Creation Science

Creation Science Rebuttals

Institute for Creation Research News Report

"Fossil Footprints Trample Evolution's Timeline"

 

By Greg Neyman

First Published on the Old Earth Ministries Website

 

     A recent report on the Institute for Creation Research's website attempts to turn fossil footprints found in Precambrian rock into a young earth argument.  The article is titled "Fossil Footprints Trample Evolution's Timeline, and it is written by Brian Thomas.1   Judging by the title ("trampling evolution), and by the article's comments, it turns out that Thomas is only making an emotional tirade against evolution, without any backing from scientific fact.

     The article concerns tiny footprint impressions found in Precambrian rock (older than 543 million years).  Thomas notes that they are probably caused by small marine multi-limbed creatures.  He goes on to quote one of the researchers, who states “Scientists once thought that it was primarily microbes and simple multicellular animals that existed prior to the Cambrian, but that notion is changing,”2  

     This merely represents the beauty of scientific research.   When new data is discovered, theories are amended to account for the new data.  Timelines will be moved based on this discovery.  However, it does not invalidate the theory of evolution, or the old age of the earth.  On the contrary, it enhances old earth history.  It provides a clearer picture of what happened in the past.  The more discoveries we make, the clearer the picture becomes.

     However, from a young earth perspective, each new discovery is an opportunity to take a cheap shot at evidence that the earth is old.  Sadly, most young earth attacks are cheap shots, with no real substance, and they can easily dismissed.   

     This article's conclusions easily support this point.  Thomas states, "This fossil discovery single-handedly and instantly removes 30 million years from the standard evolutionary timeline, which must be re-warped to accommodate the new data. In contrast, biblical history remains the same even after this find..."  By using terms such as 'trampling' and 'warped,' he is clearly playing on one of the young earth creationists primary weapons...an appeal to the emotions of the reader.  Yes, the timeline will be reworked, and it will be more accurate.

     Thomas notes that putting together a picture of the past is difficult because of the limited information available.  He is absolutely correct.  But by using terms such as "warped," he is merely playing on the emotions of the young earth readers.  As is typical in YEC work, he then states  "The reliable framework provided by Scripture, however, not only accommodates the most paleontological data with the fewest assumptions, but its history can be used to predict what we see in the rocks."  He ends the article strongly fixed on a young earth creation, with a God who is unmoved by these scientific facts.  For anyone new to young earth creationist articles, ending on a spiritual note such as this is typical, as it adds more emotion.

     While I agree that God is great, and his works are wonderful, these same works, understood in an old earth timeline, also fit within the 'reliable framework provided by Scripture.'  However, there is one major difference.  Whereas Thomas claims that the evidence fits a young earth model (implied in the statement quoted above), the scientific evidence is clearly against the young earth model.  The only way that the evidence fits a young earth is by "warping" it.  The many articles on this website bear that out. 

     Yes, the evolutionary timelines will be adjusted (not 'warped'), but this adjustment will give us a clearer understanding of earth's history and God's creation.   

 

 

References:

 

1  http://www.icr.org/articles/view/4151/

2  Earliest footprints ever found – discovered in Nevada. The Ohio State University press release, October 5, 2008.

 

 

 


     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.

 

More Institute for Creation Research Rebuttals

 

 

 

 Did you know that you can be a Christian, and believe that the earth is billions of years old?  You can even believe in evolution and be a Christian.  There is no conflict between science and the Bible...all one needs is a proper understanding how to merge science and the Bible.  To learn more about old earth creationism, see Old Earth Belief, or check out the article Can You Be A Christian and Believe in an Old Earth?  

 Feel free to check out more of this website.  Our goal is to provide rebuttals to the bad science behind young earth creationism, and honor God by properly presenting His creation.