How Do You

Know What

You Know?

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Evolution is Science…

Creation is Religion.

What Most People Think:What Most People Think:

Initial Disorganization withlater increase in complexityand unlimited diversification

Not just change, but change in thedirection of increasing complexity.

TI

ME

Evolutionary “Tree”All life came from one simple cell

EvolutionEvolution

Initial Complexity withlater deterioration and

diversification within limits

Creationist “Forest”All life came from multiple complex ancestors.

TI

ME

CreationCreation

Materialistic(Atheistic)Evolution

Everything evolved by purely natural processes

TheisticEvolution

God used evolution as His method of creating

2 General Models of Evolution:2 General Models of Evolution:

Neo-Darwinism:Evolution occurred

slowly and gradually.

Many have abandoned this belief because of the fossil evidence.

Punctuated Equilibria:Evolution occurred in

sudden jumps.

The biological evidence against this belief is overwhelming.

2 Specific Models AboutEvolution of Living Things2 Specific Models About

Evolution of Living Things

Recent Rapid Creation(perhaps within the last 10,000 years)

The Gap Theory(creation and ruin in the distant past, recent re-creation)

Progressive Creation of the “Day-Age” Theory(creation spread out over billions of years – really a theistic version of Punctuated Equilibria evolution)

Recent Rapid Creation(perhaps within the last 10,000 years)

The Gap Theory(creation and ruin in the distant past, recent re-creation)

Progressive Creation of the “Day-Age” Theory(creation spread out over billions of years – really a theistic version of Punctuated Equilibria evolution)

3 Varieties of Creation3 Varieties of Creation

1. Define the problem. What do you want to know?(e.g. “Does music affect how plants grow?”)

2. Gather information on the subject.3. Formulate a hypothesis.4. Devise a way to test the hypothesis.5. Observe the results of your test.6. Report the results so others can

repeat the test.

1. Define the problem. What do you want to know?(e.g. “Does music affect how plants grow?”)

2. Gather information on the subject.3. Formulate a hypothesis.4. Devise a way to test the hypothesis.5. Observe the results of your test.6. Report the results so others can

repeat the test.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Present +Repeatable+Observable =

SCIENCE

Present +Repeatable+Observable =

SCIENCE

Past +Non-Repeatable+

Eyewitness Account =HISTORY

Past +Non-Repeatable+

Eyewitness Account =HISTORY

Past +Non-Repeatable+

No Eyewitnesses =BELIEF

Past +Non-Repeatable+

No Eyewitnesses =BELIEF

What TV and Textbooks Show Us…What TV and Textbooks Show Us…

a bunch of jumbled up bone fragments

that we put together and make up stories about!

What We Actually Find….What We Actually Find….

1. Overall trends and tendencies in nature.

2. Observable processes.

3. Processes and events that left direct evidence.

Things We Can Test ScientificallyThings We Can Test Scientifically

1. The identity or motivation of whoever or whatever brought the universe into existence.

2. Morality and meaning.

3. Specific details such as the names of the first humans, what they wore, what they liked to eat, etc.

Things We Can’tThings We Can’t

is a Religion Based on Revelation

is a Religion Based onSpeculation

CreationCreation EvolutionEvolution

Characteristics of GodCharacteristics of God1. Only seen by what He does – INVISIBLE.2. Established natural laws, so is not subject

to those laws – SUPERNATURAL.3. Preceded the universe – ETERNAL.4. Influence extends throughout the universe

– OMNIPRESENT.5. Directly or indirectly responsible for

everything that has ever happened – OMNIPOTENT.

6. Nobody made Him – SELF-EXISTENT.

Characteristics of Random ChanceCharacteristics of Random Chance

1. Only seen by what it does – INVISIBLE.

2. Established natural laws, so is not subject to those laws – SUPERNATURAL.

3. Preceded the universe – ETERNAL.

4. Influence extends throughout the universe – OMNIPRESENT.

5. Directly or indirectly responsible for everything that has ever happened – OMNIPOTENT.

6. Nobody made it – SELF-EXISTENT.

Romans Chapter 1

• For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against allungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

• Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

• For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

• Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

• Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

• And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans Chapter 1

• For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against allungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

• Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

• For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

• Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

• Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

• And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

How Can I Be SureGod Exists?

How Can I Be SureGod Exists?

A. If you believe in the God of the Bible, and you areright, you can spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

B. If you are wrong, you will never know it.

C. If you believe in Random Chance, and you are right, nothing matters anyway.

D. If you’re wrong, you are headed for an eternal hell.

A. If you believe in the God of the Bible, and you areright, you can spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

B. If you are wrong, you will never know it.

C. If you believe in Random Chance, and you are right, nothing matters anyway.

D. If you’re wrong, you are headed for an eternal hell.

God or Random Chance?God or Random Chance?

The Bible says that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son to die for your sins.

Which step of faith makes more sense?

Only 3 of the world’s“Holy Books”

specifically claimto be divinely inspired:

The BibleThe Koran

The Book of Mormon

Only 3 of the world’s“Holy Books”

specifically claimto be divinely inspired:

The BibleThe Koran

The Book of Mormon

“Holy Books”“Holy Books”

If man evolved from apes, yourbrain evolvedfrom an apebrain…

If your brainevolved from anape brain, yourlogic evolved fromape logic…

If man evolved from apes, yourbrain evolvedfrom an apebrain…

If your brainevolved from anape brain, yourlogic evolved fromape logic…

How do you know it evolved right?

Maybe you’re not even asking the right questions!

How do you know it evolved right?

Maybe you’re not even asking the right questions!

What is the meaningof bananas?

What is the meaningof bananas?

Ape WisdomApe Wisdom