What Does Science Say About Creation? Dr. Heinz Lycklama [email protected]

What Does Science Say About Creation?

Dr. Heinz Lycklama

[email protected]

www.osta.com

mailto:[email protected]

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@ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

What Does Science Have To Say?

Harrison Matthews, in the “Foreword” to the 1971 edition of “Origin of Species by Natural Selection”, by Charles Darwin states that “Belief in evolution is thus exactly parallel to belief in special creation - both are concepts which believers know to be true but neither, up to the present, has been capable of proof.”

An Objective statement of fact!


Is This Science?“Since Darwin, every knowing person agrees that man is descended from the apes. ... Today, of course, there is no such thing as the theory of evolution; it is the fact of evolution. The only arguments now are over technical problems, but the basic fact of evolution is so clearly established that no scientist worries about it any more.” - so states Ernst Mayr, professor of Biology at Harvard.

A Subjective statement!


Scientific Methodology Make observations Develop a hypothesis or theory that explains

the observations Conduct experiments to test accuracy and

predictions made by the theory Draw conclusions Repeat experiments to verify results and

eliminate sources of inaccuracy


Theory Criteria To apply scientific methodology, the theory must

meet these criteria: Must be falsifiable or verifiable Must make quantifiable predictions Experimental results must be repeatable Must be as simplistic as possible with no unnecessary

components (Occam’s Razor)

Adherence to the methodology allows for self-correction and increases confidence in the assumptions made by scientific philosophy


Models of Origins We can neither observe nor repeat “origins” Origins “theories” cannot be tested or proven We have two models (not theories) of origins

Creation and evolution Models can be compared as to their respective

capacities for correlating observable data Evolutionists regard evolution as “a proven fact.”

They believe that evolutionism is science and that creationism is religion

Evolutionists are unable to prove evolution Thousands of scientists believe in creation


Evolution Model Cannot be proved:

It operates too slowly to be measurable (if it is taking place)

The scientific method cannot be used to measure it Small variations in organisms, observed today, are

not relevant (can’t be used to distinguish between creation and evolution)

Dr. Heribert-Nilsson, Director of the Botanical Institute at Lund University, Sweden, said “My attempt to demonstrate

evolution by an experiment carried on for more than 40 years has completely failed. … The idea of an evolution rests on

pure belief.” (Synthetische Artbildung, 1953).


Evolution Model - 2 Explains origin, development and meaning of

all things in terms of natural laws and processes which operate today as they have in the past

No extraneous processes requiring an external agent (i.e. a Creator) are permitted

The universe in all respects evolves itself into higher levels of order (particles to people), elements -> complex chemicals -> simple living systems -> complex life -> man


Creation Model Cannot be proved:

Creation is not happening now, so far as can be observed

The scientific method cannot repeat creation

Cannot ascertain whether creation took place (except through divine revelation)


Creation Model - 2 Involves a process of special creation in the

beginning All the basic laws and categories of nature

brought into existence by special creative processes which are no longer in operation today

Distinct kinds exist today as they have existed in the past

Processes of creation replaced by processes of conservation


Which Model Best Fits The Facts? Creation and Evolution are the only two models

of origins Both models should be considered as equal

alternatives and evaluated objectively in terms of their relative abilities to correlate and explain scientific data

The model that incorporates the most data and has the smallest number of unresolved issues is the most likely to be true


Basic Predictions of The ModelsCategory Basic Predictions of

Evolution Model

Basic Predictions of

Creation ModelGalactic universe Galaxies changing Galaxies constant

Structure of stars Stars changing into other types Stars unchanged

Other heavenly bodies Building up Breaking down

Types of rock formations Different in different “ages” Similar in all “ages"

Appearance of life Life evolving from non-life Life only from life

Array of organisms Continuum of organisms Distinct kinds of organisms

Appearance of kinds of life New kinds appearing No new kinds appearing


Basic Predictions of The Models - 2

Category Basic Predictions of

Evolution Model

Basic Predictions of

Creation ModelMutations in organisms Beneficial Harmful

Natural selection Creative process Conservative process

Fossil record Innumerable transitions Systematic gaps

Appearance of man Ape-human intermediates No ape-human intermediates

Nature of man Quantitatively superior to animals Qualitatively distinct from animals

Origin of civilization Slow and gradual Contemporaneous with man


Looking At The Scientific Evidence

Origin of matter, energy and natural law Origin of the solar system Teleology – study of evidences of design

in nature, e.g. Anthropic Principle Classification of biological organisms Natural selection and mutations (vestigal

organs)


The Scientific Evidence - 2

Origin of man Origin of life – probability The fossil record Geologic ages – Uniformitarianism vs.

Catastrophism Age of the earth


Origin of Matter, Energy & Natural Law Evolution model predicts:

Matter, energy and laws are still evolving Must have evolved in the past since there is no

external agent to bring evolution to a stop Systems can evolve to higher levels of complexity

Creation model predicts: Basic laws would not now be changing Fundamental nature of matter and energy would

not now be changing Finished in the past, conserved in the present Matter should go from order to disorder


The Natural Laws The first two laws of thermodynamics are constant:

The total energy of any system remains the same The entropy of a system increases over time

Other constant laws include: Law of gravity Conservation of momentum Conservation of electric charge

Did natural laws evolve? There is no evidence of this


First Cause – Divine or Matter? The First Cause of Limitless Space – must be infinite The First Cause of Endless Time – must be eternal The First Cause of Boundless Energy – must be omnipotent The First Cause of Universal Interrelationships – must be

omnipresent The First Cause of Infinite Complexity – must be omniscient The First Cause of Moral Values – must be moral The First Cause of Spiritual Values – must be spiritual The First Cause of Human Responsibility – must be volitional The First Cause of Human Integrity – must be truthful The First Cause of Human Love – must be loving The First Cause of Life – must be living


Conceptual Systems of Science Cause and Effect - an omnipotent Creator is an

adequate cause for all observable effects in the universe

Energy Conservation – energy can be converted from one form into another, but can neither be created nor destroyed

Classification and Order - table of chemical elements, biological taxonomy, hierarchy of star types. All entities are in a state of flux in the evolution model

Processes - all processes are well-defined and orderly. If not, there is no point to scientific study. Creation predicts “purpose” and “meaning”

These systems all favor the creation model!


Conceptual Systems of Science - 2 Forces and Fields - types of forces in nature

(electromagnetic, gravitational, nuclear and weak) have always acted the same from the beginning. These forces did not evolve

Environmental Interdependence – the environment coupled with natural selection constitutes a powerful mechanism to conserve the created kinds and balance of nature

Energy Decay – changes always tend to go in a “downward” direction such that there results a net decrease in the “availability” of the converted energy for further useful work

These systems all favor the creation model!


More on 2nd Law of Thermodynamics 2nd Law - The entropy of a system increases with time Entropy is defined as “a measure of the quantity of

energy not capable of conversion into work” 2nd Law holds in the fields of classical thermodynamics

(unavailability of energy for further work), statistical thermodynamics (decreased order of the system’s structure), as well as in informational thermodynamics (lost/distorted information)

Creation predicts and is supported by the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics

Let’s see what Dr. Gish [ICR] has to say …


Conditions For Increasing Complexity in an Open System

Necessary, but not sufficient conditions:1. Open System2. Available Energy

Additional requirements:3. Mechanism for storing and converting

incoming energy4. Program (to “direct” the growth of

complexity)


Keeping Score

Creation Evolution

Laws of Thermodynamics

TOTAL = 1 0


Origin of The Solar System Predictions of evolution model:

Solar system is one of many Earth, moon and planets should have same composition

and structure Predictions of creation model:

Solar system is unique Earth, moon and planets each created for a specific

purpose, each with a distinctive composition and structure Only the earth would be found to have a hydrosphere

capable of supporting life Only the earth would be found to have an atmosphere

capable of supporting life Evidence of decay and catastrophism would be found on

other planets and moons


Big Bang Theory All energy and matter was crammed into a cosmic

egg (or primeval atom) Where did it come from? How did it get there?

Suddenly exploded/expanded at great speed Nothing -> today’s universe? First there was nothing – then there was a Big Bang!

Two elements were created: Hydrogen (75%) Helium (25%)


Big Bang Theory - 2 These simple gases expanded

Perfect vacuum at very low temperature Everything in the universe evolved from

these simple gases: Stars, galaxies, solar system All living things, including man with:

30 trillion cells of about 200 different kinds Brain with 12 billion brain cells and 120 trillion

connections

Chaos & Disorder -> Complex Universe



The Solar System Was Created Based on statistical analysis and the evolution model:

One might expect to find many solar systems with planets and similar characteristics to our solar system

The evolution model also assumes that the moon broke away from the earth

What we find: Our solar system is unique Earth and moon have vastly different structure and

composition and could not have come from the same celestial “ancestor”

The chemical makeup of the moon rocks is very different from that of rocks on the earth

The predictions of the creation model are exactly confirmed by moon landings and space probes


Keeping Score

Creation Evolution


Origin of Solar System

TOTAL = 2 0


Teleology Teleology is the study of evidences of design in

nature The word is derived from the Greek word for end

or purpose. Evolution predicts:

Mechanistic self-ordering process in nature Mutations provide random changes Natural selection concentrates the beneficial

features Creation predicts:

Evidence of design in nature Carefully balanced equations, constants and

properties of matter


The Anthropic Principle The Anthropic Principle states that the

universe appears to be carefully designed for the well-being of mankind

Some evidence of this found in nature: Mass of proton Gravitation force Strength of electrical charges Distance of moon from the earth Distance of sun from the earth etc.


Mass of Proton Mass of proton is chosen for stability Mass of free neutron is slightly heavier than that

of a proton, and it decays to a proton, electron, and an antineutrino with a half life of 12 minutes. Free neutrons cannot persist in nature.

If the mass of a proton were increased by just 0.2 %, it would decay into a neutron, a positron and a neutrino. This decay does not occur - if it did hydrogen could not exist. Hydrogen is the dominant element of the universe. Without it, the universe could not exist

Evidence of a precise design!


Gravitation Force Gravitation force is inversely proportional to

the square of the separation distance between the two masses. This fundamental force holds the universe together, controlling the orbits of all members of our planetary system.

Why is the number not 1.99 or 2.01? Any value other than 2 would lead to an eventual catastrophic decay of orbits and of the entire universe

Evidence of an essential design!


Strength of Electrical Charges

The strength of electrical charges, i.e. the Coulomb force varies as the inverse square of the distance between the charges. Since the electrical force is much stronger than the gravitational force, it has been measured to an accuracy of 16 decimal places to be 2.0000000000000000

This reflects God’s purposeful planning!

More on the “Just Right” Universe by Dr. Ray Bohlin of Probe Ministries in next 14 slides …


A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe

29 Fine-tuned Parameters to the Universe Constants in equations for gravity,

electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear forces

Ratio of proton to electron mass


A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe 51 Fine-tuned Parameters to our Galaxy,

Solar System, and Planet Distance from the sun Size, temperature, & type of sun Size, axial tilt, rotation speed, moon, &

composition of earth Stability of Jupiter and Saturn



10–53 - Probability of all 80 fine-tuned parameters occurring by chance



10 22 -Upper limit for number of stars in the universe

Assume 1 planet per star Therefore 1022 planets in the universe



So how do we determine how many planets may be suitable for life?

10 -53 x 10 22 = 10 -31 or 0.0000000000000000000000000000001

planets suitable for life


A “Just Right” Universe

Jupiter acts as a comet and asteroid magnet shielding earth from catastrophic collisions

Our sun is located between spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy where there are fewer stars (less harmful radiation and disruptive gravity) and less gas and dust (we can see the rest of the galaxy and universe)



Since 1996, over 50 planets outside our solar system have been found

Only 5% of stars have planets The planets are either too large, too close to

their star, or with too erratic an orbit to harbor life

Have the probabilities changed?



There are now 123 parameters with a probability of 1 in 10161. When multiplied with a very generous estimate of 1 planet/star or 1022 planets, the final number of planets in the universe suitable for life is 10-139 or

0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 planets


A “Just Right” Universe CNN (2/5/01) just released an article reporting that

some astronomers have hatched a plan to move earth’s orbit

Sun is going to increase in size and heat output over the next few billion years eventually making earth uninhabitable

Move the earth farther out (41 million miles) gradually by passing a 62 mile diameter asteroid within 10,000 miles of earth every 6,000 years 1 million fly bys should do it


But, . . . “If the asteroid comes too close, it might break up or

conceivably even slam into Earth.” “Another possible side effect . . . would be to

increase the planet's rotation. The encounters would have to be planned so that while some would cause the Earth to spin faster, others would slow it down back to normal rotation speed.”

“It's also possible that the moon would be thrown from its orbit around the Earth during these fly-bys.”


What Does Evolution Say? Evolution is unable to deal with such

permanent properties of nature Max Planck (1858-1947), a Nobel Prize

winner and founder of modern physics, stated: “According to everything taught by the exact

sciences about the immense realm of nature, a certain order prevails - one independent of the human mind … this order can be formulated in terms of purposeful activity. There is evidence of an intelligent order of the universe to which both man and nature are subservient.”


Keeping Score

Creation Evolution


Origin of Solar System

Teleology (Design)

TOTAL = 3 0


Classification of Biological Organisms The evolution model predicts:

A continuum of all forms of life No classification system would work

The creation model predicts: An array of clear-but distinct organisms

similar structures for similar functions, e.g. eyes different structures for different functions, e.g.

gills for fish, lungs for man Science of taxonomy

distinct kinds/species


The Science of Taxonomy The science of taxonomy is a problem for

evolution The classification system introduced by

Carolus Linnaeus applies to plants/animals in today’s world as well as to extinct plants and animals A continuum of life forms does not exist Intermediates have not been observed and/or

identified in the fossils The classification system introduced by Linnaeus

still works today


Quoting an Evolutionist The anti-creationist, Niles Eldredge,

wrote in 1985: “And though a few of these eighteenth-

century systematists had vaguely evolutionary notions, nearly all were devoutly and orthodoxly religious. They saw the order in their material, the grand pattern of similarity running through the entire organic realm, as evidence of God’s plan of creation.”


Classification Observations What we do see is:

Variations within species, e.g. varieties of cats, dogs, cows, horses, mankind

No new kinds produced Some kinds become extinct Like begets like

Chalk up another one for the Creation Model!


Natural Selection and Mutations Evolution model predicts:

Small variations between members of a species would confer differing degrees of advantage or disadvantage in the struggle for existence

Those with significant advantages would be favored

New and higher types of organisms would emerge

A mutation (structural change in a gene) is the source of genetic variation

Mutations are primarily beneficial


Natural Selection and Mutations - 2

Creation model predicts: Variation and natural selection work to

assure genetic integrity and to enable the organism to survive in nature

Characteristics can be adjusted, within limits, to changes in the environment

Mutations are primarily harmful


What We See Happening Today Variations within a kind, e.g. peppered moth

“evolving” to darker color as tree trunks grew darker with pollutants during industrial revolution

Adaptation to the environment for survival Mutations are harmful to the organism Mutations are random and not directed Mutations are rare in occurrence Mutations almost always generate misfits

which soon die out


“Origin of Species” Never Observed All of Darwin’s evidences turn out to be

descriptions of creative adaptation, not origin According to Niles Eldridge (1986):

“Darwin, it is now become commonplace to acknowledge, never really addressed the ‘origin of species’ in his book of that title.”

Darwin never really cited the origin of a new species by natural selection

The British evolutionist Colin Patterson noted: “No one has ever produced a species by

mechanisms of natural selection. No one has ever gotten near it and most of the current argument in neo-Darwinism is about this question.”


On Mutations and Natural Selection The philosopher Janus Koestler noted that:

“The public continues to believe that Darwin provided all the relevant answers by the magic formula of random mutations plus natural selection - quite unaware of the fact that random mutations turned out to be irrelevant and natural selections a tautology.”

Mutations turn out to be rare events, and most of those are bad They do not lead to improvements in the

species, as evolution predicts


Vestigal Organs The argument that vestigial organs prove

evolution is no longer regarded as valid No useless vestiges of structures which

were useful in a former evolutionary stage

All “vestigial” organs in man now appear to have a use

At one time there were claimed to be 180 such organs in man


The Origin of Man

Evolution model predicts: Man evolved from an ape

Creation model predicts: Man’s appearance has remained largely

the same


Ape To Man? In a Science Digest article written by Lyall

Watson, he states that: “The fossils that decorate our family tree are so

scarce that there are still more scientists than specimens. The remarkable fact is that all the physical evidence we have for human evolution can still be placed, with room to spare, inside a single coffin.”

David Pilbeam and Steven Gould (two evolutionists) report that: “Unfortunately, the fossil record of pongids (apes)

is nonexistent, making a glaring deficiency in the whole story.”


Famous “Hominid” Fossils

Neanderthal Man – 1856 Java Man – 1891 Piltdown Man – 1908 Nebraska Man – 1922 Ramapithecus – 1930 Lucy - 1974


Neanderthal Man Fossil fragments first found in

France – 1856 Skull cap and some limb bones Diagnosed as human with deformed vertebrae

Neanderthal Man’s Site in Krapina, 1899-1999 Another almost complete skeleton found in 1908

Reconstructed by Marcelle Boule to look ape-like Based on pre-conceived evolutionary notions Faulty reconstruction recognized in 1957

Neanderthal is now known to be fully human with a bone deformity School textbooks still portray as man’s ancestor


Java Man Discovered by Eugene Dubois in 1891

Ape-like skull cap Human-like thigh bone found 50 feet away one year

later Assumed they went together Fossils dated at 500,000 years (guesswork based on

assumed evolutionary model) In 1940 Dubois admitted

He found two human skulls in same area as the human thigh bone

Java Man now regarded as a hoax Still included in textbooks as support for evolution


Piltdown Man Fossil fragments found in 1908

Part of a human skull and part of a lower ape-like jaw

Estimated to be 500,000 years old Discovered to be a fraud in 1953

Lower jaw and tooth were from orangutan Tooth had been filed Parts of lower jaw broken to hide the

fact that it did not fit with the skull Skull was dated at ~620 years old

and dyed to appear old


Nebraska Man Discovered in 1922 Dated to be one million

years old Fossil was only a single tooth

Complete model of Nebraska Man, his family and environment was constructed

Tooth discovered to be pig’s tooth in 1928 Still cited as evidence for evolution in the

1940’s


Ramapithecus Found in India in 1930’s

Considered a human ancestor Based on some jaw fragments and a

few teeth More fossil evidence found in 1970’s

Baboons in Ethiopia have same teeth structure as Ramapithecus

Now discarded as a possible “missing link” Had been published as factual evidence

of human evolution worldwide


Lucy Discovered in 1974 by Donald

Johanson 40% complete skeleton Dated at 3.5 million years old

Evidence: Arm/leg ratio of 83.9 % Hip/pelvis – walked upright Knee joint – walked upright


Lucy - 2 Digging deeper, we find that:

Leg bone broken in two places and one end was crushed -> this invalidates the ratio

Hip/pelvis was incomplete, and thus reshaped to make it look as if it walked upright

Knee joint was found over one mile away and 200 feet deeper in strata from rest of bones

Fossil remains of two different creatures fitted to form a make-believe creature


Summary of “Hominid” Fossils

Neanderthal Man – accepted as homo sapiens

Java Man – artificial construct Piltdown Man – proven to be a hoax Nebraska Man – an extinct pig Ramapithecus – an orangutan Lucy – make-believe creature

Another one for the Creation Model!


“For example, no scientist could logically dispute

the proposition that man, without having been

involved in any act of divine creation, evolved

from some ape-like creature in a very short space

of time – speaking in geological terms – without

leaving any fossil traces of the steps of the

transformation.”

Zuckerman, Solly. 1971. Beyond the ivory tower: The frontiers of public and private science. New York: Taplinger

Publishing Company. p. 64.

Lord Zuckerman Chimes In


Origin of Life - Probability

What is the probability that an explosion in a junk yard would “create” a car?

What is the probability of creating a Boeing airplane from such an explosion?

What is the probability of 200 monkeys pawing away at a typewriter could “write” a Shakespeare play?


Origin of Life – Probability - 2 Take 200 parts and line them up in a specific order

200! ways of aligning these parts = 10**375 Try a new alignment 1 billion times a second Assuming 20 billion years of time, we have 20 *

10**18 seconds The probability of finding the right alignment is

practically zero Living organisms contain many more than 200

parts Human being contains 100 million cells Only 10**80 “infinestimal” particles in the whole

universe


Probability of Synthesis Of DNA Molecule:

Medium protein includes about 300 amino acids Too complex to arise by chance [no matter how long

the time or how big the universe]

By gradual accretion System might advance from one part to a two-part

system, then to three parts, etc. Requires each step to be immediately beneficial Probability of success would be incalculably small


The Fossil Record The theory of evolution is based on two major

suppositions: Mutations and natural selection supposedly provided

the mechanism The fossil record allegedly proved the “fact” of evolution

Fossils should “prove” evolution since the fossil record has long been considered as the main evidence for evolution

The creation model predicts that organisms preserved as fossils will correspond to the same classification system as applicable to present-day plants and animals


The Fossil Record - 2 Evolution model predicts:

Many preliminary forms Many transitional forms Randomly distributed gaps between present kinds

and transitional forms Basic taxonomic categories should have been

evolving Creation model predicts:

No preliminary forms No transitional forms Clear gaps between types Same taxonomic categories as at present


The Fossil Record - 3

“Creation and evolution, between them, exhaust the possible explanations for the origin of living things. Organisms either appeared on the earth fully developed or they did not. If they did not they must have developed from preexisting species by some process of modification. If they did appear in fully formed state, they must have been created by some omnipotent intelligence.”

D. J. Futuyma, Science on Trial, 1983


The Fossil Record - 4 Darwin admitted in 1859:

“Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain.”

Paul Moody wrote in a standard textbook: “So far as we can judge from the geologic record,

large changes seem usually to have arisen suddenly. ... fossil forms, intermediate between large subdivisions of classification, such as orders and classes, are seldom [read never] found.”


The Fossil Record - 5 Evolutionists say we should find transitional

forms: Single cell to multi-cell creatures Invertebrate to vertebrate Fish to reptile Reptile to bird Ape to man

To date no true transitional fossil forms have been discovered


The Fossil Record - 6 “I fully agree with your comments on the lack

of direct illustration of evolutionary transitions in my book. If I knew of any, fossil or living, I would certainly have included them. . .I will lay it on the line, There is not one such fossil for which one might make a watertight argument.”

140 years after Darwin, and still no credible transition form!

-- Dr. Colin Patterson, senior paleontologist at the British Museum of Natural History


Coelacanth – A “Living Fossil” Coelacanth fish

Known by paleontologists of 19th and 20th centuries from the fossil record

“Extinct” about 70 million years ago Candidate forerunner to first land animals

Living specimens Found off west coast of Madagascar

in 1938 More found later

No longer considered a link in evolutionary chain Another evolution “theory” debunked!


Fully Formed

“It is considered likely that all the animal phyla became distinct before or during the Cambrian, for they all appear fully formed, without intermediates connecting one phylum to another.”

Futuyma, Douglas J. 1986. Evolutionary biology. 2d ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc. p. 325.


The Fossil Record Summarized Missing links are still missing Different types of “living fossils” found Sudden appearance of fully formed fossils in

the “Cambrian Explosion” The same “kinds” still appear today Some species are now extinct No new kinds evolved Supports the Creation Model!

@ Dr. Heinz LycklamaSource: Dr. Duane Gish, ICR


Geologic Record

Evolution model predicts: Uniformitarianism Sediment layers deposited gradually More complex fossils in higher layers

Creation model predicts: Catastrophism Evidence for global flood Sudden appearance of fully formed fossils


Conventional History Of The EarthCenozoic

4,000

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

4,500

3,500

Mil

lion

s of

Yea

rs B

P

Precambrian

PaleozoicMesozoic

-Formation of the earth

-Crust forms

-First fossil prokaryotes

-Atmospheric Oxygen accumulation (from cyanobacteria)

-First eukaryotic fossils

-First multicellular animal fossils

Origin of life

Human fossilsLast dinosaur fossilsFirst reptile fossilsFirst land plant fossils


The Geological ColumnP

hane

rozo

icP

reca

mbr

ian

Cenozoic

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Few fossilsEdiacarian fauna (odd marine organisms)

Very few fossils, maybe noneMany pseudo fossils

Dinosaurs

Mammals, cycads, conifers, angiosperms

Conifers, more reptiles and amphibians

“The age of fish” small land plants

Many fossils, all modern phyla ex. bryozoa

Many crinoids, amphibia and reptiles

Coal “forests” many primitive land plants

Jawless fish, strange land plantsMany marine organisms including bryozoa

Extinction of dinosaurs and many families

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Triassic

Devonian

Cambrian

Permian

Carboniferous

SilurianOrdovician

Ter

tiary

Paleocene

OligoceneEocene

Miocene

Proterozoic

Archean

Mil

lion

s of

Yea

rs B

efor

e P

rese

nt

300 -

100 -

400 -

500 -

200 -

Geologic Time Scale

[with fossils]

Geologic Column

Chart


Geologic Column [some more

details]


Geologic Column Theory Cambrian rocks began to form ~ 600My ago

[now believed to be 520-530My ago]

Cambrian period estimated to be ~ 80My [now believed to be 5-10My]

Precambrian rocks laid down during the prior hundreds of millions of years Should contain fossils of evolutionary ancestors of the

complex vertebrates Should contain fossils of transitional forms linking the

complex vertebrates to common ancestors


What Do We Find? Fossils of microscopic, soft-bodied, single-celled

organisms, such as bacteria and algae in Precambrian rocks

No fossilized ancestors for any Cambrian invertebrate

No trace of transitional forms between the various kinds of invertebrates, e.g. No linking sponges with jellyfish No linking snails with trilobites

Fossils of a vast array of complex invertebrates abruptly appear fully formed in the Cambrian rocks


The Geologic Column The “column” is not the column that

textbooks describe: It rarely exists in its entirety in one location All types of rocks, minerals, metals are found in

all ages and strata A progression of fossils through the ages

“documents” evolution: That’s errant, “circular reasoning”: i.e. fossils

date rocks, yet the rocks date the fossils (evolution is assumed)


The Geologic Column The creation / abrupt appearance column is the

result of a world flood: Sorting action of water (smaller fossils end up going to

bottom) Ordered destruction of different habitats

The geologic column illustrates a superficially valid “successional tendency”, but it represents a very fast time sequence, not slow Mt. St. Helens created a “mini Grand Canyon” in days,

and petrified wood in less than ten years!


What Does Richard Dawkins Say? “The Cambrian strata of rocks, vintage about 600

million years, are the oldest in which we find most of the major invertebrate groups. And we find many of them already in an advanced state of evolution, the very first time they appear. It is as though they were just planted there, without any evolutionary history. Needless to say, this appearance of sudden planting has delight creationists.”

Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker. 1987.


What Does Douglas Futuyma Say?

“It is considered likely that all the animal phyla became distinct before or during the Cambrian, for they all appear fully formed, without intermediates connecting one form to another.”

Douglas Futuyma, Evolutionary Biology, 2nd Ed. 1986


What We Find In The Fossils Same gaps in fossils records as in the organisms

found today All kingdoms and subkingdoms are represented

in the geologic record from the Cambrian onward All phyla of the animal kingdom are represented

from the Cambrian onward All orders and families (as well as kingdoms,

phyla, and classes) appear suddenly in the fossil record, with no indication of transitional forms from earlier types


Animal and Plant Kingdom Fossils All classes of the animal kingdom are represented

from the Cambrian onward, except: Moss-coral (Ordovician onward) Insects (Devonian onward) Graptolites (Cambrian to Carboniferous) Trilobites (Cambrian to Permian)

All phyla of the plant kingdom are represented from the Triassic onward, except: Bacteria, algae, fungi (Precambrian onward) Bryophytes, pteridophytes (Silurian onward) Spermophytes (Carboniferous onward) Diatoms (Jurassic onward)


The Origin of Vertebrates Fish believed to be the first vertebrate Origin appears sudden and dramatic All three subdivisions of the bony fishes appear in

the fossil record at about the same time Errol White, an evolutionist and expert on fishes,

stated: “But whatever ideas authorities may have on the

subject, the lungfishes, like very other major group of fishes that I know, have their origins firmly based in nothing.”

E. White, Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. 1996.


Conclusions Laws of science consistent with Creationism Signs of intelligence in the universe The probability of life from non-life is zero Abrupt appearance of fully-formed animals The missing links are still missing Man did not evolve from apes Catastrophism explains the “geologic column” There is no credible evidence for evolution! Science supports Creationism


Which Model Fits The Evidence Best?

So far … Creation 9 Evolution 0

Next … Age of the earth?

Documents

What Does Science Say About Creation? Dr. Heinz Lycklama [email protected]