the creation narrative and modern science ãwho cares? -philosophically -philosophically

The Creation Narrative The Creation Narrative and Modern Scienceand Modern Science

Who cares?Who cares? -Philosophically-Philosophically

Man must realize that a fundamental law of Man must realize that a fundamental law of necessity reigns throughout the whole realm of necessity reigns throughout the whole realm of Nature . . . there cannot be a separate law for Nature . . . there cannot be a separate law for mankind in a world in which planets and suns mankind in a world in which planets and suns follow their orbits, where moons and planets follow their orbits, where moons and planets trace their destined paths, where the strong are trace their destined paths, where the strong are always the masters of the weak and where those always the masters of the weak and where those subject to such laws must obey them or be subject to such laws must obey them or be destroyed. Man must also submit to the eternal destroyed. Man must also submit to the eternal principles of this supreme wisdom. He may try principles of this supreme wisdom. He may try to understand them but he can never free to understand them but he can never free himself from their sway.himself from their sway.

Man must realize that a fundamental law of Man must realize that a fundamental law of necessity reigns throughout the whole realm of necessity reigns throughout the whole realm of Nature . . . there cannot be a separate law for Nature . . . there cannot be a separate law for mankind in a world in which planets and suns mankind in a world in which planets and suns follow their orbits, where moons and planets follow their orbits, where moons and planets trace their destined paths, where the strong are trace their destined paths, where the strong are always the masters of the weak and where those always the masters of the weak and where those subject to such laws must obey them or be subject to such laws must obey them or be destroyed. Man must also submit to the eternal destroyed. Man must also submit to the eternal principles of this supreme wisdom. He may try principles of this supreme wisdom. He may try to understand them but he can never free to understand them but he can never free himself from their sway.himself from their sway.

Adolph Hitler, MeinKampf,James Murphy trans., (London: Hurst and Blackett Ltd., 1939) p. 140


Who cares?Who cares? -Philosophically-Philosophically -Theologically-Theologically -Apologetically-Apologetically

Three ModelsThree ModelsTheistic EvolutionTheistic EvolutionProgressive CreationProgressive CreationMature CreationismMature CreationismAtheistic EvolutionAtheistic Evolution

Theistic EvolutionTheistic Evolution

Theistic Evolution

All creation is via God’s ordinary means of action (natural Law)

4.5 Billion Years

Critique: Theistic Critique: Theistic EvolutionEvolutionThis theory will not harmonize with the This theory will not harmonize with the

BibleBibleBiblical words in Genesis:Biblical words in Genesis:BaraBara = creation out of nothing = creation out of nothingYatzarYatzar = to form or make = to form or makeYomYom = “day” “time” “life” “season = “day” “time” “life” “season

“space” cf. Gen. 1:5 with 2:4“space” cf. Gen. 1:5 with 2:4Still have problems with certain areas like Still have problems with certain areas like

biogenesis and the fossil recordbiogenesis and the fossil recordCould argue that God started itCould argue that God started it

Progressive CreationismProgressive Creationism

Progressive Creation

Creation is via a combination of God’s ordinary and extraordinary means of action (natural Law)

4.5 Billion Years

Critique: Progressive Critique: Progressive CreationismCreationism

Gen 1: “after their own Gen 1: “after their own kindkind””Fossil record supports this viewFossil record supports this viewThe picture of smooth transition The picture of smooth transition

from primitive to complex life forms from primitive to complex life forms is not borne out by the fossil recordis not borne out by the fossil recordNew orders appear abruptly and New orders appear abruptly and

remain relatively unchangedremain relatively unchangedSee current theories of Punctuated See current theories of Punctuated

equilibrium/ emergent evolution-- equilibrium/ emergent evolution--

MammalsPrimates

FishAmphibians

Protozoans

BirdsReptiles

Mollusca

Green plants

Fungi

SegmentedWorms

UnsegmentedWorms

Insects

MammalsPrimates

FishAmphibians

Protozoans

BirdsReptiles

Mollusca

Green plants

Fungi

UnsegmentedWorms

Insects

Blue-greenAlgas

SegmentedWorms

Dr. Grassi, President of the French Dr. Grassi, President of the French Academy of Science, Editor of a 30 Academy of Science, Editor of a 30 volume series on paleontologyvolume series on paleontology

““There is There is almost a total absence of fossil almost a total absence of fossil evidenceevidence relative to the origin of the relative to the origin of the phyla. The lack of direct evidence leads phyla. The lack of direct evidence leads to the formation of to the formation of pure conjecturepure conjecture as to as to the genesis of phyla. We don’t even have the genesis of phyla. We don’t even have a basis to determine the extent to which a basis to determine the extent to which these opinions are correct.”these opinions are correct.”


George Gaylord SimpsonGeorge Gaylord Simpson-- Prominent evolutionary paleontologists in Prominent evolutionary paleontologists in Types of EvolutionTypes of Evolution, cited in Gish,, cited in Gish, Evolution, The Fossils Say ‘No’ Evolution, The Fossils Say ‘No’ p.168p.168

"[The absence of transitional forms in the "[The absence of transitional forms in the fossil record] is true of all the thirty-two fossil record] is true of all the thirty-two orders of mammals...The earliest and most orders of mammals...The earliest and most primitive known members of every order primitive known members of every order already have the basic ordinal characters, already have the basic ordinal characters, and and in no casein no case is an approximately is an approximately continuous sequence from one order to continuous sequence from one order to another known. In most cases the another known. In most cases the break is so break is so sharpsharp and and the gap so largethe gap so large that the origin of that the origin of the order is speculative and much disputed."the order is speculative and much disputed."


"This regular absence of "This regular absence of transitional forms... is transitional forms... is an almost an almost universal phenomenonuniversal phenomenon, as has long , as has long been noted by paleontologists. It is been noted by paleontologists. It is true of almost all orders of all true of almost all orders of all classes of animals, both vertebrate classes of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate. . .and it is and invertebrate. . .and it is apparently also true of analogous apparently also true of analogous categories of plants."categories of plants."


[wonders] “whether such major [wonders] “whether such major events take place instantaneously, events take place instantaneously, by some process essentially unlike by some process essentially unlike those involved in lesser or more those involved in lesser or more gradual evolutionary change. . .”gradual evolutionary change. . .”These findings in the fossil record fit These findings in the fossil record fit

perfectly with the idea of progressive perfectly with the idea of progressive creationcreation



Progressive Creation

Creation is via a combination of God’s ordinary and extraordinary means of action (natural Law)

4.5 Billion Years

Progressive Creationism is compatible Progressive Creationism is compatible with the Genesis account:with the Genesis account:

-The day-age theory-The day-age theory -“Days literal but not sequential” theory-“Days literal but not sequential” theory -Gap theory-Gap theoryDays of creation do not easily correlate Days of creation do not easily correlate

with episodes of emergent evolution in with episodes of emergent evolution in the fossil recordthe fossil record

But, See Hugh Ross, But, See Hugh Ross, Creation & TimeCreation & Time


Mature Creationism Mature Creationism

Mature Creationism

The creation account in Genesis isreferring to a literal 6 day period when allthings on earth were created--All were by extraordinary, not ordinary means

10,000 years

Critique-Mature Critique-Mature Creationism Creationism

The Days in Genesis 1 are literal 24-The Days in Genesis 1 are literal 24-hour days, and happened only <10,000 hour days, and happened only <10,000 years ago. The world flood created the years ago. The world flood created the impression of old age for the earth.impression of old age for the earth.

This is the dominant view in modern This is the dominant view in modern fundamentalist “creationism”fundamentalist “creationism”

A discredited and unfortunate theoryA discredited and unfortunate theoryMethodology is wrongMethodology is wrongUnresponsive to falsifying data Unresponsive to falsifying data

Coral atolls, light from distant stars, Coral atolls, light from distant stars, slow forming sedimentslow forming sediment

Henry Morris. “Real creation Henry Morris. “Real creation necessarily involves creation of necessarily involves creation of ‘apparent age.’”‘apparent age.’”

See critique of Creation Science See critique of Creation Science Movement by Robert Snow in Movement by Robert Snow in Portraits Portraits of Creationof Creation Van Til ed. Van Til ed. or- Hugh Ross, or- Hugh Ross, Creation and TimeCreation and Time, , NavpressNavpress

Critique-Mature Critique-Mature Creationism Creationism

Atheistic EvolutionAtheistic Evolution

Next WeekNext Week

ConclusionsConclusionsTheists who believe the Bible are Theists who believe the Bible are

able to harmonize their views with able to harmonize their views with the findings of modern science.the findings of modern science.Human spirituality is dependent on Human spirituality is dependent on

special creation.special creation.Genesis uniquely accounts for the Genesis uniquely accounts for the

nature of the human race.nature of the human race.God has created this world, and you God has created this world, and you

can come to know him personallycan come to know him personally

Next WeekNext WeekGuest lecturer Doug Rudy Guest lecturer Doug Rudy will expand on the subject of will expand on the subject of the Bible and macro-the Bible and macro-evolutionevolution

Comments?Comments?Questions?Questions?


the creation narrative and modern science ãwho cares? -philosophically -philosophically

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creation narrative

separate law

fossil recordcould

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types of evolution

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destined paths