Idea Transcript
Theme：
Creation vs. Evolution
Author： Ling Yi, Lai Huei Wen High School, Taichung. 11th grade, class 8
Guidance Teacher: Yi Xin, Zhuang
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
Contents： First, Preface The reason why I do this? The purpose of doing this How did I do it? Second, the Body Arguments b/t some evidences for creation or evolution Still theories, but I support creation Third, the Conclusions The conclusion How are we going to know then? Fourth, the Quotations The quotations Bibliography
2
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
First, Preface One. Why I do this The reason why I want to write about this theme is because the school taught us evolution in Biology class all the time, but in very few times the teachers mention about creation—most people in Taiwan don’t know about this theory at all. Those who know about it may think it’s more like a kind of religion than science. Most of us just take evolution as granted, because teachers in school almost never talk about it. But actually, in the U.S.A., people who believe in creation are about as many as those who believe in evolution. So by this chance, I want to tell people what is creation and the theory of it. Two. The purpose of doing this Not trying to persuade anyone to believe in creation but just to let people see and know that there’s a theory goes against evolution like this, I, personally a creationist, am going to stand in the angle of creation and criticize about evolution in this article. Also, creationists believe there’s a “creator”, so, even I’m not a Christian (actually I don’t have any specific belief) on this premise, we assume the Bible is true. (Well, most of the creationists believe that it’s true. That’s also one of the places where their theory stands) Anyway, my purpose is just to let you know the existence of creation. Hope you enjoy the show! Three. How I do it During the process, I asked my biology teacher for help, and even the theology teacher is bothered by me. The teachers suggested many distinct ways, and I read through tons of books and lots of information. I studied the information from different points and angles to compare the similarities and the differences between the two different theories. It’s tiring but worthwhile. I learned a lot, and I never ever thought that I would become a creationist. After weeks and weeks, I proudly finished the article and it’s about to be handed out. Second, the Body One. Arguments b/t some evidences for creation or evolution
3
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
1. Why people believe in creation “The creation-evolution controversy originated in Europe and North America in the late eighteenth century when discoveries in geology led to various theories of an ancient earth, and fossils showing past extinctions prompted early ideas of evolution, notably Lamarckism.”(Quot.1) Although now we know the theory of Lamarckism is wrong, the debate between creation and evolution still continues for centuries, why people believe in evolution or believe in creation? In Genesis one, God created everything in six days, and in Christian position, the Bible equals the truth. The Bible is one of the most important reasons that people believe in creation. 2. Why people believe in evolution As to why people believe in evolution, we can find some major reasons. A.
Evolutionist Authur Keith says “evolution has no proof, and it’s impossible to be proved. We believe evolution is because we can only have this choice, another possibility is creation, which is not imaginable.”(Quot.2) This seems like the reason evolutionist they believe in evolution is just because they don’t believe creation, just simply like that.
B.
The second reason why evolutionists believe evolution is because they truly think that they have the evidence for evolution, without knowing some of the evidences are wrong and have not been proved.
C.
They don’t believe there’s someone more intelligent and powerful than human that created all of the things. Simply put, they don’t believe in God.
3. Now let’s see some arguments between some evidences for creation or evolution. A.
Fossil: Evolutionist had found varieties of fossils of organisms, according to the theory of evolution, species of organisms should process “toward a future perfection” (Quot.3) and as we know, it took a long period of time and formed slowly. But creationists believes that “fossils were formed by the deluge” (Quot.4) Which happened in just a year.
4
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
Evolutionists used the examples of the evolution of the horse, they put the sequence of horse evolution from Eohippus to Equus, with their skeleton of heads and legs, but creationists found that “Fossils of these organisms are not found in sequence in the fossil record. In fact, the fossil record gives evidence that these organisms were alive at the same time.”(Quot.5) Evolution is supposed to be a process of change. And creationist states that: “If some ancient species of worm or other creature without a backbone slowly changed into a vertebrate fish with a back bone, there should be a series of intermediate fossil species which document that actual process of change.” (Quot.6) But we don’t see these intermediate fossils everywhere, actually, they’re pretty much a hundred percent absent. Prof. Alfred Romer at Harvard University wrote that this evolution from invertebrate to vertebrate must have required 100 million years for which we do not have the fossil evidence. Creationist also ask evolutionist about the sudden-appeared fossils during the Cambrian period. B.
Homologous structures: “Anatomical structures that perform the same function in different biological species and evolved from the same structure in some ancestor species are homologous.”(Quot.7) But creationists also found out that “One finds homologous organs in creatures belonging to completely different phyla, among which evolutionists have not been able to establish any sort of evolutionary relationship” (Quot.8) or “The genetic codes of some creatures that have homologous organs are completely different from one another.” (Quot.9) As we can see, facing the same data of observation, both sides have different explanations. The observation of bones and muscles may be accurate, but the conclusion is based on bias
C.
Punctuated equilibrium: “If my theory be true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking most closely all of the species of the same group together must assuredly have existed… Consequently evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains.”(Quot.10) “Yet Darwin was aware that no intermediate forms had yet been found, and regarded this as a major dilemma facing his theory.”(Quot.11) Therefore, “There are systematic gaps in the fossil record, showing absences of intermediate links. Punctuated equilibrium was devised to explain these gaps.”(12) This is the theory that states “There were periods of time when 5
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
almost no evolution took place.”(13) Two. Still both theories, but I support creation Since both sides don’t have direct evidence yet, they’re still theories, but creation makes more sense to me. The fossils don’t show the process of evolution; actually I think they’re more like supporting creation. If the creator had created all of the creatures, of course there won’t be any process that one organism “turns” into another. And the evolution of horse is just a hilarious joke, because the fossils shows that the “process” seems to live in the “same time”. The evolution seems to happen extremely swift at that time, which is contradictive to evolution itself. Furthermore, if those horses lived in the same time, it isn’t evolution. They were just many different animals lived in a same period. Homologous structures, of course, is the creator’s design. Just like most of the laptop in the world, when you open them there’s a set of keyboard and a screen, but it doesn’t mean that they came from the same factory or company. You can only say because it’s a good design so that it’s kept and used on most of the products. It is reasonable and logical to say God kept the good designs and used them on his creations. As to Punctuated equilibrium, I think why this theory appeared is just to find a solution for the contradiction in evolution, because they couldn’t find the progressing evolution so they came up with this idea filled with the unknown, because there’s a unknown reason why the evolution starts or stops and unknown time when it started or stop. This theory now is still like a mist. I really want to listen to their explanation and how they prove it. There were some evolutionist observations posed, for instance, some kinds of bird’s beak is longer in certain area because they have to capture insects, so the short beaks couldn’t survive. Evolutionist wanted to use this observation as the proof of evolution. But I think a bird’s beak being longer doesn’t make it turn into another species of creature; the bird that has longer beak will never turn into an anteater. Maybe it’s true that in certain environment the organisms will be selected, but it doesn’t mean that there’s another kind of creature being produced. And here is an interesting example that I found:
6
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
Think about this: “little intestinal microbe, Escherichia coli. Each tiny single-celled microbe propels itself around with six corkscrew propellers which are connected by universal joints to six constant torque, variable speed, and reversible rotary motors! Evolutionary scientists have not the slightest idea how this complex assembly of complex interdependent parts could have evolved.”(14) Still, the evolutionists believe it happened…how nonsense it is! It’s not logical at all. Isn’t this interesting? This tiny microbe has such complicated structures. We assume that the little creature developed the 6 propellers first, but without the torque, they wouldn’t work, so according to the evolution, this useless organ should be eliminated by the environment. So there will never be this complicated structure formed. If it just appeared all of a sudden, this will be a conflict with evolution, since that “evolution means …… and subsequently developed entirely by natural means.”(15) But we don’t see some subsequently developed; instead, we see sudden-appeared creature. So no evolutionist can describe this situation logically without contradicting the evolution theory. This proves again that there must be an intelligent creator who designed and created everything---- there’s no other reasonable explanation. Another proof that supports creation is that there’re two kinds of amino acids among over a hundred kinds of amino acids, one is dextrorotatory, and the other kind is levorotary. And ALL of the amino acids (about 20 kinds) that formed the proteins that organisms need are levorotary. Evolutionists believed in chance, so, after evolutionists’ accurate calculation, the chance like this is one over ten and a hundred thirteen times. How small this chance is! Mathematics think that if something’s chance is smaller than 10 fiftieth, it will never happen and don’t care about it. The number “ten and a hundred thirteen times” is bigger than all the amounts of the atoms in the universe, so how small this chance could be is very clear. There must be someone decided everything and created life. Abiogenesis is ridiculous. Third. the Conclusion One. the Conclusion “Such numerous perfect and complex combinations of interrelated conditions and factors essential to delicate life-forms unequivocally point to intelligent purposeful design. To believe that such an intricately planned and carefully balanced life support system is the result of mere change is absolutely 7
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
senseless.”(16) This is exactly what I think. I don’t believe millions of creatures came from evolution. But this is just my opinion. The truth is, both evolution and creation, still, are just theories. Neither of them is proved and we just have the right to choose which one to believe in. Two. How are we going to know then? To be honest, no one knows. Just like what I said, evolution and creation is nearly impossible to be proved. What I think important is not how we come from, but how we are going to face the future. Here we are. Never mind the past. Mankind is facing challenges that we made by ourselves. Global warming is not a new word anymore. Overpopulation is not solved yet. More than thousands of people in Africa still die because they’ve starved for months, every day. What we’re dealing with should not be where we come from, but where we are going to. Fourth, the Quotations One. the Quotations 1. Wikipedia, 2008/11/14 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation-evolution_controversy 2. H. Enoch. (1967). Evolution or Creation. Michigan: Evangelical Press, Grand Rapids 3. William S. Pinkston. (1999) Biology for Christian Schools. (2nd ed,). U.S.A.: Bob Jones University press 4. William S. Pinkston. (1999) Biology for Christian Schools. (2nd ed,). U.S.A.: Bob Jones University press 5. William S. Pinkston. (1999) Biology for Christian Schools. (2nd ed,). U.S.A.: Bob Jones University press 6. Creation vs. Evolution: The Basics Explained. 11/14/2008 from http://www.parentcompany.com/csrc/basics.htm 7. Wikipedia, 2009/08/15 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homologous_structures 8. Harun Yahya. (2008). Atlas of Creation. Istanbul: Global Publishing 9. Harun Yahya. (2008). Atlas of Creation. Istanbul: Global Publishing 10. Charles Darwin, M.A. (1859) The Origin of Species: by Means of Natural 8
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
Selection. (1st ed,). London: John Murray 11. Harun Yahya. (2006). How Fossils Overturned Evolution. Istanbul: Global Publishing 12. Stephen Jay Gould (1985). Punctuated Equilibrium. London: The Belknap press of Harvard University press 13. William S. Pinkston. (1999) Biology for Christian Schools. (2nd ed,). U.S.A.: Bob Jones University press 14. Creation vs. Evolution: The Basics Explained. 2008/12/25 from http://www.parentcompany.com/csrc/basics.htm 15. Michael J. Behe (1998). Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. New York: Simon & Schuster 16. Huse, Scott M. (2008) the Collapse of Evolution. (9th printing) U.S.A.: Baker Books Two. Bibliography: 1. Wikipedia, 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation-evolution_controversy 2. H. Enoch. (1967). Evolution or Creation. Michigan: Evangelical Press, Grand Rapids 3. William S. Pinkston. (1999) Biology for Christian Schools. (2nd ed,). U.S.A.: Bob Jones University press 4. Creation vs. Evolution: The Basics Explained. 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://www.parentcompany.com/csrc/basics.htm 5. Huse, Scott M. (2008) the Collapse of Evolution. (9th printing) U.S.A.: Baker Books 6. Clarifying Christianity: Creation Versus Evolution, 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/creation.shtml 7. L. T. More. (1925) the Dogma of Evolution, U.S.A.: Princeton University Press 8. Youtube, Creation vs. Evolution debate, 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=ezXMVDBgmmE 9. Youtube, part2, Human didn’t come from Evolution (人類非進化而來 2/6), 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=6d58uRRlGUw 10. Youtube, part3, Human didn’t come from Evolution (人類非進化而來 3/6), 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxlG9o6Aj8&feature=related 11. Michael J. Behe (1998). Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. New York: Simon & Schuster 9
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
Creation vs. Evolution
12. Stephen Jay Gould (1985). Punctuated Equilibrium. London: The Belknap press of Harvard University press 13. Harun Yahya. (2006). How Fossils Overturned Evolution. Istanbul: Global Publishing 14. Charles Darwin, M.A. (1859) The Origin of Species: by Means of Natural Selection. (1st ed,). London: John Murray 15. Harun Yahya. (2008). Atlas of Creation. Istanbul: Global Publishing 16. Wikipedia, 2009/08/15 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homologous_structures 17. Youtube, The Evolution Debate: It’s Not About Theology, 2009/08/15 (last time) from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjfynVeST-o&feature=fvsr
10
PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com