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Creation Science Book Review:
Scientific Creationism, by Henry Morris
Review by Greg Neyman
© 2006, Old Earth Ministries
Review Published June 2006
Old Earth Ministries Science website
Chapter 2, Part 4: Purpose of Creation
Overall, I would agree with Morris that the purpose of creation is to provide a suitable habitat for mankind. In making this claim, Morris says that so far as we know, earth is the only suitable location, and I agree. Morris correctly uses a qualifying statement that indicates that current knowledge supports this claim. There is much that we do not know, and we may yet find other planets with life, but we will have to address that subject if and when it is discovered.
Morris continues to claim that the facts of science fit the creation model better than the evolutionary model, a claim that we have seen is false. Of course, Morris is trying to burn this into the minds of his followers. If you look below the surface, you can easily see that the evolution model is just as credible as the creation model. And, if you consider the creation model as the "young earth" creation model, the evolution model is a much better fit with the scientific evidence. It is only the old earth creation model which provides a credible model from a scientific viewpoint. This will become more evident throughout this review.
Chapter 1 - Evolution or Creation?
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Chapter 2 - Chaos or Cosmos
Part 1 - Origin of Matter, Energy, and Natural Law
Part 2 - The Beginning of the Universe
Part 3 - Origin of the Solar System
Part 4 - Purpose of Creation
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Chapter 3 - Uphill or Downhill? (4 Topics)
Chapter 4 - Accident or Plan? (4 Topics)
Chapter 5 - Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism (4 Topics)
Chapter 6 - Old or Young? (4 Topics)
Chapter 7 - Apes or Men? (4 Topics)
Chapter 8 - Creation According to Scripture (14 Topics)
For the most part, this section contains little in the way of conflict for old earth creationists. Morris does have one recurring theme that is annoying. He continually contrasts the evolutionary and creation models. However, many Christians merge these models into Theistic Evolution, with no affect upon their faith, nor the key doctrines of the Bible. Thus, as is typical of young earth creationists, it is presented as an either/or choice. Either you believe God created, or you don't. This either/or choice is what drives many away from the church. They are taught as they are growing up that the earth is young. When they get older, and can examine these things for themselves, they discover that the science they once believed in is not true. Instead of seeing that God could have created over billions of years, they choose to see it as "there is no God." This is because they are taught early on that if you don't accept a young earth, you reject God. This tragic truth is the most shameful secret of young earth creationism...that young earth creationism is itself responsible for creating more atheists than any other form of belief.
Evolution out of Nothing
In this final section Morris claims that scientists are abandoning the standard big bang and steady state models. He makes it sound like nobody likes these theories today, when in fact they are the two most prevalent theories. But the main issue here is the theory that evolution also comes from nothing, just like creation did. I see this just as Morris does. It makes more sense to believe in God creating from nothing. However, this works just as well with an old earth, big bang theory, as it does with the young earth theory. And, the old earth theory agrees with science, unlike the young earth theory. Thus, the old earth theory is clearly the more rational of the two.
If you are not a Christian, and you have been holding out on making a decision for Christ because the Church always preached a message that was contrary to what you saw in the scientific world, then rest assured that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and you can believe in Christ and receive salvation, while still believing in an old earth. Click here for more.
Are you a Christian who believes in young earth creationism? Now that we have shown the many difficulties of the young earth creation science model in this and many other articles, how does this impact your Christian life? If you are a young earth creationism believer, click here.