Intelligent Design Theory investigates whether or not the empirical evidence implies that life on Earth must have been designed by an intelligent agent or agents. At first look, this theory seems to be Creationism, by another name. A closer look may reveal that it is actually something else. While the theory is not at all new, it has been in the national news recently because leaders of the new Intelligent Design movement have been pushing to have it taught in public schools.

This task introduces you to some controversial points about Intelligent Design. Use this Intelligent Design Theory webpage to answer the following questions.

1. Proponents of Intelligent Design claim to look for evidence of "signs of intelligence". What are the most commonly cited "signs" being considered?
    
2. Proponents claim that while evidence pointing to the nature of an "Intelligent Designer" may not be observable....(Complete this statement)
    
3. William Dembski, one of Intelligent Design's leading proponents, says that questions concerning the identity of a designer fall outside the realm of the theory. Why?
    
4. The first recorded arguments for a "natural designer" come from Greek philosophy. Who is typically credited with this idea?
    
5. Aristotle agreed with the idea. What name did Aristotle give to this intelligence?
    
6. In the thirteenth century, what did Thomas Aquinas say about "design"?
    
7. The phrase "intelligent design" was coined in its present sense in 1903 in the book Humanism. The book says "It will not be possible to rule out the supposition that the process of evolution may be guided by an intelligent design". Who write the book Humanism?
    
8. What book, published in 1989, is considered the first modern Intelligent Design book?
    
9. Who is considered the "father" of the Intelligent Design Movement?
    
10. Intelligent Design proponents often claim that their position is not only scientific, but that it is even more scientific than evolution. In the philosophy of science, certain standards must be met if an investigation qualifies as using the scientific method. Based on the standards presented on the webpage, does Intelligent Design qualify as science?
     
11. In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court articulated a set of four criteria for the admissibility of scientific expert testimony in a court of law. Based on those criteria presented on the webpage, does Intelligent Design meet the legal definition of science?
     
12. According to Phillip E. Johnson, what is the stated goal of the Intelligent Design movement?
     
13. Supporters say that teaching Intelligent Design in schools allows for a scientific basis for religious belief, without causing the state to do what?
     
14. Many Intelligent Design followers are quite open about their view that "Scientism" is itself a religion. What two things do they say "Scientism" promotes?
     
15. The National Academy of Science has said that Intelligent Design "and other claims of supernatural intervention in the origin of life" are not science. Why?
     

Biologists define evolution as the process by which living things change over time. This concept is quite obvious when we look at how selective breeding is used to improve species of plants and animals.

Biologists define species as a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring. Speciation, the process by which one species gives rise to another species, is much harder to demonstrate than evolution. Even though selective breeding has developed many new "varieties" within domesticated plant and animal species, these varieties can still be mated to produce fertile offspring. This basically means that they remain the same species.

There are four basic areas that contribute to the current scientific understanding of evolution:

• Earth's history
• Life's history
• Mechanisms of evolution
• Development and genetics

This task guides you to some of the important landmarks in evolutionary thinking. Go to this website about The History of Evolutionary Thought. First, study how the page is set up. There are four columns, each representing one of the four areas mentioned above. The timeline of the columns begins at the bottom, with key points before 1800. The middle of each column represents key points in the 1800's, and the top of each column representing 1900 to present. Each of the questions in the task relates to one of the topics in the website columns. Read each question below first. Decide which topic in a column relates to the question. Click on the link to go to information about the topic. Read the information to find the answer to the question.

1. In the nineteenth century, before radiometric dating, geologists accepted an estimation for the age of the Earth by the great physicist Lord Kelvin. How old did Lord Kelvin estimate the Earth was?
    
2. In 1956, Clair Patterson used radiometric dating to provide a date for the formation of the Earth. How old did Patterson say the Earth was?
    
3. The first part of a fossil human skull was discovered in 1857. In what part of Germany was this fossil discovered?
    
4. Herman Schaaffhausen was involved with the discovery of the human skull in the preceeding question. What evidence did he ignore when he claimed that the fossil was some "recent barbarian"?
    
5. Darwin's 1859 book The Origin of Species did not directly address the evolution of man. He published another book in 1871 on the subject. What was the name of this book?
    
6. Based on fossil and bone discoveries, humans have evolved over a long period of time. How many hominid species have currently been identified?
    
7. One catchy phrase survived early evolution and development ideas. That phrase is "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" (embryonic development reflects species development). Who coined this phrase?
    
8. Speciation was supported by Ernst Mayr in his 1942 book, Systematics and the Origin of Species. What did Mayr believe to be the "most significant" way to isolate a population?
    
9. Biostratigraphy was introduced by William Smith. He recognized that fossils in rock layers were arranged in the same distinctive order from the bottom to the top of the rocks. He also discovered the same sequences of fossils in rock layers throughout England. What job did Smith have that allowed him to make these observations?
    
10. Nicholas Steno may be the first person to have recognized "fossils" and their place in Earth's history. His recognition that shark teeth resembled triangular pieces of rock that had been known since ancient times. Steno's recognition of these rocks as the remains of once living things is often called the birth of paleontology. In what year did Steno give birth to paleontology?
     
11. Comparative anatomy was not used by Galen, the gladiator's doctor. While he emphasized personal observation, rather than relying on other authority, Galen never actually dissected a human. The traditions of Rome did not allow such a practice, and so Galen had to make do with dissecting animals and examining his gladiator patients during surgery. Dispite this shortcoming, Galen was the recognized authority on human anatomy from the fall of Rome until the sixteenth century.

    As a young anatomist, Andreas Vesalius was a defender of "Galenism". But as he grew more familiar with the anatomy of the human body, Vesalius began to find that Galen had made mistakes. In 1543, Vesalius produced De humani corporis favrica libri septem, or The Seven Books on the Structure of the Human Body. What is the work commonly called?

Part A:   Charles Darwin is famous for the "Theory of Natural Selection". Most people know of Darwin, but do not know much about the man and his life.

This task will help you gain a perspective of Darwin, the man. Use this webpage about Darwin's Education to answer the following questions.

1. The Church of England dominated the English scientific establishment during Darwin's time. What was the Church's view of natural history?
    
2. Influenced by his father's interest in natural history, Darwin collected many things during his childhood. What things did Darwin collect?
    
3. What did Darwin NOT like about Shrewsbury School?
    
4. How did young Darwin get the nickname "Gas"?
    
5. After leaving school in 1825, what summer job did Darwin take?
    
6. Darwin went to Edinbrgh University in 1825 where he was a diligen student. Ultimately, a sensitivity caused him to neglect his medical studies. What was he sensitive to?
    
7. Grant visited professor Robert Jameson's Wernerian Natural History Association several times. Jameson wrote an anonymous paper in which he used a specific word for the first time in a modern sense. What was this word?
    
8. Darwin made his first scientific presentation to the Plinian Society on March 27, 1827. What two discoveries did his presentation involve?
    
9. Extra-mural activities were importatn at the University of Cambridge. Darwin did not take up sports or debating. What was his competitive activity?
    
10. Darwin's third year final at Cambridge was a six hour verbal exam. The three hours in the morning covered the "classics". What topic was covered in the three hour afternoon session?
     
11. Darwin passed his fourth year finals at Cambridge. 178 people passed the three days of written papers. What was his ranking?
     
12. Who recommended Darwin to Robert FitzRoy, the captain of HMS Beagle?

 

Part B:   Charles Darwin's views on religion have been the subject of much interest. Darwin had a Non-conformist background, but attended a Church of England school where he studied Anglican theology with the aim of becoming a clergyman.

With the death of his daughter Annie, Darwin lost all faith in a beneficent God and saw Christianity as futile. He continued to give support to the local church and help with parish work, but on Sundays would go for a walk while his family attended church.

In his later life, Darwin was frequently asked about his religious views. He went as far as saying that he did "not believe in the Bible as a divine revelation", but was always insistent that he was agnostic and had "never been an Atheist".

Use this webpage about Darwin's Views on Religion to answer the following questions.

1. In Darwin's day it was common for clergyment to also be what?
    
2. What was the position of the established churches and universities on species?
    
3. How did the position of the Unitarian church differ from the establishment on species?
    
4. Robert FitzRoy, the captain of HMS Beagle, gave Darwin a copy of Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology. How did Lyell explain extinctions?
    
5. Darwin discussed his theory of natural selection with his friends, one of which was Richard Millner. Millner said that Darwin thought a belief that went so contrary to biblical authority was like what?
    
6. What was the date of the death of Darwin's nine year old daughter Annie?
    
7. The publication of Darwin's theory was forced by another scientist who had a similar theory. Who was this other scientist?
    
8. In the introduction to his 1871 book The Descent of Man, Darwin wrote "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge". What does the rest of this quote say?
    
9. Darwin attended a seance in January 1874. What did he later say in a letter about the seance?
    
10. Where was Darwin's funeral held?
     
11. What did the Unitarian preacher John Chadwick call Darwin?
     
12. When Darwin's autobiography was first published after his death, his wife Emma and his son Francis removed quotes about Christianity because they were deemed dangerous for Darwin's reputation. Who published a revised version containing the omissions and when was it published?
     
13. Although Darwin called himself an agnostic and said some harsh things about Christianity, did he ever leave the Church?

 

Part C:   Darwin's search for explanations of contradictions in faith-based ideas, led him to formulate his theory of Natural Selection. The webpage below covers the context of Darwin's life during the period in which his theory was conceived.

Use this webpage about the Inception of Darwin's Theory to answer the following questions.

1. What two colleges did Darwin attend?
    
2. What summer work did Darwin do?
    
3. After his voyage on the Beagle, Darwin went to Cambridge to get advice from Henslow and Sedwick. What did he want their advice about?
    
4. Darwin presented his first paper to the Geological Society on January 4, 1837. What was the subject of his paper?
    
5. Darwin first wrote about the possibility of life arising only once in his secret "B" notebook. What was the heading on the title page?
    
6. On March 7, 1838 Darwin presented a longer paper to the Geological Society. What was the subject of this paper?
    
7. What type of investigations were described in Darwin's "C" notebook?
    
8. On June 21, 1838 Darwin was elected to a club, along with Charles Dickens. What was this exclusive club?
    
9. What subject was covered in Darwin's "D" notebook?
    
10. What subject was covered in Darwin's "M" notebook?
     
11. On what date did Darwin propose to Emma Wedgwood?
     
12. On what date did Darwin marry Emma?

 

Part D:   Use this webpage about the Development of Darwin's Theory to answer the following questions.

1. When Darwin became a naturalist, what were theories of Transmutation being developed to explain?
    
2. In what year did Darwin return from his voyage on HMS Beagle?
    
3. In what year had Darwin's theory of how species originated come together in principle?
    
4. Darwin became ill in December 1839, greatly slowing down his work. In January 1842, Darwin sent a tentative description of his ideas to Charles Lyell. Lyell was dismayed that his ally had become a Transmutationist. What did he say Darwin denies?
    
5. On January 1844, Darwin wrote to the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker about his theory of Transmutation. Hooker's reply was cautious but friendly. What did he say?
    
6. In October 1844 Transmutation became a middle class talking point with the publication of what book presenting Lamarckian views?
    
7. What was Darwin's comment about the book?
    
8. Hooker finally read Darwin's "essay" in January 1847. Did Hooker agree with Darwin?
    
9. In May 1847, Darwin attended the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting at Oxford. Lyell gave Darwin a warning about reasonings in the style of the author of the Vestiges. What did he say?
    
10. Darwin delayed work on his theory by pouring himself into studying what sea animals?
     
11. On November 30, 1853, Darwin was awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society. The medal was in recognition for what work?

Charles Darwin published a book in 1839 commonly known today as The Voyage of the Beagle. Its original title was Journal and Remarks. This book was widely read by naturalists at the time and brought Darwin fame and respect.

This task will let you experience some of what Darwin experienced during the voyage. Use this webpage about The Voyage of the Beagle to answer the following questions.

1. What was the main purpose of the expedition?
    
2. A lesser priority of the expedition was to survey approaches to the harbors of what islands?
    
3. Why did captain FitzRoy nearly reject Darwin for the voyage because of his nose?
    
4. Darwin had to pay his own expenses for the voyage. How much did he have to pay?
    
5. The Beagle was ready to sail by early November. On what date did she actually sail?
    
6. Darwin started his Journal at their first stop. Where was the first stop of the Beagle?
    
7. What nickname did the officers of the Beagle give to captain FitzRoy?
    
8. What did Darwin do with his collections during the voyage?
    
9. What did Darwin find on a beach at Punta Alta in September 1832?
    
10. What did Darwin's encounter with the natives of the Tierra del Fuego make him believe about civilization?
     
11. On what date did the Beagle reach the Galapagos Islands?
     
12. On what date did the Beagle leave the Galapagos Islands?
     
13. The Beagle reached Australia on January 12, 1836, where Darwin caught his first marsupial (a rat-kangaroo). This animal made Darwin think that an unbeliever might say what?
     
14. On what date did the Beagle return to England?
     
15. Darwin's field notes and journal were published as part of Captain FitzRoy's account of the Beagle's voyage. This account was published in May 1839 in four volumes as the Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle. Which of the four volumes was Darwin's Journal and Remarks, 1832-1836?
     

Part A:   When Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859, reaction was, to say the least, mixed.

This task will show you why Darwin was hesitant to publish Origin. Use this webpage about the Reaction to Darwin's Theory to answer the following questions.

1. What was the complete title of Darwin's book published on November 22, 1859?
    
2. How many copies were in the first publication?
    
3. "Men from monkeys" was first published in a review of Darwin's book in what magazine?
    
4. How many copiies were printed in the second edition of Darwin's book?
    
5. Who told Darwin that the book offered the best explanation "ever published of the manner of formation of species"?
    
6. In 1860, even Karl Marx commented on Darwin's book. What did Marx say?
    
7. What did Darwin's brother Erasmus say about the book?
    
8. What cleric, after reading the book, told Darwin unless he accepted God's revelation in nature and scripture, he would not meet himm in heaven?
    
9. What cleric, after reading the book, said it was a "stumble in the right direction"?
    
10. Who were Darwin's two closest allies during the debate of his book?
     
11. When was the first mention of the term "Darwinism"?
     
12. Most reviewers were respectrul because of Darwin's eminent position, but they found it hard to understand how natural selection could work without a divine selector. What did this lead Darwin to say about himself?
     
13. Appleton's of New York published a print run of Darwin's book in May 1860. How many copies did they print?
     
14. The most famous confrontation over Darwin's book took place at a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Oxford on Daturday June 30, 1860. What question did "Soapy Sam" Wilberforce ask Huxley about his grandparents?
     
15. It appears that Huxley was almost inaudible with rage when he answered Wilberforce and several alternative versions of his answer exist. However, the story of Huxley's response spread around the country. What short response was Huxley said to have given?
     
16. Wilberforce's review of Darwin's book was published in the Quarterly, in which he said "all creation is the transcript in matter of ideas eternally existing in the mind of the Most High". What did Darwin scribble in the margin by this commment?
     
17. Asa Gray published three supportive articles in the Atlantic Monthly in 1861. Darwin persuaded Gray to publish them as a pamphlet, paying half the cost and sending 100 copies out to scientists, reviewers, and theologians. What was the title of this pamphlet?
     
18. Huxley and Owen argued for over two years, each trying to discredit the other. Owen tried to smear Huxley by portraying him as an "advocate of man's origins from a transmuted ape". What did Huxley tell Darwin he would do to Owen?
     
19. When Lyell told Darwin how he was troubled by the question of ape ancestry, how did Darwin describe "our ancestor" to tease him?
     

Part B:   Although it is usually associated with his theory, Darwin was not the first person to use the phrase "survival of the fittest".

Use this Survival of the fittest webpage to answer the following questions.

1. Who coined the phrase survival of the fittest and in what year?
    
2. To what was the phrase originally applied?
    
3. What was the first edition of Darwin's book in which "survival of the fittest" was used?
    
4. Which phrase do modern biologists like best, "natural selection" or "survival of the fittest"?
    
5. "Survival of the fittest" is often said to be a tautology. What is a tautology?
    
6. Many opponents of the theory of evolution, particularly those who find that it offends their morality or religious precepts, agrue that "survival of the fittest" is a justification for what?
    

One of the complaints from the scientific community about the first edition of Darwin's The Origin of Species was that there were few references to other people's related work. Darwin added a preface to subsequent editions in which he expanded and added to his original references.

This task shows what some people Darwin considered important thought about species. Read the complete preface to The Origin of Species. Write one or two sentences describing what each person listed in the preface believes about species of living things.

Through the years, there have been many hoxes that claimed to be major scientific discoveries. One of the most famous of these hoxes was "Piltdown Man", that was presented as the "missing link" between humans and apes.

With this task, you will learn how a hoax is perpetuated. Use this Piltdown Man webpage to answer the following questions.

1. How discovered the bones that came to be called "Piltdown Man"?
    
2. Where did the name "Piltdown" come from?
    
3. The hoax persisted between what years?
    
4. The scientific name given to Piltdown Man was Eoanthropus dawsoni. What is the translation of this name?
    
5. What characteristics did Piltdown Man have that caused British paleontologists to write it up as the "missing link" between ape and man?
    
6. What happened in 1915 that offset some of the original scepticism?
    
7. A genuine discovery, "Taung child", again raised doubt about Piltdown Man. What characteristics did Taung child have that were different from Piltdown Man?
    
8. What 1949 test caused the redating of the Piltdown gravel beds?
    
9. Piltdown Man turned out to be literally half ape and half man. Parts from what three organisms were used to make Piltdown Man?
    
10. How was the appearance of age created?
     
11. How was the lack of fit of the jawbone covered up?
     
12. Several things aided the survival of the hoax for forty years. Why was the skull and jaw securely locked away from the public?
     
13. Dawson was naturally the prime suspect for the hoax. A number of years were spent without identifying the perpetrator with absolute certainty. What is the generally though about the reason for the hoax?
     
14. Who is the candidate on which most suspicion has recently fallen?
     
15. What do creationists say about the hoax?
     
16. L. Ron Hubbard mentions Piltdown Man in his book Scientology: A History of Man (published just months before exposure of the hoax). What did Hubbard say about Piltdown Man?

Modern Evolutionary Synthesis generally denotes the combination of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, Gregor Mendel's theory of genetics as a basis for biological inheritance, and mathematical population genetics.

This task shows how different biological processes are combined into one theory. Use this Modern Evolutionary Synthesis webpage to answer the following questions.

1. Who coined the term "neo-Darwinism"?
    
2. Mendelian genetics was rediscovered in 1900, but there were two schools of thought about what variation natural selection acted upon. One school of thought was the "biometric school", that followed Darwin's idea. What was the main point?
    
3. The other school of thought was the "Mendelian school". What was the main point?
    
4. Who coined the terms "evolutionary synthesis" and "modern synthesis", and in what year?
    
5. According to the modern synthesis as established in the 1930s and 1940s, what two things caused chance genetic variation in populations?
    
6. According to modern synthesis, evolution consissts primarily of changes in the frequencies of alleles between one generation and the next. What three things are responsible for these changes?
    
7. Richard Dawkins proposed the idea that there is only one true unit of selection. What is this unit?

In Science, the ultimate fate of the universe is a subject of study in the field of Cosmology. Scientific theories basically say that either the universe will exist forever, or it will cease to exist at some time.

In Religion, Eschatology is a part of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or the ultimate fate of human kind, commonly phrased as either the "end of the world" or the "end of times".

 
The fate of the universe according to science:

Part A:   The Big Bang Theory is usually considered to be the "standard" cosmological model. The "Big Bang" is used both in a narrow sense to refer to a point in time when the observed expansion of the universe began, and in a more general sense to refer to the prevailing cosmological paradigm explaining the origin and expansion of the universe.

This task shows you how energy is important to the future of the universe. Use this Big Bang Theory webpage to answer the following questions.

1. Who was the first to propose that the universe began with the "explosion of a primeval atom" and in what year was it proposed?
    
2. Who provided observational evidence that the universe was expanding, and in what year was it provided?
    
3. Who gave the theory the name "Big Bang", and in what year did he do it?
    
4. What 1965 discovery caused the Big Bang Theory to be regarded as the best theory of the origin and evolution of the cosmos?
    
5. What technology advancement in the 1990s and early 21st century caused huge advances in Big Bang cosmology?
    
6. Based on measurements of the expansion of the universe, what is the measured age of the universe?
    
7. Temperatures and pressures were very high in the early universe. As it expanded and cooled, the universe went through many phase transitions, analogous to the condensation of steam. According to the theory, how many years after the Big Bang did hydrogen atoms form?
    
8. According to the theory, what is the most dominant form of matter in the universe today?
    
9. According to the theory, approximately 70% of the total energy density of today's universe is in what form?
    
10. A combination of observations and theory suggest that the first galaxies formed how many years after the Big Bang?
     
11. A number of problems have arisen within the Big Bang Theory throughout its history. What two things have resolved most of them?
     
12. In general, the universe can have three different kinds of geometries; hyperbolic geometry, Euclidean geometry, or elliptic geometry. What determines the geometry of the universe?
     
13. What observations during the 1970s and 1980s lead to the idea that most of the matter in the universe is "dark matter"?
     
14. Detailed measurements of the mass density of the universe in the 1990s revealed a value that was only 30% of what was expected. What type of energy makes up the missing 70%?
     
15. Several religions embrace, or at least don't dispute, the Big Bang. The Roman Catholic Church in particular, interprets it to allow for a philosophical "first cause". Which Pope was an enthusiastic proponent of the Big Bang even before the theory was scientifically wall established?

 

Part B:   The Big Crunch is a hypothesized collapse of the universe upon itself after its eventual stoppage of expansion - a counterpart to the Big Bang.

Use this Big Crunch Theory webpage to answer the following questions.

1. The Big Crunch is only a "possibility". What condition must exist to stop, an then reverse the expansion of the universe?
    
2. Why is it meaningless to ask what would happen after the Big Crunch?
    
3. If the overall spatial curvature of the universe is negative, its shape is like a saddle. If the overall spatial curvature of the universe is zero, its shape is flat. What is the shape of the universe if its overall spatial curvature is positive?
    
4. The three shapes or models in the last questions have a name, what is it?
    
5. A well-resolved mapping of the cosmic microwave background has provided widely accepted evidence about the motion of the universe. What does this evidence show?
    
6. Does the evidence mentioned in the previous questions mean the Big Crunch is impossible?
    
7. Mathematically, how far in the future will the Big Crunch occur?
    
8. The Big Crunch is referred to by some as Gnab Gib. What does that mean?

 

Part C:   The Steady State Theory was developed as a "non-standard" cosmological model. The Steady State Theory asserts that although the universe is expanding, it nevertheless does not change its look over time.

Use this Steady State Theory webpage to answer the following questions.

1. What is another name for the Steady State Theory?
    
2. In what year was the Steady State Model developed?
    
3. The theory is the basis for another theory known as the Quasi-Steady State Theory. What does this second theory postulate?
    
4. Although the Steady State Theory lost support in the late 1960s, it is still an important theory. What is the key importance of the theory.?
    
5. What does Einstein's theory of general relativity say about a static universe?
    
6. What must occur for the Steady State Theory to work?
    
7. Although the Steady State Theory has a number of attractive features, it violates a widely accepted physical law. What law does it violate?
    
8. What discovery in 1965 refuted the Steady State Theory for most cosmologists?

 

Part D:   Panspermia is not a mainstream theory. It is a hypothesis proposing one way life may have started on Earth.

Use this Panspermia webpage to answer the following questions.

1. Use one sentence to state the theory of Panspermia.
    
2. How does Exogenesis differ from Panspermia?
    
3. What type of evidence is there to support Panspermia?
    
4. What are extremophiles?
    
5. What planet shows evidence of having once had liquid water?
    
6. What moon in the solar system shows evidence of having water oceans?
    
7. What do the letters SETI stand for?
    
8. One of the objections to both panspermia and exogenesis is that carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen have not been observed in sufficient densities and temperatures for chemical reactions between them to occur - except on earth. What is needed to create the elements C, N, and O?
    
9. Use one sentence to state Occam's Razor.
    
10. What is directed panspermia?

 

Part E:   The fate of the universe according to religion:

In many religions, the end of the world is a future event prophesied in sacred texts or folklore. More broadly, eschatology may encompass related concepts such as the messiah, the afterlife, and the soul.

Most religions have doctrines teaching that "worthy" members of the faith will be "delivered" from the coming judgement and wrath of God.

Use this Eschatology webpage to answer the following questions.

1. At the time of the Budda, he apparently predicted that his teaching would disappear after 500 years. The span of time was expanded during the Middle Ages. What was it expanded to?
    
2. What do Buddhists generally believe about creation?
    
3. During the second century, what reason did Justin Martyr propose for God delaying the end of the world?
    
4. Hinduism states that the world shall fall into chaos and degradation, followed by the appearance of the Kalki Avatar. What will happen then?
    
5. Islam describes a natural disaster in which the ground will cave in and fog or smoke will cover the skies. How long will the fog or smoke last?
    
6. What is said to follow the fog?
    
7. Islam states that the "Imam" will teach simple living and high thinking. What will he establish?
    
8. In Judaism, one of the sages of the Talmud says he does not want to live to see the end of days come. What reason does he give?
    
9. How long does the Talmud say the world as we know it will exist?
    
10. According to the Jewish calendar, the year 2005 equals how many years since the Creation?
     
11. Using calculations based on the Jewish calendar, in what year will the end of days occur?
     
12. The Hopi American Indian Tribe has prophecies of the signals of the end times. They also predict the return of the "True White Brother". What will he usher in?
     
13. The Mayans believe that Earth would be destroyed by several catastrophies and civilizations would then collapse. What will happen then?
     
14. The current Mayan calendar cycle ends in 2012. What is the significance of this?
     
15. According to a Sioux medicine man, disasters will descend over the tribe. A "white buffalo calf woman" will then purify the world, bringing back harmony and spiritual balance. What occured in 1994 and 1995 that caused many tribal leaders to feel the prophecy is being fulfilled?
     
16. According to Norse mythology, Ragnarok is a battle during the end of the world. What will happen to the universe during this war?
     
17. Zoroastrianism eschatology is the oldest eschatology in recorded history. What was the Zoroastrian concept of the end of the world in 500 B.C.?
     
18. According to Zoroastrian philosophy, what will happen to the word after the battle between the righteous and wicked?

Conclusion to the WebQuest:

Write an essay of sufficient length to answer this question: "Where did we come from?" and "Where are we going?" (treat each question separately in the essay). Use this understanding essays page to review the basic parts of an essay.   Use this essay evaluation rubric as a guide for writing the essay. NOTE:   This must be included in the essay introduction: Create a thesis statement appropriate for the essay. The thesis statement cannot be a question. NOTE:   This must be included in the essay body: Choose what you judge to be key WebQuest research information to support your answer to the WebQuest questions. NOTE:   This must be included in essay conclusion: Restate your position on each WebQuest question, along with the major reasons for those positions.