alle@ihuxb.UUCP (Allen England) (03/24/84)
This is a summary of a talk given by Frederick Edwords on the isssues
involved in the Creation vs. Evolution debate. This talk was presented
in the auditorium of A T & T Bell Laboratories on March 20, 1984.
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Creation vs. Evolution
Importance of the Issue
Creationists recently got a law passed in Arkansas which required the
teaching of the "Two Models" of the origin of the earth and life in any
classroom study where any form of evolution is presented. This law req-
uired that creation be given equal time with evolution. This law was
later struck down by the courts. A very similar proposal is now in the
Louisiana legislature. The creationists are attempting to get their
view of origins taught in public schools.
But it doesn't stop there. Creationists are also demanding that
government research funds also be allocated on an equal basis between
creationist research projects and evolutionist research projects.
The creationists have adopted the strategy of using politics - not
science - to achieve their objectives. The creationists are using
legislation - not scientific evidence - to get laws passed that will
grant legitimacy to their movement. This is happening even though
many church organizations do not support the creationist view [Ed. note:
Mr. Edwords referenced a book "Was God a Creationist?"]
What is Scientific Creationism?
To understand just what Scientific Creationism is all about, it is
helpful to read the books written by some of the most prominent creationists.
[Ed. note: "Scientific Creationism" by Dr. Henry Morris, "Origins to
Models" by Richard Bliss, Duane T. Gish and Wendell Bird.]
Here are the major tenets of Scientific Creationism [from the
above sources]:
- The age of the earth is between 10,000 years and a maximum of
20,000 years.
- There has been a worldwide flood which was responsible for many
of the earth's geological features (e.g. The Grand Canyon). The
humans and animal which survived, did so by riding out the flood
in a large boat (Noah's Ark).
The flood is also responsible for the order of fossils. The
flood caused the fossils to be sorted into the order found.
The exact mechanism for this sorting has been modified many
times due to contradictions between the actual fossil record
and predictions made by this theory. The general mechanism for
this sorting is given by the following quote by Dr. Henry
Morris, "Simpler animals, more nearly spherical or streamlined
in shape, would tend to settle out first."
- All life was created at one time.
- Human life originated approximately 6300 years ago. This calculation
was done by Dr. Morris. He did this by deriving population growth
rates from current population statistics and then extrapolating
backwards until he arrived at a population of 2 (Adam & Eve).
[Mr. Edwords mentioned that doing this same calculation on rabbit
populations gives the answer that rabbits were created in the
1950's.]
Some of the Creationist Evidence
Some of the most commonly cited evidence cited by the creationists
as contradicting evolution are the "human footprints" that are found
in the Paluxy River Valley near Glen Rose, Texas. There are two main
sites for these finds - Dinosaur Valley State Park and private property
owned by Emmett McPhall.
One famous "footprint" cited is the 16 inch one found in the
Paluxy River. This "footprint" is famous in that it is well known
now that it is a carving (at least by non-creationist scientists).
But not all of the "footprints" are carvings. [Mr. Edwords showed
photographs of several of the supposed "footprints."] The "footprints"
are not evident without highlighting. This highlighting is done by
pouring oil, water or shellac into the tracks. Creative [sic] use
of this highlighting is what causes the similarities to human footprints.
Without the highlighting, many of the tracks appear to be the result
of random erosion.
In addition, some of the "footprints" are actually the tracks
of three-toed dinosaurs, but to make the appearance of human tracks,
only a portion of the track is highlighted (the middle toe). But even
these tracks don't really appear to be made by humans. The prints are
long and narrow and the stride of the prints do not match those made
by humans.
Creationist also cite a "Bear track" found there. But, this "bear
track" has six toes.
Creationist Attacks Upon Evolution
The most common attack upon evolution is made by saying that the
leading evolutionists know that there is a problem with Darwin's
Theory, but refuse to admit this publicly. This has come about due
to many scientists' belief that Darwin's Theory of "Gradualism" as
the evolutionary mechanism is incorrect. Many scientists now subscribe
to the "Punctuated Equilibria" mechanism. The latter theory says that
evolution happens by short, rapid bursts of changes in an organism followed
by a period of stability. "Gradualism" says that the changes should happen
gradually and evenly. The creationists overlook the fact that science
accepts evolution, but that the mechanism of evolution is not agreed upon
yet.
The creationists even accept much of Darwin's work (e.g. Darwin's
Finches). They say that this is evidence of micro-evolution (speciation),
which is currently accepted by creationists. They do not accept that
a new species can result from evolution, but only variation within a
species. The creationists point to the lack of transitional forms found
in the fossil record as supporting evidence for this. [Although when
transitional forms for Triceratops (3 horned dinosaur) are shown, the
creationists fall back to saying that it is evidence of speciation.]
The denying of the existence of transitional forms is common. When
archaeopteryx is cited by evolution scientists as a transitional form
between reptiles and birds, creationists say that since it has feathers,
it is just a bird with teeth and reptile like bones - not a transitional
form. Evolution scientists do not admit to the complete lack of
transitional forms. Steven Jay Gould said, "Transitional forms are
lacking at the species level, but are abundant between larger groups."
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[The following are questions from the audience after the presentation.]
Q. What is meant by Horizontal and Vertical Evolution?
Edwords. These are purely creationist terms. They are used to differentiate
between speciation (accepted by creationists) and the evolution
of a new species which is not accepted. Creationists now have
adopted the accepted scientific terms of micro-evolution
(evolution between speicies) and macro-evoltution (evolution
of a new species from an existing one).
Q. What about the moondust calculations used to determine the age of the
earth?
Edwords. The calculations were originally done using data found by
measuring the rate of accretion of dust found on mountain
tops on the earth. This data is now known to be inaccurate.
Before the first manned moon landings, these calculations
were re-done using satellite data and the answers agreed
with the amount of moon dust actually found.