This is the first post in a multi-part review of a young-Earth creationist (YEC) presentation given by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Billings, Montana in November 2012. Part 1 -- This page. The Relevance of Genesis (I was in complete agreement with Dr. Jeanson). The YEC version of the scientific …
Continue reading Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 1
I've always known that Jesus is for geologists, as well as for biologists, chemists, physicists, archeologists, astronomers, and all other sorts of scientists. There are, of course, many Christians who are scientists, and many scientists who are Christians. As a graduate student in geology, I found rich fellowship with a half dozen Christian geologists-in-training, and …
Continue reading Jesus is for geologists (and other scientists)
The best ever reply to Ken Ham -- Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham wrote "Peter Enns Wants Children to Reject Genesis: (Enns is an Evangelical Old Testament scholar who advocates a figurative Adam and Eve). Peter Enns replied with "Ken Ham Clubs Baby Seals." I don't agree with either of these guys in regards to …
A common young-Earth creationist (YEC) argument for an Earth that is only 6000 or so years old is the "salty seawater" argument. The salty seawater argument, in its simplest form, states that one should be able to determine a maximum age for the oceans by measuring the rate at which various salts---such as the sodium …
Continue reading The YEC “salty seawater” argument — not worth a grain of salt
Did Jesus have a wife? Like most sensationalist we-found-the-bones-of-Jesus types of stories, this one is pretty easy to dismiss. And we might as well have a little bit of fun while we debunk the "research." HT: Cranach Grace and Peace
Dr. Pepper boycott -- Apparently, there are young-Earth creationists who want us to boycott the soft drink Dr. Pepper because of its recent "Evolution of flavor" ad: At least that is what the news articles want us to believe. There have been plenty of comments on Facebook and blogs from the rank-and-file YECs, but I …
As you may have noticed, I haven't been blogging much lately. Here are my basic excuses: I have had a very busy summer at work. The family keeps me busy. These are both good things, but they haven't left much time for writing. My third excuse is that I've had a bad case of writer's …
From Francis Schaeffer: "Non-Christian philosophers almost universally agree in seeing everything as normal, assuming things are as they have always been. The Christian sees things now as not the way they have always been. [...] The distinction is that as I look about me I know I live in an abnormal world." Genesis in Space …
"The world looks so different after learning science. For example, trees are made of air, primarily. When they are burned, they go back to air, and in the flaming heat is released the flaming heat of the sun which was bound in to convert the air into tree. [A]nd in the ash is the small remnant of the part …
Fallible people misunderstand God’s Word. Fallible people misunderstand God’s world. Therefore great humility is required as we study the Word and the world, and great humility is required as we interact with those with whom we disagree. Grace and Peace
One of the seminars at the Presbyterian Church of America's 2012 General Assembly (their annual national meeting, held June 19-22 this year) is a presentation of the geological evidence for an old Earth, given by two geologists from Solid Rock Lectures. Here is the description from the General Assembly seminar brochure: The PCA Creation Study …
Continue reading PCA General Assembly includes a seminar on the age of the Earth
The June 2012 issue of the Institute for Creation Research's Acts & Facts magazine came to my mailbox this week, and the short article "Volcanoes of the Past" by John D. Morris caught my attention. The article argues that Noah's flood was a time of massive volcanic eruptions ("supervolcanoes"), and that volcanic activity on Earth is now …
Continue reading Young-Earth creationism and the intensity of volcanism
Another rapture prediction! -- Hal Lindsey was wrong (The Late Great Planet Earth). Edgar Whisenant was wrong (88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988), Harold Camping was wrong (his well-publicized prediction of the rapture in 2011). Don't worry, however, because the Bible tells us that the rapture will really be in 2014 or 2015. …
When Jesus died on the cross, according to Matthew 27, an earthquake shook the ground: "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." (NIV …
Continue reading Earthquakes and the year of Jesus’ crucifixion — still an unsolved issue
From Geology.com: Abandoned Mine and Quarry Accidents Claim 20 to 30 Lives per Year. #1 cause of death -- drowning. Drowning is the number one cause of death in abandoned mines. Most people involved in this type of accident went to a quarry for swimming. Quarries are extremely dangerous places to swim. Steep drop-offs, deep water, …
According to the Forbes magazine slideshow "15 Most Valuable College Majors," geology ranks #7, with a starting median pay of $45,300 and good job growth potential through 2020. Petroleum engineering ranks at #9. HT: Geology News
Mitt Romney's Environmental Platform -- Ummm, Mitt Romney doesn't seem to have an environmental platform. The menu at mittromney.com doesn't have "Environment" as an option. There isn't anything substantial about the environment that I could find on the site. I am a conservative, and will vote for Romney in November. But why can't we have …
From today's Astronomy Picture of the Day: NASA Dawn's Virtual Flight Over Asteroid Vesta Grace and Peace
YEC and Dispensationalism -- The discussion on my 1000th post has been interesting: the relationship between young-Earth creationism and dispensationalism. Dispensationalism is the theological system that divides salvation history into "dispensations" or periods of time in which God relates to humans in distinct ways. Usually, the last dispensation---that is, the End Times---is just around the …
Is Ansel Adams still alive and in orbit around Mars? From Astronomy Picture of the Day, April 22, 2012: Flowing Barchan Sand Dunes on Mars. Barchans are crescent-shaped sand dunes, with two horns that point downwind. They form in areas of limited sand supply; on this image you can see that the dunes occupy less than …
GeoChristian 