Post by Dave on Feb 4, 2024 19:28:57 GMT -5
Incremental Creation
An academic circumspection
David Freed CLS, Th.D.
February 16th, 2011, updated October 4th, 2023
Just how tight do we hold to our views of Biblical Creation?
There are still fundamentalists that cling to six 24-hour days. These believers would say that God is so amazingly powerful - ALL POWERFUL – OMNIPOTIENT – that creating everything in six days is well within God’s ability. I was taught this on Sunday. Wasn’t everyone? When I was younger and open to the mythology, the omnipotent explanation was easy to swallow. However, filled with the cynicism that lingers from the years of ‘church,’ even this explanation seems to contradict itself.
If God is omnipotent then why did it take him 24hrs to do a day’s worth of creating? Seems like someone omnipotent could have done it all in a fraction of a millisecond, with time to spare. To suggest that it took omnipotent God six whole days is actually suggesting that God was dragging it out for some reason. An Omnipotent God could have done everything in six nanoseconds. So, I ask: When God performed his creative day, did it all happen in the first nanosecond of the day or did some things happen after breakfast, and a few more after lunch, then dinner and evening, and so on? Incremental creation allows God to perform His creative miracles in a progressive manner that is later rediscovered by man. However, in an attempt to leave God out of the picture, this progressive manner is misunderstood as evolution.
The Bible and science are just two different perspectives of the same event to which they both witness., Any one perspective, even biblical, never contains the entire truth, but it all points to a central truth.
The Big Bang of Genesis and the ORDER of Creation
Gen 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep…
It is an interesting religious footnote to learn that the father of the Big Bang1 was a full flung Catholic Priest and Belgian cosmologist. Monsignor Georges Lemaître is also the original author of the terminology ‘The God Particle.’2
Light came next
Gen 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light.
The scientific footnote, all current theories all suggest that the first light in the universe was born between 240,0003 and 300,0004 years, after the Big Bang.
The land and sky
Gen 1:9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.”
Gen 1:10 “God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas."
Science tells us it all started with an enormous Big Bang followed by The Nebular Hypothesis and Planet Formation Theory. The Big Bang filled empty space with elemental dust that collected together to form Suns and Stars, with the remaining particulate matter around each sun and star, then collecting to form the planets.
Vegetation before the sun
Gen 1:11 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 kinds…."
Gen 1:12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds….
The discussion here must include a definition of the terms - vegetation and light. The absolute oldest fossil forms found are of cyanobacteria;5 which are single cell forms that photosynthesize light in wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum, such as infra-red and ultraviolet.6 Today, many forms of cyanobacteria are found deep within the earth, surviving in the dark by nitrogen-fixation instead of true photosynthesis. 7
Cyanobacteria are also solely responsible for the oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans since the Great Oxidation Event and the ancestors of chloroplast.8 Even in the realm of botany today, there are 18 normal house plants that do not need sun to survive. The curious religious footnote here is that one of those house plants that grow in the dark is the Dracaena, (aka) The Snake plant (serpent).9
The sun, moon, and stars
Gen 1:14 Then God said, “Let lights in the expanse of the sky be for separating the day from the night. They will be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.
Gen 1:16 Then God made the two great lights—the greater light for dominion over the day, and the lesser light as well as the stars for dominion over the night.
The scientific view suggests it took time for the sun to collapse in upon itself before temperatures and pressures were enough to ignite the sun.10 This is just an example of the normal life cycle of our sun and stars in general.11 A more religious view in the book, The Waters Above12, pictures the earth with a thick cloud cover (firmament) atmosphere that thinned over time to allow the sun, moon, and stars to be visible.
Both views somewhat supported by Dr. J. Marvin Herndon and his Whole Earth Decompression Dynamics (WEDD).13 His model suggests proto-planet earth began as a Jupiter sized gas giant much like Jupiter, but it was the sun’s ignition, or any eruptive event, that swept away the earth’s gas giant atmosphere.
Where did Coal come from?
Current scientific models suggest that ‘vegetation’ long predated the formation / creation of fungi capable of breaking down the polymer lignin in plants.14 The National Geographic says, “This is a story about trees—very, very strange looking trees—and some microbes that failed to show up on time.”15 Because ‘vegetation’ predated the formation / creation of fungi capable of breaking it down, this layer became buried to become the mega coal seams we find today.
Where did Oil come from?
The age of oil coming from dinosaurs is past. Oil comes from deep within the earth below some of the newest ocean floor; no ancient dinosaurs there. Empty oil wells of the 70s have mysteriously refilled, as if the oil came up from deeper within the earth.15
Abiotic Oil Theory is slowly winning over the scientific community. Methane compounds, hydrocarbon compounds bubble upward within the mantel until they crash into the rocky continental plates. There these compounds are baked / cooked under high pressure into the crude oils that make their way to the surface.16 Space exploration has revealed that Titan not only has a methane atmosphere but methane and complex hydrocarbon oceans on its surface surpassing the oil reserves on Earth.17 Were there ancient dinosaurs there?
Life began in the sea
Gen 1:20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
Gen 1:21 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 bird according to its kind. …
Then life on land
Gen 1:24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind…."
Gen 1:25 “God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. ...”
Man came last
Gen 1:27 … God created man…
The fossil record, as presented, is actually in closer harmony with scripture than any form of Evolution Theory. The sequence of creation is consistent between both paradigms. Also consistent are the spontaneous and sudden appearance of the species, each keeping to its own kind, both concepts at odds with Darwin.
Evolution and the Words of Darwin
The whole notion of evolution has become a mythology of its own. However, just as religious mythology fails to represent its own scripture; so has evolution forgotten its original verse? Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, Chapter XV: Recapitulation and Conclusion18 -- “All the individuals of the same species, and all the species of the same genus, or even higher group, are descended from common parents; and therefore, in however distant and isolated parts of the world they may now be found, they must in the course of successive generations have travelled from some one point to all the others.
As according to the theory of natural selection an interminable number of intermediate forms must have existed, linking together all the species in each group by gradations as fine as are our existing varieties, it may be asked: Why do we not see these linking forms all around us? Why are not all organic beings blended together in an inextricable chaos? With respect to existing forms, we should remember that we have no right to expect (excepting in rare cases) to discover directly connecting links between them, but only between each and some extinct and supplanted form.”18
“... The number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed on the earth, (must) be truly enormous. 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; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory.”19
“I can answer these questions and objections only on the supposition that the geological record is far more imperfect than most geologists believe. The number of specimens in all our museums is absolutely as nothing compared with the countless generations of countless species which have certainly existed. That the geological record is imperfect all will admit; but that it is imperfect to the degree required by our theory, few will be inclined to admit. If we look to long enough intervals of time, geology plainly declares that species have all changed; and they have changed in the manner required by the theory, for they have changed slowly and in a graduated manner. We clearly see this in the fossil remains from consecutive formations invariably being much more closely related to each other, than are the fossils from widely separated formations.”18
Darwin said, “…an interminable number of intermediate forms must have existed, linking together all the species in each group by gradations ... 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; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory.”19 Confident in his theory, he acknowledges the limitations of paleontology in 1859, and hopes future discoveries would eventually locate enough of his missing intermediate forms to validate his theory.
Intermediate Forms – Missing Links
The term “Missing Link” has been morphed by the mythology to mean that one creature ½ Ape and ½ Man. Yet, even Darwin predicted, “... The number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed on the earth, (must) be truly enormous.”20 So, evolution shouldn’t be looking for ‘the’ missing link, they should be looking for any missing link.
Darwin was absolutely correct in thinking the science of paleontology had only begun to uncover the evidence. The very word “paleontology” wasn’t added to the dictionary until 1820s, only thirty years, or so, before Darwin was published. Since then, the science has exploded with discoveries, both from the fossil record and from computer generated modeling. The fossil record today has literally millions more samples of fossil evidence, complete with more individual species and from different time periods.
To date, the empirical evidence from the fossil record does not support the gradual transitions from one kind of animal or plant into a new and different form.20 This complete lack of substantiating fossil evidence has been a persistent and nagging problem for gradualist views of evolution. Some even argue that a new replacement general theory of evolution is necessary.21
The gaps in intermediate 'transitional' forms between species, plant or animal, lower or higher taxonomic levels, exist in every lineage. 22 The gaps at higher taxonomic levels are often very large.23 The evidence does not deny variation within a specie, but the evidence does support abrupt decisive steps to the taxonomic tree without transitional forms.24 Individual species appear instantaneously in the fossil record.25 New and unique species appear suddenly in the fossil record, without anatomically intermediate forms smoothly linking them with their presumed ancestors.26 The General Theory of Macrostasis has been suggested to explain the pre-Cambrian explosion of new species without any fossil evidence of pre-existing forms.27
The Power of the Mythology
The mythology of evolution employs the visual media to perpetuate its false assumption. Many posters and images clearly indicate a smooth unbroken progression of the species all the way up the evolutionary ‘Tree of Life.’ However pretty these images are, they do not represent the data at hand. The data suggest that species appeared all at once and 'fully formed', lived without changing, and then completely died out. 28
The data looks like this
Incremental creation
I will argue that even the six-day fundamentalists are dealing with six increments of time. The creation story has God creating several different things each day. Aren’t those just several more increments to the creation process? There is only one truth. All factual data must support that truth. The fossil record does not support Darwin. Even worse, the fossil record does not support the mythology of evolution by natural selection.
Instead, the fossil record actually indicates that the different species: began independently and suddenly, lived without changing, and then died out. The evidence clearly established that species: do not share a common ancestor. Missing links for any species have never been found; instead, the different species began independently in sporadic increments throughout our past.
Biblical creation and science suggests the ORDER began with incrementally appearing simple forms, then more complex forms, then some really big forms, and then man. Are these two different paradigms really all that different? They are certainly closer in agreement with one another than either is with Darwin.
The only pointless argument remaining is Time
I call this a pointless argument because as a theologian, as a scientist, as just an educated person it is clear – Time is not Linear.
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity says time is relative to the perspective of the viewer. Everyone understands the concept of time slowing as we approach the speed of light. It is common knowledge today. Judeo-Christian Scripture tells us that a Day is as a thousand years to the Lord (Psa 90:4), that a thousand years is as a Day (2 Pet 3:8), and Day 7 remaineth (Heb 4:1-11).
Reality tells us that every scientific mathematical expression incudes a unit of time: per/sec, per/mile, light year. You could even argue that measures of mass and weight are dependent upon the bend to space-time.
I argue: “Logarithmic models are used to both describe growth curves, such as in population growths, and describe decay curves, such as in the half-life of subatomic particles. Our very own universe is speculated as to have begun with a single event from which it is expanding and growing at an ever increasing rate. … Logarithmic decay curves of half-life, if applied to time, would predict that day two is half as long as day one. Day three would be half as long as day two and day four half of day three.
I offer the following logarithmic model to Ponder:
Non-linear time, relativity and the logarithmic days of creation
This particular model is by my own hand, although, a search will reveal many such models. I do not offer this model as a factoid of revelation. Rather, I offer this model simply as a poser to Ponder. However, this model allows my personal cosmology satisfaction enough to digest both current scientific models and Biblical presentation. Strict Creationists can have their six-days and science can speculate the billions of years of it all.”29
The Point
Relativity predicts that time is relative to the observer, or to the perspective of that observer. So we could just simplify it all by saying that from God's perspective, it was only six days, but to our perspective from today looking back on time it appears that it took billions of years. These different perspectives of the same event all contain the same evidence, to which, they are both witnesses. Remembering that any one perspective, even Biblical, never contains the entire truth, but all point to the one and only central truth.
Each individual must Ponder their own conclusions.
My point here is not to prove a correlation between scripture and science. However, it is my mission to show that these two warring factions, Scripture and Science, are not in conflict with one another. Shakespeare asked the question, “What is in a name?” The process that populated our planet with life happened one way. With the evidence at hand, Incremental Creation serves as the best-fit description of that process satisfying the fossil record and scripture, complete with incremental creative surges throughout the time line.
References:
1- Soter, Steven, & Tyson, Neil deGrasse editors, American Museum of Natural History, COSMIC HORIZONS: ASTRONOMY AT THE CUTTING EDGE, Georges Lemaître, Father of the Big Bang, downloaded from: www.amnh.org › georges-lemaitre-big-bang, 10/14/2010
2- Lunine, Jonathan, (Nov 30, 2020), Georges Lemaître, The Society of Catholic Scientists, Downloaded from: Cornell Center for Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences @ catholicscientists.org › Articles, 6/04/2021
3- Perry, Phillip, (Jul 6, 2017) Where Did the First Light in the Universe Come From, Downloaded from: bigthink.com › surprising-science › where-did-the..., 4/02/2121
4- Cain, Fraser (Nov 7, 2016) When was the first light in the universe?, Universe Today, Downloaded from: phys.org › Astronomy & Space › Astronomy, 4/04/2121
5 – Taylor, T. N., & Taylor, E. L., (1992) The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants, Fossil Record of the Cyanobacteria, pg. 982, Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009, Downloaded from: ucmp.berkeley.edu › bacteria › cyanofr, 6/09/2022
6- Leman, Jennifer, (Oct 9, 2018) These light-loving bacteria may survive surprisingly deep underground, Downloaded from: www.sciencenews.org › article › cyanobacteria-...
7- Mannan, R. M., & Pakrasi, H. B., (Nov 1993) Dark heterotrophic growth conditions result in an increase in the content of photosystem II units in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413, Pub Med Free Article, Downloaded from: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8022943/#:~:text=The%20filamentous%20nitrogen%2Dfixing%20cyanobacterium,doubling%20time%20of%2014%20h., 11/12/2120
8- Catherine F. Demoulin,a,∗,1 Yannick J. Lara,a,1 Luc Cornet,a,b Camille François,a Denis Baurain,b Annick Wilmotte,c and Emmanuelle J. Javauxa, (Aug 2019) Cyanobacteria evolution: Insight from the fossil record, National Institutes of Health (.gov), Downloaded from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC6880289, 10/10/222
9- Florapedia, (September 25, 2018) 18 plants that don't need sun, Downloaded from: www.proflowers.com/blog/plants-that-dont-need-sun, 9/19/2121
10- Northern Arizona University, StarDate Online | Solar System Guide | Sun, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Downloaded from: www2.nau.edu/~gaud/bio301/content/sun/sun.htm, 9/19/2021
11 – Williams, Matt, (Dec 22 2015) What is the Life Cycle Of The Sun?, Universe Today, Downloaded from: www.universetoday.com/18847/life-of-the-sun/, 10/21/21
12- Dillow, Joseph, C., (January 1, 1982) The Waters Above: Earth's Pre-Flood Vapor Canopy Hardcover, preface, Moody Press, Chicago, IL
13- Herndon, J. Marvin, (2005) Whole-Earth Decompression Dynamics, Academia.edu, Dowwnloaded from: www.academia.edu › Whole Earth Decompressio..., 10/06/2006
14- Science Daily, (06/2012) How an ancestral fungus may have influenced coal formation, DOE/Joint Genome Institute, Downloaded from: www.sciencedaily.com › releases › 10/04/2021
15- Krulwich, Robert, (Jan 7, 2016) The Fantastically Strange Origin of Most Coal on Earth, National Geographic, Downloaded from: www.nationalgeographic.com › science › article
16- European Space Agency (02/13/2008), Titan's surface organics surpass oil reserves on Earth, Downloaded from: www.esa.int › Space Science › Cassini-Huygens, 10/05/2021
17- Deep Carbon Observatory, (APRIL 22, 2019) Rewriting the textbook on fossil fuels: New technologies help unravel nature's methane recipes, Downloaded from: phys.org/news/2019-04-rewriting-textbook-fossil-fuels-technologies.html#google_vignette, 11/14/2020
18- Charles Darwin, (1859) Origin of Species, Chapter XV: Recapitulation and Conclusion, Summary, Cambridge University Press
19- Charles Darwin, (1859) Origin of Species, Chapter X; On the Imperfection of the Geological Record, Cambridge University Press
20- Stanley, S. M.,(1981) The New Evolutionary Timetable: Fossils, Genes, and the Origin of Species, pp. 40, Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, N.Y
21- Gould, S.J., Maynard Smith, J. (editor), (1982) Evolution Now: A Century After Darwin, pp. 140, W. H. Freeman and Co. in association with Nature
22- Eldredge, N., (1982) The Monkey Business: A Scientist Looks at Creationism, pp. 65-66, Washington Square Press
23- Raff, R. A. and Kaufman, T. C., (1991) Embryos, Genes, and Evolution: The Developmental-Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change, pp. 35, Indiana University Press
24- Goldschmidt, Richard B. (1952) "Evolution, As Viewed By One Geneticist,” pp. 84-94, American Scientist, Vol. 40, No. 1
25- Kemp, Tom: Curator of Zoological Collections at the Oxford University Museum, (1985) "A Fresh Look at the Fossil Record," pp. 66, New Scientist, Vol. 108, No. 1485
26- Eldredge, N., (1989) Macro-Evolutionary Dynamics: Species, Niches, and Adaptive Peaks, pp. 22, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York
27- Charles Darwin, (1859) The Origin of Species, On the Origin of Stasis, Conclusions, Cambridge University Press
28- Eldredge, N. and Tattersall, I. (1982) The Myths of Human Evolution, , p. 48, Columbia University Press
29- Freed, David, (03/03/2007)Non-linear time, relativity and the logarithmic days of creation, ponderingconfusion.com/papers.php?id=relativity
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