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

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

Evolution & Creationism

Mike Phillips

Geology Professor

Foundations of ScienceFoundations of ScienceNatural Cause: The universe

behaves in a predictable way under “rules” that can be determined through observation and experimentation.

Efficient Cause: effect follows cause (no Final Cause, no teleological)

Foundations of ScienceFoundations of ScienceUniformity: The “rules” are

constant through space and time.

Parsimony: All other things being equal, the simplest explanation is the best.

Objectivity

Scientific ExplanationsScientific Explanations

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

negationshould be predictive

Scientific ExplanationsScientific Explanations

no arguments from or appeals to authority

can & should build on published work of others

must be prepared to defend that work as well as your own

Theory & HypothesisTheory & Hypothesis

Hypothesisa working explanation or “educated guess”competing hypotheses are often investigated simultaneously

Theorythe best explanation supported by a preponderance of the evidencethe best a scientist can hope for

Should we use biblical explanations instead?Should we use biblical explanations instead?

St. Augustine: No. He was concerned that if Christians asserted that the Bible contradicted reason and experience with natural phenomena, potential converts would reject the spiritual message.

Isaac Newton: No. He was concerned that mixing science and religion would corrupt religion. (Believed nature operates according to God’s laws.)

Creationists: Yes. (sort of)

Why give science precedence?Why give science precedence? It works! Examples

Germ theory: explains why we get sickPlate tectonics theory: explains earthquakes & volcanoes & predicts economic depositsGravity theory: allows safe space travelNatural selection theory: agricultural development, improved medical practice (laboratory experimentation & germ control), enhanced pest control

Why not give the Bible precedence?Why not give the Bible precedence?

Purpose of Bible:ethical philosophy (likely)

scientific resource (unlikely)

“Gap” problemmoves focus away from ethical message

Bible doesn’t always match up with nature

God’s realm diminished as science grows

Bible missing most of modern science, medicine, and technology

Was the Bible written to be a science text?Was the Bible written to be a science text?

Would the writers have comprehended the material?

Would the original audience have comprehended the material?

Is there room for all of the sciences?Has it worked well as a science text?

Is the natural world a better scientific source?Is the natural world a better scientific source?

Direct recordtraces of what happened

incompleteObjective record

unfiltered

must be interpreted

available to all

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?

Evolutionderived from observation: yes

natural cause: yes

supported by natural data: yes

change with new data: yes

Creationismderived from observation: no

natural cause: no

supported by natural data: no

change with new data: no

Science & religion(some perspectives)Science & religion(some perspectives) Nature is God’s will, no need to investigate. If it’s in the Bible, that’s how it is (was); all

scientific explanations must conform to the Bible. Nature operates according to God’s laws, what

science cannot explain is where God has intervened.

Nature operates according to God’s laws, God never intervenes.

Nature operates according to natural laws. (no comment on God)

Nature operates according to natural laws. (there is no God)

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 Institutehttp://www.discovery.org/

Intelligent Design Networkhttp://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/

The Chicago Statement on Biblical HermeneuticsThe Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics 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 on Biblical HermeneuticsThe Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

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 on Biblical HermeneuticsThe Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/W

eek-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."

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.

Why not this?Why not this?

This textbook contains material on physics. Physics is a theory, not a fact, regarding the properties and nature of matter and energy. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

Or this?Or this?

This textbook contains material on gravity. Gravity is a theory, not a fact, regarding the interaction of massive bodies. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

Age of the Earth: observationsAge of the Earth: observations rocks

sedimentary: 1000’s of feet thickintrusive igneous rocks & metamorphic rocks: cool and exposedunconformities: even more rocks are missing

radiometric datingprovides actual ages

age of the sunfrom the rate it is fusing hydrogen

Age of the Earth: 4.5 BYOAge of the Earth: 4.5 BYO

rocks: earth is very, very, very old radiometric dating

earth is over 3.8 billion years old

moon is 4.5 billion years oldsun: 4.6 billion years old

Organic evolution: observationsOrganic evolution: observations

fossil recordyounger rocks have more organisms similar to those living today (at levels from species to kingdom)

fossils record includes appearances and extinctions of many species

geographic distribution of organisms anatomy genetics

Organic evolution: conclusionsOrganic evolution: conclusions

the characteristics of populations of living organisms have changed through time

life has become more complexlife has become more diverse

all life is related this is excepted as a factual

observation

Natural selection: observationsNatural selection: observations

populations of organisms display a variety of characteristics

random mutations provide variety domesticated plants and animals can be

bred to favor certain characteristics

Natural selection: observationsNatural selection: observations

the natural environmentorganisms with favorable characteristics for their niche are more likely to thrive and reproduce

organisms with unfavorable characteristics are less likely to thrive and reproduce

a new niche or stress on an existing niche will enhance selection

Natural selection: conclusionNatural selection: conclusion

the natural environment provides conditions that result in evolution through the process of natural selection

Natural selection: speciationNatural selection: speciation

a population has a gene pool members of the population interbreed the population may become isolated from

others of a speciesdevelopment of niches & resource partitioningmigrationdevelopment of physical barriers

populations may be selectedby stressby opportunity

isolation may result in genetic divergence

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

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