Theories and Evidence Theories and Evidence for Creationfor Creation

Psalm 111:10Psalm 111:10Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7

OverviewOverview

What is the “God of the gaps” What is the “God of the gaps” argument?argument?

Does Biblical creationism generate Does Biblical creationism generate new scientific theories?new scientific theories?

How should Christians go about How should Christians go about sharing theories of creation? sharing theories of creation?

God of the gapsGod of the gaps

How have people throughout history How have people throughout history explained natural events? E.g., the explained natural events? E.g., the weather, physical illness, etc.?weather, physical illness, etc.?

The “God of the gaps” argument The “God of the gaps” argument states that we can’t just use God to states that we can’t just use God to explain away any phenomenon we explain away any phenomenon we don’t understanddon’t understand

Evolutionists argue that critics of Evolutionists argue that critics of evolution are doing the same thingevolution are doing the same thing

No gaps, just the beginningNo gaps, just the beginning

““In the beginning God created the In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” heavens and the earth.”

Although we may blame God when Although we may blame God when our car doesn’t start, most of us still our car doesn’t start, most of us still check the weather channel before check the weather channel before dressing for workdressing for work

We believe in a God who created the We believe in a God who created the earth and set into motion all natural earth and set into motion all natural laws (for us to figure out, not to laws (for us to figure out, not to confuse us)confuse us)

Theories of creationTheories of creation

If God didn’t create every variation of If God didn’t create every variation of animal we see today, what did he animal we see today, what did he create?create?

Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25 ““Kinds” that had enough genetic Kinds” that had enough genetic

variation to adapt to many different variation to adapt to many different environmentsenvironments

Still up to creation scientists to Still up to creation scientists to develop better taxonomies to develop better taxonomies to illustrate original “kinds”illustrate original “kinds”

Trees of lifeTrees of life

CatastrophismCatastrophism

What do creationists believe formed What do creationists believe formed many of the natural wonders we many of the natural wonders we observe in the world today?observe in the world today?

Matthew 24:37-39Matthew 24:37-39 Evidence for rapid burial for many Evidence for rapid burial for many

fossilsfossils Modern examples of the power of Modern examples of the power of

one-time catastrophic events in one-time catastrophic events in producing great change (e.g., Mt. St. producing great change (e.g., Mt. St. Helens)Helens)

Geologic ObservationsGeologic ObservationsMay 18, 1980May 18, 1980

The Little Grand Canyon of the Toutle River

Geologic ProcessesGeologic Processes

Picture by Steve Austin, Ph.D. Geology

Other examplesOther examples Information theory and specified complexityInformation theory and specified complexity

"In brief, living organisms are distinguished by "In brief, living organisms are distinguished by their specified complexity. Crystals are usually their specified complexity. Crystals are usually taken as the prototypes of simple well-specified taken as the prototypes of simple well-specified structures, because they consist of a very large structures, because they consist of a very large number of identical molecules packed together in number of identical molecules packed together in a uniform way. Lumps of granite or random a uniform way. Lumps of granite or random mixtures of polymers are examples of structures mixtures of polymers are examples of structures that are complex but not specified. The crystals that are complex but not specified. The crystals fail to qualify as living because they lack fail to qualify as living because they lack complexity; the mixtures of polymers fail to complexity; the mixtures of polymers fail to qualify because they lack specificity.“ – Leslie qualify because they lack specificity.“ – Leslie Orgel Orgel

Other examplesOther examples

Irreducible complexity (Michael Behe)Irreducible complexity (Michael Behe)• For a biological structure, a unit of design that For a biological structure, a unit of design that

cannot be reduced (i.e., a part removed) without cannot be reduced (i.e., a part removed) without causing the whole structure to failcausing the whole structure to fail

• Mousetrap exampleMousetrap example

Other examplesOther examples Russell Humphreys – “Starlight and Time” Russell Humphreys – “Starlight and Time”

explains the apparent age of the universe explains the apparent age of the universe (e.g., galaxies, stars, etc) based on the (e.g., galaxies, stars, etc) based on the theory of relativitytheory of relativity

Second law of thermodynamics – things in Second law of thermodynamics – things in the universe tend to become more the universe tend to become more disordered, not more ordered (Colossians disordered, not more ordered (Colossians 15-18)15-18)• No examples exist of raw energy leading to No examples exist of raw energy leading to

increased complexityincreased complexity Vestigial organsVestigial organs ““Out of order” fossilsOut of order” fossils

So how do we tell our story?So how do we tell our story? From the Answers in Genesis website:From the Answers in Genesis website:

““On the basis of these events (Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, On the basis of these events (Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, etc.), we have a set of presuppositions to build a way of etc.), we have a set of presuppositions to build a way of thinking which enables us to interpret the evidence of the thinking which enables us to interpret the evidence of the present.present.

Evolutionists have certain beliefs about the Evolutionists have certain beliefs about the past/present that they presuppose, e.g. no God (or at least past/present that they presuppose, e.g. no God (or at least none who performed acts of special creation), so they build none who performed acts of special creation), so they build a different way of thinking to interpret the evidence of the a different way of thinking to interpret the evidence of the present.present.

Thus, when Christians and non-Christians argue Thus, when Christians and non-Christians argue about the evidence, in reality they are arguing about their about the evidence, in reality they are arguing about their interpretations based on their presuppositions.”interpretations based on their presuppositions.”

In other words, we must start off by making clear that both In other words, we must start off by making clear that both sides have presuppositionssides have presuppositions

Our story requires the BibleOur story requires the Bible More ideas for specific conversations we may have:More ideas for specific conversations we may have:

““When someone tells me they want ‘proof’ or ‘evidence’, When someone tells me they want ‘proof’ or ‘evidence’, not the Bible, my response is as follows:not the Bible, my response is as follows:

‘‘You might not believe the Bible but I do. And I believe it You might not believe the Bible but I do. And I believe it gives me the right basis to understand this universe and gives me the right basis to understand this universe and correctly interpret the facts around me. I’m going to give correctly interpret the facts around me. I’m going to give you some examples of how building my thinking on the you some examples of how building my thinking on the Bible explains the world and is not contradicted by science. Bible explains the world and is not contradicted by science. For instance, the Bible states that God made distinct kinds For instance, the Bible states that God made distinct kinds of animals and plants. Let me show you what happens of animals and plants. Let me show you what happens when I build my thinking on this presupposition. I will when I build my thinking on this presupposition. I will illustrate how processes such as natural selection, genetic illustrate how processes such as natural selection, genetic drift, etc. can be explained and interpreted. You will see drift, etc. can be explained and interpreted. You will see how the science of genetics makes sense based upon the how the science of genetics makes sense based upon the Bible.’’Bible.’’

A lot of informationA lot of information

Remember, don’t ever worry about Remember, don’t ever worry about remembering or knowing all of the remembering or knowing all of the information concerning this or any information concerning this or any other topicother topic

Although we always seek to grow in Although we always seek to grow in our faith, we can’t know everythingour faith, we can’t know everything

How does God remind us that we are How does God remind us that we are only a part of the body of Christ?only a part of the body of Christ?

Galatians 6:2Galatians 6:2

Bible versesBible verses Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledgeProverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Genesis 1:11-12 - 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing Genesis 1:11-12 - 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing

plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:21 - 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and Genesis 1:21 - 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24-25 - 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according Genesis 1:24-25 - 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Matthew 24:37-39 - 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Matthew 24:37-39 - 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Colossians1:15-18 - 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all Colossians1:15-18 - 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Galatians 6:2 - 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Galatians 6:2 - 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Christ.