In the Beginning: Science In the Beginning: Science and Genesis 1-11and Genesis 1-11

““If the foundations are destroyed, If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?“ Psalm what can the righteous do?“ Psalm

11:311:3

As medical doctors we are skeptical of the As medical doctors we are skeptical of the

claims for the ability of random mutation claims for the ability of random mutation

and natural selection to account for the and natural selection to account for the

origination and complexity of life and we origination and complexity of life and we

therefore dissent from Darwinian therefore dissent from Darwinian

macroevolution as a viable theory. macroevolution as a viable theory.

USF Sun Dome 9 06USF Sun Dome 9 06

What Darwin Didn’t KnowWhat Darwin Didn’t Know January 2008 January 2008

17th

19th

21st

23rd25th

Portland/Vancouver 11 Portland/Vancouver 11 0808

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginning, God created the In the beginning, God created the

heavens and the earth.”heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 11:9Genesis 11:9

““Therefore its name was called Babel, Therefore its name was called Babel,

because there the Lord confused the because there the Lord confused the

language of the whole earth; and from language of the whole earth; and from

there the Lord scattered them abroad there the Lord scattered them abroad

over the face of the whole earth.”over the face of the whole earth.”

Class ScheduleClass Schedule

Jan 23 – IntroductionJan 23 – Introduction Jan 30 – IntroductionJan 30 – Introduction

Feb 6 –No ClassFeb 6 –No Class Feb 13 –Introduction/Gen Feb 13 –Introduction/Gen 1:1 Feb 20 – Gen 1:2-101:1 Feb 20 – Gen 1:2-10 Feb 27 – Prayer MeetingFeb 27 – Prayer Meeting Mar 6 – Gen 1:11-19Mar 6 – Gen 1:11-19 Mar 13 –Gen 1:20-25Mar 13 –Gen 1:20-25 Mar 20 –Gen 1:20-25 Mar 20 –Gen 1:20-25 Cont’dCont’d Mar 27 – Easter BreakMar 27 – Easter Break Apr 3 – Gen 1:26-31Apr 3 – Gen 1:26-31 Apr 10 –Gen 5Gen 5 Apr 17 – Gen 7:1-20Apr 17 – Gen 7:1-20 Apr 24 Apr 24 –Gen 7:1-20Gen 7:1-20 May 1 – May 1 – Gen 7:21-24 May 8 –Gen 9:18-19 & May 8 –Gen 9:18-19 & 11:911:9

Gen 10:25Gen 10:25 May 15 – Overview (Final May 15 – Overview (Final

Class)Class)

In the Beginning:Science and Genesis 1-11

Rich AkinLakeside Community

ChapelJanuary-May 2013

Is there compelling evidence for Is there compelling evidence for evolution?evolution?

New Atheism:New Atheism:

“…“…is the belief that religion should not is the belief that religion should not

simply be tolerated but should be simply be tolerated but should be

countered, criticized, and exposed by countered, criticized, and exposed by

rational argument wherever its influence rational argument wherever its influence

arises. Proponents of New Atheism argue arises. Proponents of New Atheism argue

that recent scientific advancements that recent scientific advancements

demand a less accommodating attitude demand a less accommodating attitude

toward religion, superstition, and religious toward religion, superstition, and religious

fanaticism than had traditionally been fanaticism than had traditionally been

extended by many secularists.”extended by many secularists.”

Evolutionist Philosopher Daniel Dennett:

Darwinian evolution is “a Darwinian evolution is “a universal aciduniversal acid; it ; it

eats through just about every traditional eats through just about every traditional

concept and leaves in its wake a concept and leaves in its wake a revolutionized revolutionized

world-viewworld-view.”.”

That worldview is Materialism

Christopher HitchensChristopher Hitchens

““the tenets of organized religion the tenets of organized religion

are nothing more than the are nothing more than the

“delusions” of humankind “delusions” of humankind

needed to sustain our desire for needed to sustain our desire for

pageantry and meaning.”pageantry and meaning.”

Science Books???Science Books???

The God HypothesisThe God Hypothesis

Conflicting WorldviewsConflicting Worldviews

Without a Biblical worldview, there is no basis Without a Biblical worldview, there is no basis

for knowledge and therefore the evolutionist’s for knowledge and therefore the evolutionist’s

worldview is irrational.worldview is irrational.

Matthew 12:30:Matthew 12:30:

““He who is not with Me is against Me; and he He who is not with Me is against Me; and he

who does not gather with Me scatters.”who does not gather with Me scatters.”

The Ultimate Proof of The Ultimate Proof of CreationCreation

““The ultimate proof of creation is The ultimate proof of creation is

this: if biblical creation were not this: if biblical creation were not

true, we could not know anythingtrue, we could not know anything

(italics his)! This proof can be stated (italics his)! This proof can be stated

in a number of different ways, but in a number of different ways, but

what it really comes down to is this:”what it really comes down to is this:”

“…“…only the Christian worldview only the Christian worldview

(starting with a literal Genesis) can (starting with a literal Genesis) can

rationally make sense of the rationally make sense of the

universe. Only if biblical creation is universe. Only if biblical creation is

true can we have genuine knowledge true can we have genuine knowledge

about anything.”about anything.”

““The argument is that the Bible’s The argument is that the Bible’s

account of origins (along with its account of origins (along with its

other accounts) must be other accounts) must be truetrue. Only . Only

the God described in the Bible can the God described in the Bible can

provide the foundation for the things provide the foundation for the things

we take for granted.” we take for granted.”

““Without God’s Word, we would not have Without God’s Word, we would not have

a good reason to believe in the a good reason to believe in the

preconditions of intelligibility: the basic preconditions of intelligibility: the basic

reliability of memory and senses, laws of reliability of memory and senses, laws of

logic, uniformity of nature, morality, logic, uniformity of nature, morality,

personal dignity and freedom, and so on.”personal dignity and freedom, and so on.”

Naturalism (Nature is all Naturalism (Nature is all there is):there is):

You are the product of random, natural You are the product of random, natural

processes that did not have you in mind.processes that did not have you in mind.

There are no absolutes!There are no absolutes!

Why should we take seriously what the Bible says Why should we take seriously what the Bible says over any other “religious” book?over any other “religious” book?

Aren’t science and religion separate disciplines Aren’t science and religion separate disciplines that do not involve each other?that do not involve each other?

Isn’t Genesis just an allegory and not intended to Isn’t Genesis just an allegory and not intended to be read as a narrative of how the earth and all be read as a narrative of how the earth and all that is in it was created?that is in it was created?

Don’t the days indicated in Genesis Chapter 1 Don’t the days indicated in Genesis Chapter 1 really mean long periods of time and not literal,really mean long periods of time and not literal,

24-hour days? And what about the Gap theory -24-hour days? And what about the Gap theory -billions of years passed between Gen 1:1 and 1:2? billions of years passed between Gen 1:1 and 1:2?