The Nature of Science, Evolution & Creationism part 2 Mike Phillips Geology Professor.

The Nature of Science, Evolution & CreationismThe Nature of Science,

Evolution & Creationism

part 2part 2

Mike Phillips

Geology Professor

Disclaimer (Georgia)Disclaimer (Georgia)

This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

Scientific ExplanationsScientific Explanations

must be naturalmust be supported by available datamust be testable & falsifiablesubject to revision or refinement or

negationshould be predictive

The Chicago Statement on Biblical HermeneuticsThe Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

International Council on Biblical Inerrancy Summit II: Chicago, November 10-13, 1982 Developed set of affirmations and denials

regarding Biblical inerrency cited by many creationists as a

foundational document

The Chicago Statement:Article XXThe Chicago Statement:Article XX We affirm that since God is the author of all truth,

all truths, biblical and extrabiblical, are consistent and cohere, and that the Bible speaks truth when it touches on matters pertaining to nature, history, or anything else. We further affirm that in some cases extrabiblical data have value for clarifying what Scripture teaches, and for prompting correction of faulty interpretations.

We deny that extrabiblical views ever disprove the teaching of Scripture or hold priority over it.

The Chicago Statement :Article XXIThe Chicago Statement :Article XXI

We affirm the harmony of special with general revelation and therefore of biblical teaching with the facts of nature.

We deny that any genuine scientific facts are inconsistent with the true meaning of any passage of Scripture.

The Chicago Statement :Article XXIIThe Chicago Statement :Article XXII

We affirm that Genesis 1-11 is factual, as is the rest of the book.

We deny that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth history or the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creation.

The Flat EarthThe Flat Earth

International Flat Earth Research Society

Charles K. Johnson, president (deceased)grew to 2000-3000 members by 1995articles– http://www.simegen.com/pipermail/

simegen-l/Week-of-Mon-20010402/002100.html

– http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/fe-scidi.htm

From Science Digest (July 1980)From Science Digest (July 1980)

Johnson's beliefs are firmly grounded in the Bible. Many verses of the Old Testament imply that the earth is flat, but there's more to it than that. According to the New Testament, Jesus ascended up into heaven.

"The whole point of the Copernican theory is to get rid of Jesus by saying there is no up and no down," declares Johnson. "The spinning ball thing just makes the whole Bible a big joke."

GeocentrismGeocentrism

The Biblical AstronomerDr. Gerardus D. Bouw http://www.geocentricity.com/(but the Earth is not Flat)– http://www.geocentricity.com/flatearth.htm

The Fixed EarthMarshall Hallhttp://www.fixedearth.com/

Biblical Astronomer CredoBiblical Astronomer Credo The Biblical Astronomer was originally founded

in 1971 as the Tychonian Society, on the premise that the only absolutely trustworthy information about the origin and purpose of all that exists and happens is given by God, our Creator and Redeemer, in his infallible, preserved word, the Holy Bible. All scientific endeavor which does not accept this revelation from on high without any reservations, literary, philosophical or whatever, we reject as already condemned in its unfounded first assumptions.

Biblical Astronomer CredoBiblical Astronomer Credo We believe that the creation was

completed in six twenty-four hour days and that the world is not older than about six thousand years. We maintain that the Bible teaches us of an earth that neither rotates daily nor revolves yearly about the sun; that it is at rest with respect to the throne of him who called it into existence; and that hence it is absolutely at rest in the universe.

Young Earth CreationismYoung Earth Creationism

Institute for Creation Researchhttp://www.icr.org

Answers in Genesishttp://www.answersingenesis.org/

Creation Research Societyhttp://www.creationresearch.org/

The Biblical Creation Societyhttp://www.biblicalcreation.org.uk/

ICR Tenets of Scientific CreationismICR Tenets of Scientific Creationism

“A Christ-Focused Creation Ministry”1. The physical universe of space,

time, matter, and energy has not always existed, but was supernaturally created by a transcendent personal Creator who alone has existed from eternity.


2. The phenomenon of biological life did not develop by natural processes from inanimate systems but was specially and supernaturally created by the Creator.


4. The first human beings did not evolve from an animal ancestry, but were specially created in fully human form from the start. Furthermore, the "spiritual" nature of man (self-image, moral consciousness, abstract reasoning, language, will, religious nature, etc.) is itself a supernaturally created entity distinct from mere biological life.


6. Processes today operate primarily within fixed natural laws and relatively uniform process rates but, since these were themselves originally created and are daily maintained by their Creator, there is always the possibility of miraculous intervention in these laws or processes by their Creator. Evidences for such intervention should be scrutinized critically, however, because there must be clear and adequate reason for any such action on the part of the Creator.


7. The universe and life have somehow been impaired since the completion of creation, so that imperfections in structure, disease, aging, extinctions, and other such phenomena are the result of "negative" changes in properties and processes occurring in an originally-perfect created order.


8. Since the universe and its primary components were created perfect for their purposes in the beginning by a competent and volitional Creator, and since the Creator does remain active in this now-decaying creation, there do exist ultimate purposes and meanings in the universe. Teleological considerations, therefore, are appropriate in scientific studies whenever they are consistent with the actual data of observation, and it is reasonable to assume that the creation presently awaits the consummation of the Creator's purpose.


9. Although people are finite and scientific data concerning origins are always circumstantial and incomplete, the human mind (if open to the possibility of creation) is able to explore the manifestations of that Creator rationally and scientifically, and to reach an intelligent decision regarding one's place in the Creator's plan.

Answers in GenesisAnswers in Genesis

Believing in a relatively 'young Earth' (i.e., only a few thousands of years old, which we accept) is a consequence of accepting the authority of the Word of God as an infallible revelation from our omniscient Creator.

CRS Statement of BeliefCRS Statement of Belief All members must subscribe to the

following statement of belief: 1. The Bible is the written Word of God,

and because it is inspired throughout, all its assertions are historically and scientifically true in the original autographs. To the student of nature this means that the account of origins in Genesis is a factual presentation of simple historical truths.

BCS Creation ManifestoBCS Creation Manifesto While the Bible is not a scientific textbook, it

makes some clear statements which have a direct bearing on the study of various areas of science, which provide both frameworks and baselines for the study of those subjects. The disciplines and issues dealt with in this section are of crucial and central importance (though many others could be cited), and failure to incorporate them into the relevant disciplines will result in failure to fully understand the subject, and failure to glorify God in that area of His creation.

Old Earth Creationism & Intelligent DesignOld Earth Creationism & Intelligent Design

Reasons to Believehttp://www.reasons.org/index.shtml

International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design

http://www.iscid.org/ The Discovery Institute

http://www.discovery.org/ Intelligent Design Network

http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/

Origins(a Christian Leadership University web site)Origins(a Christian Leadership University web site)

“For Christians, the date of creation is not a primary issue of faith and should not be regarded as such, because the Bible does not specifically state a date of creation.”

“Some scientists in the Intelligent Design community of scholars are "young earth creationists," and many are not. However, all of these scholars recognize that the first priority is to concentrate on breaking the domination over science held by naturalistic philosophy--the view that materialism/atheism is the only rational perspective.”

Tests for a scientific explanationTests for a scientific explanation

Was the explanation derived from observation?

Does the explanation rely on natural cause?

Is it supported by natural data?Can the explanation be changed or

negated in the light of new information?

Is it science?Is it science?

Evolution Creationism

derived from observation

yes no

natural cause yes no

supported by natural data

yes no

change with new data

yes no

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible Complexity A functional system is irreducibly complex if it

contains a multipart subsystem (i.e., a set of two or more interrelated parts) that cannot be simplified without destroying the system’s basic function.

Irreducible complexity differs sharply from another form of complexity that may be called cumulative complexity. A system is cumulatively complex if the parts of the system can be arranged sequentially so that the successive removal of parts never leads to the complete loss of function.

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible Complexity

To determine whether a system is irreducibly complex employs two approaches

An empirical analysis of the system that by removing parts (individually and in groups) and then by rearranging and adapting remaining parts determines whether the basic function can be recovered among those remaining parts.

A conceptual analysis of the system, and specifically of those parts whose removal renders the basic function unrecoverable, to demonstrate that no system with (substantially) fewer parts exhibits the basic function.

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible ComplexityShort version: If something is too

complicated to understand its origin, the origin should be attributed to an intelligent designer.

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible Complexity

Is it science? Evolution ID

derived from observation

yes yes &

no

natural cause yes no

supported by natural data

yes no

change with new data

yes no

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible Complexity Is it science?

Who decides what is too complex?

What happens if someone investigates it anyway?

What impact would this have on scientific inquiry?

Helpful ResourcesHelpful Resources

National Center for Science Educationhttp://www.natcenscied.org/

evolution: science and belief: Intelligent Design? http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/nhmag.html

Religious Tolerance.orghttp://www.religioustolerance.org/evolutio.htm

Talk.Originshttp://www.talkorigins.org/

The Nature of Science, Evolution & Creationism part 2 Mike Phillips Geology Professor.

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