. As always, the WindowView concept of multiple perspectives would rather relate the keyword ‘global’ to change because weather and climate are only part of the big picture. Because the ‘window’ includes both scientific and theological perspectives, it takes your open mind to incorporate a “science-plus-Scripture big brush” that paints the global picture for what we can see for life on Earth, now and what is yet to come (as written in the ancient biblical texts).

A good place to see a more objective handling of he climate change issue with astronomy, planet science, as well as climate issues is presented in a recent book published by Dr. Hugh Ross. The only way to really understand a broader view on climate change, with added and very interesting additional perspectives, is to read the following book (to obtain a copy click on link below):

Weathering Climate Change – A Fresh Approach

What you will find includes details and considerations that are skipped by climate deniers, certain politicians, skeptics, particular business persons and others who just want go with personal bias or a skewed agenda. The subtitle includes fresh approach and this will have you take a step back to really look at a much larger picture and see some very interesting factors that are rarely addressed by the media or specialized information outlets. Even if you don’t agree, this review is comprehensive and deserves a respectful reading!

Director, WindowView.org

For more information and perspectives on change … WindowView Change Area

Visit WindowView and see, think, and consider the most important life opportunity with data and evidence from the following:

Convergence

Life’s Choice

Visit WindowView and see, think, and consider the most important life opportunity. This is based on multiple perspectives with data and evidence from the following:

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Coming Soon – 2023 and Continuing Thereafter

WindowView takes a unique perspective on bringing together Science and Scripture evidence. The objective is to let the reader consider a merging of perspectives that meet the ultimate appreciation of how our lives in the material world relate to what biblical evidence tells us is ahead in time. Scripture has been delivered to us through Israel’s scribes, prophets, and authors who are Jewish and reflect from two or more thousand years ago what the God of Israel (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) relates to the world, allowing all to investigate, study and read what is coming soon.

An article now being drafted for the Science Area relies on scientific evidence to correct a notion about variations and chance leading to our existence. The term evolution can be used in one of two ways. First, change over time is a kind of evolution that can be observed in shorter durations of time. Such changes fall under the heading of ‘microevolution.’ These kinds of changes have been documented for various species of plant and animal and scientists can record the change within a human lifetime.

The second use of the word evolution falls under the heading of ‘macroevolution.’ This is what is associated with Charles Darwin. Scientific evidence now counters the thoughts and theory presented by Darwin. WHAT IS REMARKABLE is that the more recent scientific data really speak to how our human bodies reveal molecular components that operate like micro-machines. And thousands of molecules act like component parts–just like parts assembled when making a robot. The article now being drafted uses the analogy that humans are ‘carbon-based robots.’ The article soundly points to the fact we humans are not here by chance. And with that you will need to assess who you are, how life came to be, and how scientific evidence begs everyone to contemplate a greater purpose to our being alive. Please remember this article is being written by a PhD scientist and someone who looks at perspectives beyond science alone to define life and purpose.

For the Harmony Area, where scriptural evidence is considered, another article is being prepared. If you are Jewish, you may well be so familiar with the Law of Moses. Rabbis have probably urged you increasingly to follow the Mosaic Law (i.e., in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanach, with the first five books being the Torah). Gentiles who study the Bible (inclusive of Hebrew and Greek texts) and who respect Israel and God’s purpose for the nation Israel to be a light to all nations, the idea of following the Mosaic Law has been subject of study. There are those today, even in Christian gatherings, who say that the Mosaic Law is still in effect. Our team at WindowView has made an in depth study of Torah and the Mosaic Law as well as a reading of the Brit Chadeshah (a.k.a. New Covenant, writings in Greek written by Jewish writers). The team is now drafting this second article.

The focus of an article on the Law will reveal a shift from the Mosaic Law as presented in the Torah, to the presence of a new priesthood and thus a change to the preceding Law. All of this occurs within Israel and is a Jewish-based phenomenon. What our team will document requires following some events along a timeline. Once you see the mechanics of the steps along time and the scriptural evidence, you will see a ‘Messianic-based upgrade’ to the Mosaic Law. In fact, certain specific events in the history of Israel and in Jerusalem, help to emphasize the importance of the shift and how that applies to everyone alive on planet Earth.

WindowView will consider the two articles described above to be pivotal to understanding how both science and scriptural evidence declare something incredibly important about a choice you have and a promise offered by God to all persons.

Other updates will come to the WindowView, so please visit time and again in the days ahead and this blog will help to present notices on what is new. Posts here will give you specific links to new content when added.

Thank you for visiting!

Director, WindowView.org

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WindowView 2021

Over the past several years only limited updates have been made at WindowView.org. Stay tuned! There are several very important changes planned for 2021.

The base format will remain the same. Some fine tuning to the introductions, overviews, and thesis pages will be made to refine content. Most important is several vitally important articles will be added in the near future.

The new content will add one critically important piece of evidence from science that absolutely redefines human origins. In fact, this perspective completely alters material views on life’s origin and how evolution should be regarded. This is objective and fact based only, not opinion nor speculation. The word evolution can still be used, but we need to be careful on how that word is applied. As you will see, the conclusion to our new information makes you and your life something special and not by chance.

Another perspective from the realm of Scripture will clear up misunderstandings about biblical guidance on the way one lives a life during a human lifetime on Earth. That is, life we live now and also something about life in the eternal framework. The article is in development now and provides not only a Jew and Gentile perspective, the content is described along a historical timeline and that is key to understanding what is in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures–which by the way all were written by Jewish persons over several thousands of years.

Time and history play an important role in the context and understanding of the evidence from science and Scripture and that is in part the objective of looking through the WindowView! The ultimate objective is to point to a life choice and a resulting promise for you. More on that objective will start to appear in this blog in days to come.

Director, WindowView.org

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In the End Time Era

The WindowView Press has been silent for a number of years. Our intention is to update WindowView and to make related posts here in time ahead. The reason for this comes with the realization that people are watching the news and not responding. In the era of an end time, events will come and blindside the unaware and unprepared—and as it is indicated in the ancient text: even the ‘elect’ will be thrown off by world events and decieved.

The reference to End Time is biblical, found in the Hebrew and Greek texts, but also immediately temporal. The end of an era of diplomacy comes as friends become disenfranchised and enemies are referenced as innocents. We are at the end of truth and right becomes wrong, wrong becomes right—also a biblical point of reference that may elude you, but not the one writing here.

The Greek Scriptures reference seven ages that characterize ‘churches,’ but please be aware the Greek word translated to ‘church’ is not exact. The more appropriate translation would be ‘body of believers.’ So there have been identified seven characterizations that describe ages where the larger body of believers are positioned in various ways in the eyes of the LORD. But the ‘seven letters to the seven churches,’ as is often the reference is also a timeline of periods of time or outline of chronological ‘church ages.’ You can follow scholarly-theological studies on the letters and these ages, but the bottom line is this: “we are now in the last age, the age of apostasy.” And this means the focus on the G_d of Israel has taken a back seat and the Scriptures are being interpreted to human purpose and not G_d’s righteousness. The last age of apostasy is so evident in so many venues, it almost seems as if what is happening everywhere on earth is okay … step back and be objective and you’ll see otherwise.

Stay tuned. A Ph.D. scientist and one familiar with policy and biblical insight writes here. The Greek text warns that we are in this era of apostasy and distraction. Not all are fooled, but a mass of many people is following the piper leading to the sea of ultimate dilution—where truth is swamped by ill fated material promises.

Underlying the posts here is a Hope for a future that has long been recorded as “on the way” and coming soon. In the meantime, ask yourself, are you relying on what is true?

Director, WindowView

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Snapshot of the Middle East: October 6, 2015

  • The US State Department denied reports it had issued Israel an ultimatum this week threatening not to veto a UN Security Council resolution declaring West Bank settlements illegal if Israel announced new settlement construction.

    Deputy State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said that while his office was aware of such reports in the press, those reports were “false.”

    “Our position on settlements is well known and hasn’t changed,” he said. “We convey it regularly to the Israeli Government. I know we don’t generally comment on private conversations, but I’d like to nip that story in the bud. We haven’t issued any kind of ultimatum on this.”

    Toner emphasized that far from issuing any such ultimatum regarding a UN resolution, “there’s not even a resolution out there right now.”

  •  The US government has said that the bombing of the hospital in Kunduz, which killed at least 19 people and wounded dozens more, was a “tragic incident,” but has refrained from condemning the attack as “the facts are still emerging” and it is still under investigation.

    During the daily press briefing, reporter Matthew Lee recalled that the State Department had issued a “very, very strong” statement after Israel bombed the UN school in the Gaza Strip, saying, “The suspicion that militants are operating nearby does not justify strikes that put at risk the lives of so many innocent civilians.”

    An Associated Press reporter on Monday grilled a State Department spokesperson over the US’s condemnation of an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza last summer, contrasting that response to Washington’s failure to condemn its own apparently accidental strike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan last week.

  • President Bashar Assad said a military campaign by Russia, Syria and its allies will decide the fate of the Middle East, and a year of US-led air strikes against Islamic State militants had only helped the spread of terrorism.

    In an interview with Iranian television broadcast on Sunday, Assad said if Syria, Russia, Iran and Iraq unite in battling terrorism their efforts would yield practical results.

    He was speaking days after Russian jets, based in western Syria, launched air strikes against targets Moscow has identified as Islamic State bases, but which Assad’s opponents say disproportionately hit rival, foreign-backed insurgents.

    “The chances of this alliance’s success are big, not small,” Assad said, adding that failure would mean “we face the destruction of the whole region.”

  • A month after the leader of al-Qaida said that the Islamic State and its leader are illegitimate, a recording of Ayman Zawihri was released Monday, documenting an even harsher tirade against ISIS and the man who refers to himself as the Caliph of Islam, ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

    “You spill blood and attack the Muslim people in order to rule,” Zawihiri said in his fourth recorded lecture released as part of his “Islamic Spring” lessons. He added that, “Baghdadi’s Caliphate is a Caliphate of explosions, damage and destruction.”

    The bulk of the criticism dealt with the manner in which ISIS forces those under its rule to convert to Islam and succumb to the organization’s rule. “Pledging allegiance by force, which some spiritual leaders have allowed, is not our way,” he said.

  • The Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey  (ACS) reveals that Arabic and Urdu – Pakistan’s national language– are the fastest-growing foreign languages spoken at home, according to a new report by the Center for Immigration Studies.

    After five decades of large-scale immigration, a record 63.2 million U.S. residents, or more than one-in-five, speak a language other than English when at home.

    Previous reports have shown that the United States is now the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world. But the new census study shows that the fastest-growing foreign languages, in percentage terms, are languages spoken by immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.

    Between 2010 and 2014, there was a 29 percent increase in Arabic, a 23 percent increase in Urdu, and a 9 percent in Persian, which is spoken in Iran.

  • A senior Iranian military leader warned this weekend that “all U.S. military bases in the Middle East are within the range of” Iran’s missiles and emphasized that the Islamic Republic will continue to break international bans on the construction of ballistic missiles.

    Much of this missile work, like the details of Iran’s advanced arsenal, remains secret, according to Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.

    Hajizadeh dismissed the threat of military action by the United States, warning that all U.S. assets and allies are in range of Iran’s current missile arsenal, according to comments made Sunday in Tehran and recorded by Iran’s state-controlled Fars News Agency.

    The threats of attack on the United States were issued as Iran unveiled new high-tech torpedoes and the formation of a joint war room along with Russia, Syria, and Iraq.

  •  Russia’s deputy chief of staff, Gen. Nikolay Bogdanovsky, accompanied by a large military delegation, arrives in Israel for a two-day visit on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to discuss increased coordination between the two militaries. However, Moscow seems to be sending Jerusalem an altogether different message: Friday, Oct. 2, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the surprise deployment of Navy cruiser, the Moskva, armed with 64 advanced anti-aircraft missiles S-300 ship-to-air missiles opposite the Syrian coastal town of Latakia.

    DEBKAfile’s military sources point out that Russia, without saying so publicly, has thus created an effective no-fly zone over most of Syria, most of northern Israel, including the Golan, as well as southern Turkey, for US aircraft based there for air strikes in Syria; Cyprus, the site of British air force bases; and Jordan.

    Since 2012, The Obama administration has been discussing the possibility of establishing no-fly zones in northern and southern Syria on a number of occasions, but has shelved the plan whenever a decision was imminent. Now, with one move, Moscow has imposed a no-fly zone over Syria.

  • Eitam Henkin and Naama Henkin of Neria, who were murdered in a drive-by terror attack near Nablus on Thursday, October 1, 2015. (screen capture: Channel 2)

    Israeli security forces have arrested the Palestinian terror cell that carried out the murders of Naama and Eitam Henkin in the West Bank on Thursday, the Shin Bet security service said Monday evening.

    A statement from the Shin Bet said it had carried out the operation in conjunction with the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police. The suspects had been taken in for questioning by the Shin Bet and had admitted their involvement in the attack, the statement said.

    The five cell members are Hamas members from Nablus, the Shin Bet said.

    The Israeli couple, both in their 30s, were driving in their car with their four children when they came under attack from Palestinian gunmen. The two were shot dead in front of their children; the children were unharmed.

  • Israeli jets bombed a target in the Gaza Strip early Monday morning after a Palestinian terror group launched a rocket into southern Israel.

    Palestinian media in Gaza reported Israeli strikes shortly after 2:30 a.m., a matter of hours after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip Sunday night landed in open territory in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel, causing neither injury or damage.

    There were no immediate reports of injuries.

    The IDF said in a statement that Israeli aircraft struck “a Hamas terror site in the northern Gaza Strip.”

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