Table Of ContentOrigins
57
Recolonisation and Earth History The Genre and Goals
of Genesis 1-11
Further thoughts on the landmark publication
The Genesis Flood 04 Historical and relevant text for scientific
investigations (Part 1) 14
Irreducible Design and
Overdesign (Part 1) Kinesin – another of God’s
remarkable designs.
Man’s upright stature and mobility 10
Transporter of large loads within the cell 18
The Journal of The Biblical Creation Society
Origins
57
Editorial:
Secularist challenges to liberty of conscience
During September this year, there was discrimination. None of these leaders take their professionalism for introducing
media interest in a pregnant woman who the time to explain the intellectual and perspectives on global warming or
aborted her own baby days before it was historical background to the marriage GM foods that question the so-called
due to be born. The legal issues were covenant and none of them appear to consensus in science.) The wording was
considered by Sir Jeremy Cooke, a senior welcome informed contributions from the result of a campaign mounted by the
judge. The woman was told that there was Christians. Instead, we get the mindset British Humanist association (BHA) and the
no mitigation available to her under the that democracy is OK as long as people at NSS to counter any dissent to evolutionary
1967 abortion act and she was sentenced large agree with the secularist elite. If the theory, and these organisations have
to 8 years in jail. The judge told her that community does not share their values, it trumpeted their lobbying success.
“all right thinking people” would view what is considered to be afflicted by prejudice BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson
she had done as second only to murder. and superstition, and greatly in need of commented:
Despite clear statements from Mr enlightenment from the philosophies of “We congratulate the government for
Justice Cooke that he was implementing secular humanism. taking this significant step to prevent
the law of the land, the Executive Director Over the past year, we have creationist Free Schools. There is still
of the National Secular Society (NSS) was witnessed a hardening of education further work to be done to ensure that
quick to voice unease. The issue was policy about the way dissent in science all schools, not just Free Schools, are
said not to be this particular case, but is treated. Many teachers used to find prevented from teaching creationism,
the judge’s participation in the Lawyer’s dissent to be a useful didactic tool, as to include evolution in the primary
Christian Fellowship (acting in the past as the arguments for and against could be National Curriculum, and to ensure
a vice-president) and previous opposition evaluated. A number of Christian schools evolution’s teaching in all schools.
to the culture of “abortion on demand”. have applied to become free schools, We look forward to working with the
The NSS expressed alarm at the Lawyer’s but guidelines have been issued that not government and all those who care
Christian Fellowship declaring that it only prohibit all reference to design and about rational and evidence based
was dedicated to “applying God’s justice creation concepts in science education, education to achieve these additional
on the ground”. Secularists take every but also make these no-go areas for any changes.”
opportunity to drive a wedge between other part of the curriculum. This is found
religious principles” and “democratically in section 24A of the “Mainstream Free Although it is tempting to dwell on
agreed, human rights-compliant law”. We Schools model Funding Agreement”. This the bleakness of this situation and
would welcome a high profile informed paragraph reads: mourn the encroaching tsunami of
discussion of these issues (particularly of “The Academy Trust shall not make secularism, it is important for us to find
the weight given to case law by the legal provision in the context of any subject encouragements from history as well as
profession), but neither politicians nor the for the teaching, as an evidence- from God’s dealings with us today. 2012
media appear willing to allow informed based view or theory, of any view or is the 350th anniversary of the Great
Christians a platform in the public arena. theory that is contrary to established Ejection, which some consider to be the
Our culture will tolerate Christianity scientific and/or historical evidence beginning of nonconformity in Britain. On
when it is perceived as a personal, and explanations.” St. Bartholomew’s Day, 24th August 1662,
cloistered belief system, but there are about 2000 ministers and academics
no concessions to Christianity as a The wording, although not explicitly were forced to leave their places of service
mature worldview, with implications mentioning creationism, was targeting within the Church of England. They left for
for every aspect of public and private schools who might be tempted to give conscience sake. They could not submit
life. As another example, there are students some alternative perspectives wholeheartedly to everything that was
numerous leading politicians who want on the subject of origins. (The wording written in the Book of Common Prayer.
to redefine marriage so that it conforms is badly thought through, as teachers
to the stance they have taken on gender could be faced with challenges to Continued on page 26.
Contents
Origins 57: January 2013
Recolonisation and Earth History In the Beginning
David J. Tyler John Allen
Further reflections on the 50th anniversary of The John Allen gives a report on two lectures by John
04 20
Genesis Flood. This article presents biblical material Lennox at a recent training day provided by Ravi
that points to conclusions that take us beyond the Zacharias International Ministries.
diluvialist model advanced by Whitcomb and Morris.
The Bible, Rocks and Time
22
Irreducible Design and Overdesign in Man Geological Evidence of the Age of the Earth
Stuart Burgess Davis A Young and Ralph F Stearley
In this series, Professor Stuart Burgess will be looking Reviewed by Sylivia Baker
10
at a selection of features in man that demonstrate
Three books by John Lennox, reviewed by Sylvia Baker.
irreducible design. This first article considers man’s
upright stature and mobility. Gunning for God:
Why the New Atheists are Missing the Target
God and Stephen Hawking:
The Genre and Goals of Genesis 1–11 (Part 1)
Whose Design is it Anyway?
James E. Patrick
Knowing the genre of a text is essential for Seven Days that Divide the World:
14
understanding what it is trying to say. This first article The Beginning according to Genesis and Science
looks at the genre of Genesis 1–11 comparing it with
similar writings from the ancient Near East and with
The Lost World of Genesis One
later Israelite interpretations. 24
Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate
John H Walton
Reviewed by Ray Trainer
Kinesin – another of God’s remarkable designs
J H John Peet
With the hallmarks of bipedal walking this molecule
18 The Cell’s Design
can move at 0.4-0.9 μm per second, which on a 25
How Chemistry Reveals the Creator’s Artistry
cellular scale is very significant.
Fazale Rana
Reviewed by J H John Peet
Cover photograph: Articles Book Reviews
Sumerian King List Prism.
© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
AN1923.444. Reproduced with permission. Meetings
04 Origins 57
Recolonisation and
Earth History
Further reflections on the 50th Anniversary of The Genesis Flood
David J. Tyler
The publication of The Genesis Flood was concerned with geological evidences,
a landmark in the history of creationism. and the effect was similarly intellectually
It was a signpost for a whole generation invigorating. The general argument
of Christians who were searching for was not that the geological evidences
a way to reconcile biblical history and were wrong, but that the interpretations
the Earth sciences. I write from personal placed on these data were unwarranted.
experience: I had come first to accept the Whitcomb and Morris (hereafter W&M)
historicity of Adam and Eve after studying showed how a catastrophist approach
Romans 5-8, and came to recognise that to Earth history was far more concordant
the accounts of Creation and the Flood are with the data than prevailing views. The
historical narratives after working my way effect on my thinking was profound. It was
through Genesis 1-11. It was at this point a striking example of what Thomas Kuhn
that I realised the significance of Whitcomb called a paradigm shift, and it enabled me
and Morris’ book – and devoured it to develop a new conceptual framework
enthusiastically. for my personal understanding of the
Earth sciences. In subsequent years, this
became very important as I deepened my
knowledge of geology, both theoretically
and practically (via fieldwork).
“It was at this point
Paul Garner’s (2011) helpful
that I realised the overview article appeared in Origins
55. He pointed to the significant work
significance of
of establishing a biblical base on which
to build geological thinking, critiquing
Whitcomb and
uniformitarian geology, and developing a
Morris’ book – framework for Diluvialist geology consistent
with biblical timescales of history. In a
and devoured it
constructive way, attention was drawn to
enthusiastically.” geological interpretations made by W&M
that have needed revision.
This article presents biblical
material that points to conclusions that
The first part of the book deals with take us beyond the diluvialist model
the interpretation of the early chapters advanced by W&M.
of Genesis. I found this eminently
Flood models
satisfying, reinforcing my newly acquired
The conventional geological understanding of biblical history and Numerous “model builders” have emerged
column, with commonly
developing it in ways that were exciting since W&M, revealing a diversity of
assigned dates in millions
of years (Cz, Cenozoic). and inspiring. The second part was creationist views about Earth history.
Origins 57 05
The breaking up of the fountains metres in cross-section can move mighty
of the deep. The key driver of the boulders, uproot trees and cause utter
Flood was not rainfall, but the release devastation. This was the promised
of waters from the crust of the Earth. judgment upon sinful humanity along
Subterranean waters were accompanied with the Earth and air-breathing animals
by 40 days of torrential rain (Genesis (Genesis 7:13). This phase of the Flood year
7:12), but the violence of the Flood came involved the breaking up of the Earth’s crust
as a consequence of tectonics. Whatever and was characterised by unparalleled
else is said about this mechanism, the violence and destruction.
geological effects would necessarily have The prevailing waters during the
involved subsiding tectonic blocks being next 110 days (days 41-150). The waters
Some of these are discussed by Sarfarti flooded over very short timescales (hours) flooded the Earth until day 150 (Genesis
(2010). His main point is that we must and giant tsunamis sweeping over land 7:17-24). It is not necessary to suppose all
distinguish between scientific models surfaces. As crustal plates moved vertically, the land was covered with
and biblical revelation. The Bible provides flood-waters moved laterally under the
us with authentic history and this history influence of gravity with extensive erosion,
provides a framework for us to interpret followed by basin-wide deposition of
the data of science. However, we must sediments (Tyler, 1990).
not elevate our scientific work so that it The Hebrew word for the Flood:
carries the same authority as Scripture. the mabbul. There are several words
All science has to be tested by evidence in Hebrew for floodwaters, but the word
and our theories are only as good as mabbul is used exclusively to refer to
their correspondence with data. the Flood that occurred during the life of
This article is concerned with the fit Noah. Specifically, it refers to the promised
between theory and empirical evidence, destruction during the 40 days and
but even more with a biblical framework nights of rain (Genesis 7:4,16). In the New
for structuring our thinking. In particular, we Testament, the word kataklu is used when
shall consider whether the Bible portrays referring to Noah’s Flood (Matthew 24:38-
the Flood as an event that was far more 39, Luke 17:27, 2 Peter 2:5), conveying the
dramatic than was envisaged by W&M. sense of violent destruction. This Greek
word is the root of our word “cataclysm”.
The Flood as a catastrophic event
Further discussion is provided by Robinson
The biblical witness to catastrophism is (1998) and the issues were explored by
compelling. Whilst some scholars have Fouts & Wise (1998) and Robinson (2000).
suggested a tranquil flood, leaving no The implications of catastrophism
geological remains, very few have been of this magnitude are discussed in
convinced. The four arguments below are this article.
at the top of my list.
The chronology of the Flood Year
The onset of the Flood was
sudden. A 7-day period was allowed for W&M provided a table outlining
the ark to be populated and prepared for the chronology of the Flood. They
the cataclysm (Genesis 7:10). Then, Noah acknowledged that differences of view
and his family went into the ark and the are found among scholars and discussed
Lord shut them in (Genesis 7:16). The Flood many of these. In the comments below,
came that very day. Noah did not have to I follow the chronology presented by
wait weeks for the waters to rise sufficiently W&M. This is essentially the same as that
to lift the ark off the ground. He did not presented in Kidner’s (1967) commentary
have to listen to people hammering on on Genesis.
the door to be let in – they were all swept The 40 days of torrential rain
away on “the day” the Flood commenced. (days 1-40). The outpouring of rain
The testimony of Jesus Christ. The marks the mabbul and portrays an
Lord Jesus referred to the Flood account as intensity of destruction. Most readers
an analogy of the end of the Age and the of the Bible, including the people living
coming of the Son of Man in judgment. The as contemporaries of Moses, would be
end will be sudden and overwhelming. familiar with flash flooding and the power
Two will be in a field – one taken and the of moving water. We should remember More detailed divisions within Phanerozoic
time (left) and Cenozoic time (right). This article
other left. There is no stretching out of the that a cubic metre of water weighs a
considers the structure of the column to be valid,
“coming” over weeks and months. ton, so a torrent of water of even a few but not the assigned dates (Q, Quaternary;
P Pleistocene).
06 Origins 57
embrace. It appears to me that this is adopted this approach because they want
what is happening with the chronology of to explain fossil successions – and they
the Flood year and further discussion is argue that fossil successions demonstrate
provided below. the sequence: marine animals,
amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
The interpretation of geological data
To explain the sequence, they invoke the
The issues raised in this section have been successive flooding of ecosystems by rising
discussed for over 15 years in articles in floodwaters. They also invoke the concept
Origins and other publications, and in of differential mobility: slow moving
past workshops of the BCS Earth Sciences animals cannot get away from the waters,
Group. They are of continuing relevance but agile animals, particularly birds and
because the responses received have humans, are the last to be overwhelmed
been inadequate. and fossilised. Some diluvialist models
have land animals surviving up to 40 days,
and others stretch the timescale to 150
days. Such scenarios conflict with both the
suddenness of the mabbul destruction and
“The issues
the chronological information we have
Dinosaur Footprints. raised in this in Scripture.
© Klaus Nilkens, www.istockphoto.com
The mabbul destruction of the
section have been
water continuously from day 1, but total Earth. God had said to Noah: “I am going
immersion was achieved by day 40. to put an end to all people, for the Earth is
discussed for over
After this, tectonic movements reduced filled with violence because of them. I am
in intensity and the word mabbul is no 15 years in articles surely going to destroy both them and the
longer used to describe events. Earth” (Genesis 6:13). This judgment was to
in Origins and
The grounding of the ark and fall on the Earth for the same reason that
recession of the floodwaters (days other publications, God cursed the ground in Genesis 3:17. It
151-264). The ark came to rest but the was because Adam and Eve were created
inhospitability of the terrain was apparent. and in past in the image of God, and part of that
After a lengthy wait, Noah sent out a image was to have dominion – over the
workshops of the
raven to see if anything could be learned. animals and over the Earth itself (Genesis
This phase initiated the drying out of the BCS Earth Sciences 1:26). The judgment fell on mankind and
Earth and the recolonisation of terrestrial upon all the domains over which they
Group. They are
ecosystems by plants. had been given dominion. The Earth was
The raven and the dove (days destroyed, not merely given a face-lift.
of continuing
265-285). After the raven, Noah sent out The mabbul destruction of
the dove three times. On the first occasion, relevance because air-breathers. Fossil evidence of air-
the dove was not able to find what it was breathing animals should be of particular
the responses
looking for, so it returned to Noah. The interest to diluvialists. There are two
second time, it returned with an olive leaf. received have been types of evidence: body fossils and trace
It did not return after the third release. fossils. Trace fossils include tracks, trails,
inadequate.”
Drying winds and preparations to burrowings and constructions (such
disembark (days 286-371). Noah removed as nests). These fossil remains provide
the covering from the Ark and was able information about feeding behaviours,
to better appreciate the drying of the The mabbul destruction: sudden movements (such as migration), and the
land and the regrowth of plants. Then, and overwhelming. The timescale for raising of young. The critical point is that
at God’s command, the family group and the floodwaters to impact all terrestrial trace fossils relate to a time when the
the animals left the ark and entered the environments must be short: measured animals were still alive. They were still
antediluvian world. in hours and days. The effusion of water breathing air! This means that the strata
Having a clear chronological from the “fountains of the deep” implies containing traces of air-breathing animals
foundation is important for guiding our that water came up from below through cannot be assigned to the period between
thinking about rocks, fossils and Earth fissures associated with the breaking up the mabbul and the migrations from
history. This is a fundamental issue for of the Earth’s crust. Consequently, the pre- the ark. Many diluvialists divide the rock
biblical creationists: if we ignore revealed Flood elevation of ecosystems above sea record into the inundatory stage and the
truth, we are likely to go astray in our level should not be considered relevant. recessive stage (Walker, 1994). They link
interpretations of empirical data. Similarly, However, many Diluvialists still work with the fossilised traces to rising floodwaters in
we are on shaky ground if we are selective models invoking steadily rising sea levels the inundatory stage, with animals fleeing
about what parts of revealed truth we that encroach on the land. They have to places of greater safety. This typically
Origins 57 07
requires air-breathers to be moving around flaw in their model; almost as unbelievable that demonstrate the effectiveness of this
on thousands of metres of sediment that as the tranquil flood theory! ecological understanding of the fossil
floodwaters had previously deposited. record. Examples include: evidences for
The recolonisation approach
When this approach is followed, preflood vegetated land in the late Precambrian,
ecosystems and surface topographies A different perspective. Some liverworts as the earliest known land
become irrelevant because they are all of us have approached the problem by plants, the pattern of diversification of
buried under vast thicknesses of sediment. starting with post-Flood sediments in vertebrate groups and angiosperm plants,
But more needs to be said, because the the Quaternary and then working down and planktic foraminifera. These have
strata above these traces typically contain the geological record. The traces of air- been addressed in the past few years
more traces. Trace fossils of air breathers breathers in the glacial sediments mean in research papers by authors working
are found throughout the rock systems of that migrations from the ark preceded within the conventional paradigm and
the Mesozoic and Cenozoic – the upper the deposition of these sediments. In the are discussed by Tyler (2012).
part of the sedimentary record. There is no Cenozoic, we find evidences of avian Differing perspectives on the
“barren” zone above the extensive record and mammalian recolonisation of the Geological Column. W&M recognised
of dinosaur tracks. Consequently, to find Earth. In the Mesozoic, we find smaller that the sequence of fossil appearances
sediments from the flood year, we must numbers of mammals and birds, but is not random and therefore needs to
look below the Mesozoic system. This plenty of evidence for reptiles including be explained. Their response was to
argument was clearly set out by Garton the dinosaurs. This leads to the conclusion advance explanations using the concepts
(1991, 1996). that dinosaurs were pioneer recolonisers of ecological zonation and differential
Air-breathers in the fossil record. spearheading migrations away from the mobility. There are numerous problems
The suddenness of the mabbul does not ark. There are a few hints of air-breathers with this approach, and Robinson (1997)
allow for an extended period (of weeks or earlier than this, but the pattern is clear. has provided a robust critique. Significantly,
even months) for animals and humans to Most of the Palaeozoic is barren of air- W&M never subjected their hypothetical
be running about trying to escape rising breathing animal traces and this situation explanatory mechanisms to systematic
floodwaters, nor for dinosaur nests to continues down into Precambrian strata. In testing. The model never got beyond
be constructed nor for eggs to be laid in fact, we do not find traces of air-breathers the anecdotal level – and this continues
those nests. There are extensive dinosaur in the Precambrian at all, and the inference to be the situation today. Nevertheless,
tracks in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata is made that any traces of animals living this diluvialist model is still advanced by
and above them can be found Cenozoic when the mabbul commenced have been many who seek to explain the fossiliferous
strata with mammal and bird trace fossils. destroyed along with their body fossils. geological record by the 1-year Flood.
Above these in the rock sequence are This scenario for understanding the fossil These mechanisms appear to provide
Quaternary sediments associated with record considered as a whole is explained a broad brush explanation of the fossil
glacial or interglacial environments, again in more detail by Tyler (2006) and an record, but there are major problems
containing traces left by air-breathing accessible web resource is by Robinson with the details. Consequently, these
animals, which W&M and most diluvialists (2012). diluvialists suggest the geological column
assign to the post-Flood period. There is Recolonisation is the key to construct lacks substance (Oard, 2010c,
a real problem here for the W&M model, interpreting patterns in the fossil record. Matthews, 2012). They will recognise
because this pattern means that the Recolonisers view the fossil sequences thousands of local columns, but claim it is
preserved ‘Flood sediments’ must all be in terms of ecological succession. The not possible to correlate them. It follows
assigned to the initial phase of the Flood. hot waters characterising the earliest that each local column needs a separate
For example, this constrains the thinking Precambrian could not support marine interpretation. They take the stance that
of Froede (2010) regarding trackways in animals because hot water has so little there is no need to explain anything that
rocks from the Appalachian Mountains. oxygen dissolved in it, and the chemistry presupposes a non-existent geological
He concludes they represent early Flood of the continental Precambrian seas column. Consequently, this approach to
activity, despite the traces being found in was not conducive to life. So what we geology tends to look very fragmented.
strata from the Lower Pennsylvanian to the find are single-celled extremophiles. But Arguments drawing on stratigraphical
Lower Cretaceous. We shall return to the some of these were algae that could correlations are instinctively dismissed as
problems this creates for a coherent flood photosynthesise, thereby providing a being fundamentally flawed. My response
model, but we note here that Froede’s pathway for environmental change. As to this whole issue is to point out that
approach makes no sense geologically, waters cooled, oxygen levels increased successions in fossils are accompanied
because continental-scale flooding and seawater chemistry was modified, so by successions in lithologies (rock
must accomplish extensive erosion and animals could return from refugia far from types). When fossils and lithologies are
deposition. Above the tracked horizons, land masses and colonise the shallow- combined as evidence, continent-wide
Froede and his colleagues need to identify water aerated seas. This triggered the systems can be readily identified. Fuller
a part of the fossil record that is barren Cambrian Explosion. Marine ecosystems discussions of the principles of establishing
of traces of air-breathers – but this is not developed rapidly, with expanding food correlations between local columns are
something they have been able to do. The chains, culminating in recolonisation by by Robinson (1997) and by Tyler & Coffin
missing barren strata is a fundamental fish. Research papers appear regularly (2006). A positive statement concerning
08 Origins 57
the geological column by a group of exposed diluvial sediments” (BEDS) during Flood scenario with a pattern of ecological
Diluvialists was published in Origins fluctuations in relative sea level during successions with an unstable Earth
(Snelling et al. 1997) and elsewhere. the Flooding Stage.” (2010b, p.91). Froede recovering from the global catastrophe.
(2012) uses fossil trackway data to make Representative studies concern the UK
Locating Flood boundaries.
the same point. As an initial response, Jurassic series (Tyler, 1994); the Spanish
There has been considerable discussion Ross (2012) has analysed fossil data Mesozoic (Garton 1997); chalk deposits
among Diluvialists to identify both the pre- representing 303 genera from 28 terrestrial (Tyler, 1996, 2006b); and the UK dinosaur
Flood/Flood boundary and the Flood/post- mammalian families from North America. trackways (Tyler, 2003).
Flood boundary and the significance of the He was particularly interested in genera The Palaeozoic System has been
tracks of air-breathing animals has more and families that cross the Pliocene/ handled in different ways by recolonisers.
recently become recognised. Pleistocene boundary to establish whether Perhaps the most striking differences
Many diluvialists have focused there is continuity or discontinuity. He found relate to the Carboniferous Coal Measures.
attention on identifying the boundary 23% of genera cross the boundary and Scheven (1984; 1996) considers these to
between pre-Flood rocks and Flood rocks. > 96% of families, and concluded that the be late Flood deposits, whereas others
They consider that basement rocks of the evidence does not support the Pliocene/ consider the coal forests to be part of the
Earth are essentially created rocks, with Pleistocene boundary hypothesis. Instead, recolonisation story. The need here is for
perhaps a metamorphic overprint or some “a lower location for the boundary must more field-based research to test alternative
structural deformation. Those developing be sought” (p.87). hypotheses for observational data.
the W&M model have favoured the Great The Precambrian rocks have
Unconformity at the base of the Cambrian numerous distinctive characteristics
as the key marker for the onset of the and are not just rocks lacking hard-
Flood. However, these basement rocks bodied fossils. Some of these features
“Oard considers
below the unconformity bear the marks of are discussed by Tyler (2005; 2006a)
a catastrophist history of formation which that numerous land and Robinson (2012 – see “The
raises questions about whether they can Hadean Cataclysm”).
animals survived
be seriously considered as created rocks.
The relevance of the recolonisation
If the mabbul destruction is to guide the
the 40-day mabbul,
approach for education and research.
premises we make, then the antediluvian
Earth was destroyed and the basement and continued on There are important issues here for all
rocks of the Earth display this destruction. students of geology. Britain is uniquely
into the 110 days of
Such a scenario fits well with the analysis placed to display the concept of the
of Hunter (1996), who put the onset of the “prevailing”: “Like Geological Column. It is possible to “walk
Flood boundary deep in the Earth’s crust, through” most of the Palaeozoic by visiting
because all basement rocks witness to a dinosaur tracks, outcrops in Wales. A similar exercise
catastrophist past. for the Mesozoic can be undertaken
bird and mammal
Regarding the Flood/post-Flood in England, as for example, along the
boundary, W&M located this towards tracks [. . .] represent coastline of Devon and Dorset. Most
the top of the geological column, at the British geologists are not impressed by
animal activity
Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. The the idea of independent local columns,
glacial deposits of the Quaternary were because correlation using lithologies and
during the Flood,
considered to have been laid down soon fossils has been found compelling for
after the Flood in a period of climatic before Day 150.” over 200 years – since the days of William
instability. Discussion has focused on two Smith. The UK has a ‘local column’ that
alternatives: the boundary suggested by looks remarkably like the conventional
W&M and the end-Cretaceous boundary On the interpretation of the Cenozoic, geological column! Since much field work
favoured by advocates of Catastrophic recolonisers share a common approach revolves around mapping rock formations,
Plate Tectonics (CPT). Oard (2010a, 2010b, with the CPT advocates. These rocks are identifying structural deformations and
2011) defends the Pliocene/Pleistocene all part of the post-Flood recolonisation establishing sequences of rock units in
boundary and interprets fossilised traces story. Some representative studies are an area, recolonisers have no inhibitions
of air-breathing animals as having been as follows: the John Day Country (Nevins, about participating fully in establishing the
made during the inundatory stage of the 1974); the Green River Formation (Garner, database from which interpretations are
Flood. Oard considers that numerous land 1997); the North Atlantic Igneous Province made subsequently.
animals survived the 40-day mabbul, (Tyler, 2003a); the fossil record of horses Differences with other geologists
and continued on into the 110 days of (Garner, 1999). German speakers can come when the task is to interpret the
“prevailing”: “Like dinosaur tracks, bird and consult a whole book on the subject by mode of formation of the rocks and
mammal tracks [. . .] represent animal Scheven (1988). explain the fossil successions. This is
activity during the Flood, before Day Moving lower into the Mesozoic, where opportunities can be found for
150. Such tracks were made on “briefly recolonisers are alone in finding a post- interacting constructively with mainstream
Origins 57 09
geologists. Many of the concepts held Matthews, J.D (2011). The stratigraphic Tyler, D.J. (1990). A tectonically controlled
by recolonisers are already accepted (in geological column – a dead end. Journal rock cycle. In: Walsh, R.E. & Brooks, C.L..
of Creation, 25(1), 98-102. (editors), Proceedings of the Second
principle) by the academic community (e.g.
International Conference on Creationism.
neo-catastrophism, ecological succession Nevins, S.E. (1974). Post-Flood Strata of the
Pittsburgh: Creation Science Fellowship:
as an explanatory framework, tectonically- John Day Country. Northeastern Oregon. Vol. 2, 293-299.
Creation Research Society Quarterly, 10(4),
controlled processes). It is possible to
191-204. Tyler, D.J. (1994). Tectonic controls on
argue the case for these concepts by
sedimentation in rocks from the Jurassic
going into the field and appealing to Oard, M.J. (2010a). Is the K/T the Post-Flood Series. In: Walsh, R.E. (editor), Proceedings
boundary? – part 1: introduction and the
evidences. Those of us with interests in the of the Third International Conference on
scale of sedimentary rocks. Journal of
Earth sciences should learn to distinguish Creationism. Pittsburgh: Creation Science
Creation, 24(2), 95-104.
Fellowship: 535-45.
between biblical revelation and diluvialist
Oard, M.J. (2010b). Is the K/T the post-Flood
models, and then we should be testing out Tyler, D.J. (1996). A post-Flood solution
boundary? – part 2: paleoclimates and
our ideas by reference to multiple working to the Chalk problem. Creation Ex Nihilo
fossils. Journal of Creation, 24(3), 87-93.
Technical Journal 10(1):107-13.
hypotheses. This is the spirit of W&M’s
Oard, M.J. (2010c). The geological column
classic book, and this is what following Tyler, D. (2003a). Mull’s witness to the Flood
is a general Flood order with many
in their footsteps should mean and its after-effects. Origins (Journal of the
exceptions. Journal of Creation, 24(2),
Biblical Creation Society), No. 33, March,
for contemporary creationists. 78-82.
16-18.
Oard, M.J. (2011). Is the K/T the post-Flood
Tyler, D. (2003b). Tracking dinosaurs in
References boundary? – part 3: volcanism and plate
Britain. Origins (Journal of the Biblical
tectonics. Journal of Creation, 25(1), 57-62.
Fouts, D.M. and Wise, K. (1998). Blotting out Creation Society), No. 36, December, 6-9.
and breaking up: miscellaneous Hebrew Robinson, S.J. (1998). The Flood in Genesis:
Tyler, D.J. (2005). Revisiting Precambrian
studies in geocatastrophism. In: Walsh, what does the text tell geologists? In:
geology. Creation Research Society
R.E. (editor), Proceedings of the Fourth Walsh, R.E. (editor), Proceedings of the
Quarterly, 42(2):127–128.
International Conference on Creationism, Fourth International Conference on
August 3-8 1998. Pittsburgh: Creation Creationism, August 3-8 1998. Pittsburgh: Tyler, D. (2006a). Recolonization and the
Science Fellowship: 217-228. Creation Science Fellowship: 465-474. Mabbul. In: Reed, J.K. and Oard, M.J. (eds).
The Geologic Column: Perspectives within
Froede Jr., C.R. (2010). Fossilized Animal Robinson, S.J. (1997). The Geological
Diluvial Geology. Creation Research Society,
Tracks and Trackways Date Uplift of the Column: a concept foundational to Flood
AZ. 73-88.
Appalachian Mountains. Creation Matters, Geology. Origins (Journal of the Biblical
15(4), 1, 6-7. Creation Society), No.23 (August), 14-30. Tyler, D.J. (2006b). Uniformity and
Uniformitarian Concepts in Sedimentology.
Froede Jr., C.R. (2012). Animal Tracks and Robinson, S.J. (2000). The then world with
Creation Research Society Quarterly, 42(4),
Catastrophic Plate Tectonics. Creation water having been deluged perished.
265-268.
Matters, 17(1), 1-4. Origins (Journal of the Biblical Creation
Society), No.29 (November), 15-24. Tyler, D.J. and Coffin, H.G. (2006). Accept
Garner, P. (1997). Green River Blues.
the column, reject the chronology. In: Reed,
Creation, 19(3):18–19, June–August 1997. Robinson, S.J. (2012). Earth History (online)
J.K. and Oard, M.J. (eds). The Geologic
http://www.earthhistory.org.uk
Garner, P. (1999). It’s a horse, of course. Column: Perspectives within Diluvial
Origins (Journal of the Biblical Creation Ross, M.R. (2012). Evaluating potential post- Geology. Creation Research Society, AZ.
Society), No. 26, October, 13-23. Flood boundaries with biostratigraphy – 53-69.
the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Journal
Garner, P. (2011). “The Genesis Flood” 50 Tyler, D. (2012). Science Literature (online
of Creation, 26(2), 82-87.
Years On. Origins (Journal of the Biblical blog), ARN. http://www.arn.org/blogs/
Creation Society), No. 55, 4-10. Sarfarti, J. (2010). Flood models and biblical index.php/literature
realism, Journal of Creation, 24(3), 46-52.
Garton, M. (1991). Rocks and scripture: Snelling, A.A., Scheven, J., Garner, P., Ernst,
on the right track? Origins (Journal of the Scheven, J. (1984). The interpretation of M., Garton, M., Scheven, E., Wise, K.P.
Biblical Creation Society, 4(10), (February): fossils and the principle of actualism. In: and Tyler, D. (1997). The Geological Record
3-8. Tyler, D.J. (editor), Understanding fossils (Statement). Origins, No.22 (March), 28-29.
and earth history. Biblical Creation Special
Garton, M. (1996). The pattern of fossil Walker, T. (1994). A biblical geological
Issue, 18:5-19.
tracks in the geological record. Creation Ex model, in: Walsh, R.E. (ed.), Proceedings
Nihilo Technical Journal 10(1):82-100. Scheven, J. (1988). Mega-sukzessionen und of the Third International Conference
klimax im Tertiaer: katastrophen zwischen on Creationism, (technical symposium
Garton, M. (1997). A Spanish Weekend.
sintflut und eiszeit. Neuhausen-Stuttgart: sessions), Creation Science Fellowship,
Origins (Journal of the Biblical Creation
Haenssler-Verlag. Pittsburgh, PA, 581-592.
Society), No. 22, March, 11-24.
Scheven, J. (1996). The Carboniferous
Hunter, M.J. (1996). Is the pre-Flood/Flood
floating forest – an extinct pre-Flood
boundary in the Earth’s mantle? Creation
ecosystem. Creation Ex Nihilo Technical
Ex Nihilo Technical Journal, 10: 344-357.
Journal 10(1): 70-81.
Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis. London:
The Tyndale Press.
10 Origins 57
Irreducible design and overdesign in
man: a case study of man’s upright
stature and mobility
Professor Stuart Burgess
Irreducible design and overdesign like Jaguars and Porches because they stature and shows how it is unique and an
One of the unique features of intelligent have the freedom to create luxury, comfort, example of over-design. There are around
design (as opposed to evolution) is that it is aesthetics and levels of performance way 4,000 mammals and yet humans are the
possible to produce irreducible design and beyond what is actually required to get a only bipedal mammal. One of the reasons
over-design. Irreducible design is where car from A to B. In contrast to intelligent why apes are very different to humans
several components and several pieces design, evolution cannot produce over- is that apes are quadrupeds whereas
of design information are required to be design. Evolution is based on the principle humans are bipeds. The human body has
present simultaneously for a mechanism that living organisms have just enough many features that are intricately designed
to have a useful function (Burgess, 2000). functionality to survive. In other words, if life for an upright stature. The upright stature
When irreducible design is present in has evolved, every feature of an organism of humans gives them an amazing all-
nature this presents a serious challenge must have some survival advantage. round mobility that is superior to every
to evolution because evolution is not able Organisms cannot have design features other creature. Man is the only creature
to generate many pieces of specific design that are there just for the sake of capable of extremely skilful balance on
information simultaneously. impressive design. two legs.
Over-design means adding When over-design is seen in the According to evolution, humans
features that are beyond what is required natural world, it creates a big challenge have gradually evolved an upright stature
to adequately function (Burgess, 2000). for evolutionists because they are unable over millions of years for survival reasons.
Engineers like designing expensive cars to give a survival reason for the design. However, to be able to stand upright,
Examples of over-design in the human humans need many design features that
being include upright mobility, skilful are not present in quadrupeds and many
hands, fine skin, facial expressions, of these must be in place simultaneously.
intricate language and intelligence There are so many special features
(Burgess, 2000; 2004 and 2008). If man required for bipedal motion that it is
had evolved just to be hunter-gathers impossible for a quadruped to evolve
then you would not expect such an gradually into a biped. The unique design
over-designed body and intelligence. features required for an upright stature are
If man was just a naked ape you would explained in the following sections.
not expect man to be able to compose
(1) UNIQUE ARCHED FEET
and play music to such extreme levels of
precision and beauty. And you would not Humans have a unique arched foot. The
expect man to be able to play sports like arched foot is strong enough to support
tennis and gymnastics with such grace the body yet flexible enough to allow agile
and skill. Of course animals are intelligent movement on two legs. The main arch in
and agile to some degree. But humans the foot is between the heel and the ball
have a unique design that is way beyond of the foot. There are actually three arches
what is needed to survive. and three points of contact with the ground
(Kapandji, 1995). One point of contact is
Upright stature
in the centre of the heel, a second point
This article focuses on man’s upright of contact is on the ball of the foot near
X-ray image of running man.
© Henrik Jonsson, www.istockphoto.com
