Kevin W. Bounds

Introduction

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1 KJV). It has been stated this is the most read verse of the Bible in all history. This straightforward verse is the foundation on which the resulting revelation of God is formed. Atheists around the globe find the opening line of Scripture to be an outmoded and absurd speculation. They accuse the Bible of being unscientific and anti-intellectual, but is this really the case? Is the biblical creation narrative an irrational assumption void of logic and empirical evidence? This paper will counter the claims of sceptics by utilizing logical inferences and scientific indications for intelligent design, thus, casting serious doubts on the atheistic notion of Darwinian evolution.

The logical methodology employed in this work will be congruent with the correspondence theory of truth. In his book, Christian Apologetics, renowned apologist Douglas Groothius writes, “A belief or statement is true only if it matches with, reflects or corresponds to the reality it refers to.”[1] In other words, this paper will evaluate both the validity of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the biblical theme of creation by seeing how each reflects with the known reality of scientific exploration. It should be noted the existence of God cannot be empirically proven, but neither can evolution be proven. By the close of this argumentative essay it is the author’s hope the reader will see the rationale behind the belief in the biblical creation story. Also, this work seeks to debate the competing ideas of evolution and creationism not the various interpretations of the creation narrative found in Genesis.

“In the Beginning…”

To answer the question which worldview reflects the reality of scientific data? We must first know the claims of science. According to cosmologists, the universe is not eternal, but has its origins in a singular moment of time. Scientists refer to this as the Big Bang. In his book, The Case for a Creator, Lee Strobel, concerning the Big Bang theory, quotes physicist Steven Weinberg as saying,

In the beginning there was an explosion. Not an explosion like those familiar on Earth, starting from a definite center and spreading out to engulf more and more of the circumambient air, but an explosion which occurred simultaneously everywhere, filling all space from the beginning with every particle of matter rushing apart from every other particle. [2]

It is true both atheists and many creationists accept the Big Bang as a viable theory of the origin of all things, however, their perspectives are very different.

First, for the Christian theist this fact does not contradict, but rather reinforces the creation narrative. In the opening verse of the Bible the temporality of universe is declared against the backdrop of the eternalness of God. The Creator-God is reigns in transcendence over the creation. Creationist logic is sound when it asserts the cosmological argument for God. Donald McKim defines this argument as an “argument for God’s existence which proposes that since all things in the universe must have a cause, God must exist as the ultimate cause of all things.”[3] For example, you are reading this paper as a result of an individual mind articulating the words, thoughts, phrases, and taking the time to jot them down to be viewed by others. It would be illogical to believe this work appeared from nothingness, but rather it had a point of origin. This is the reasoning behind creationism.

On the other hand, Darwinian thought excludes the necessity of a creator. It proposes everything visible and invisible, known and unknown, the entirety of the universe spawned from nothing. This defies all logical reasoning. In mathematics, when zero it added to itself or multiplied by itself the answer is a definitively zero. If the universe came into existence with an explosion, where did the initial spark originate? An explosion cannot occur from nothingness, because there is nothing to initiate or to fuel this eruption. In other words, the only logical explanation is there is an eternal Creator outside the universe which was (and continues to be) the ultimate cause. The phrase of the creation story, “In the beginning God…” (Gen. 1:1 KJV), is really not illogical, but rationally reflects known scientific evidences.

 “… God Created the Heavens and the Earth.”

The biblical plot of creation moves forward and reveals this eternal God is very innovative, but does this reflect reality? To further bolster the claim for intelligent design and to deconstruct the notion of natural selection a survey of the evidences from the fields of physics, astronomy, and biology will be explored.

First, is there any evidence for creationism in the field of physics? The prime signal for intelligent design can be witnessed in the “anthropic principle”. Strobel quotes scientist Patrick Glynn as stating, “…all the seemingly arbitrary and unrelated constants in physics have one strange thing in common – these are precisely the values you need if you want a universe capable of producing life.”[4] Is this merely a coincidence as evolutionist suggest? Strobel recounts physicist Robin Collins illustration, “Let’s say you were way out in space and were going to throw a dart at random toward Earth. It would be like successfully hitting a bull’s eye on trillionth of an inch in diameter.”[5] It appears the odds are stacked against evolutionary assumptions in the field of physics, but an intelligent mind can account for these exactitudes.

Secondly, does the field of astronomy yield any contrary testimonies to biblical creationism? Unfortunately, the evolutionist does not fare well in this category either. The precision of Earth’s placement appears to intentional for wellbeing of the inhabitants of the planet. For example, Benjamin Zuckerman, a professor in astronomy at University of California at Los Angeles explains the importance of Jupiter’s role in sustaining life on Earth. He argues,

It is that gravitational force that benefits Planet Earth. When massive objects that could do great harm to our planet hurl through our solar system, Jupiter acts as a vacuum cleaner, sucking comets and asteroids into itself or causing them to veer away from Earth. Without Jupiter Earth would be a sitting duck.[6]

This is merely one illustration of the fine tuning of the universe to enable life on Earth. It would be impossible to identify all the astronomical elements which are conducive to life on Earth, a few more would be our place in solar system, our solar system’s residence in the Milky Way Galaxy, and finally the Milky Way’s home in the universe. Natural selection cannot account for all these precise placements. For illustration, it would be far more probable to throw several decks of playing cards in the air and each suit within each deck of cards land in numerical order. It is highly illogical to assert that random chance would establish such a finely tuned Cosmos, but intelligent design can rationally explain the fastidiousness found in the field of astronomy.

Finally, does the various fields of biology support the creation narrative? First, by examining the fossil record one encounters the “biological big bang” called the Cambrian Explosion. Geologist Keith Miller defines this event as “the relative rapidity of diversification of invertebrates during the Cambrian”[7] period. This surge of new phylas does not contradict, but rather strengthens the creationist viewpoint. The Bible records, “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so” (Gen 1:24 KJV).

However, on the other hand, this swell of new complex lifeforms defies Darwin’s theory of evolution. In fact, Darwin himself was counting the discovery of new fossils to support his notion of natural selection, but time has been very unfriendly to Darwinian evolution. Another self-inflicted wound is Darwin’s necessity for copious amount of time for his evolutionary theory to work is negated by the brevity of the Cambrian Era. In other words, time has run out for Darwin’s assertions.

Another salient point in the field of biology is the uncovered “language of life.”[8] Discoveries in DNA sequencing has revolutionized the field of biology. Much like characters of a book, DNA is intelligently positioned to inform the linking of amino acids. This process is specific and complex. Mike Chapman writes, “Science says that anytime one see a specified complexity there must be intelligence behind it.”[9] Natural selection fails miserably at explaining this phenomenon, but intelligent design is seen as a plausible assumption.

The Repercussions of the God-hypothesis

            As illustrated in the aforementioned scientific evidences of various fields of study, the creationist worldview fits closer to reality than the evolution’s worldview, thus, arguably bolstering the plausibility of creationism. But what repercussion does the God-hypothesis have on humankind? If man’s existence is not caused by random acts of natural selection, then one can only assume man is here for a purpose. He is accountable to the Creator. The denial of God in evolution attempts to do away with this responsibility. Yet, many logical and scientific evidences point to the notion of intelligent design. The question is whether the creature will submit to the Creator? The God which was in the beginning has revealed Himself to mankind in all generations and man will be responsible for his response to this Creator- God.

Conclusion

In conclusion, after briefly surveying the fields of cosmology, physics, astronomy, and biology it is apparent Darwin’s theory of evolution is not supported by science. In fact, it is merely a godless philosophy, which is being overshadowed by the evidences pointing to intelligent design. On the other hand, the biblical creation story is neither outmoded nor illogical, but all the more a plausible reality. Case in point, the Scripture declared these truths generations before modern science! The canon of Scripture is accurate and reliable source of truth.

BIBILOGRAPHY

Chapman, Mike. A Journey through the Old Testament, Ed. Homer Rhea. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 2001.

Groothius, Douglas. Christian Apologetic: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2011.

Larson, Brain C.  750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998.

McKim, Donald. Westminster’s Dictionary of Theological Terms.Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.

Miller, Keith B. “The Fossil Record of the Cambrian “Explosion”: Resolving the Tree of Life.” Perspectives On Science & Christian Faith 66, no. 2 (June 2014): 67-82. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 31, 2016).

Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator. Grand Rapids, MI; Zondervan, 2004.

[1] Douglas Groothius, Christian Apologetic: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2011), 124.

[2] Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator (Grand Rapids, MI; Zondervan, 2004), 114.

[3] Donald McKim, Westminster’s Dictionary of Theological Terms (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996), 63.

[4] Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, 155.

[5] Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, 165.

[6] Brain C. Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998), 97-98.

[7] Keith B. Miller, “The Fossil Record of the Cambrian “Explosion”: Resolving the Tree of Life”, Perspectives On Science & Christian Faith 66, no. 2 (June 2014): 67-82. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 31, 2016), 68.

[8] Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, 272.

[9] Mike Chapman, A Journey through the Old Testament, Ed. Homer Rhea, (Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 2001), 52.