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Science Destroys the Evolutionary Paradigm

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Science Destroys the Evolutionary Paradigm SCIENCE DESTROYS THE EVOLUTIONARY PARADIGM An Inservice Manual for Young-Earth Creationists Free Images – Snappygoat.com Materialistic Naturalism, an Immoral and Incoherent Philosophy!!! Dr. Jim Pagels – 4/18/2018 1 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:9-11 This book along with its predecessors including Apologetic Resources, Lesson Plans for Biblical Apologetics and Touching Lives through Apologetics, a Counseling Perspective are offered free for personal and professional use in ministry, being available as downloads on the Michigan District website under schools-curriculum. Scriptural references are typically taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) although the King James Version (KJV) is also periodically utilized. 2 Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………..…….5 Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………...6 Intended Audience ……………………………………………………………………………....8 Inservice Perspective……….…………………………………………………………….……..9 Inservice Questionnaire……………………………………………………………..…………10 1. Evolution, an Attack on the Supernatural Nature of God…………………………………..21 2. In Search of Truth…………………………………………………………………………..23 3. Creation Apologetics, Simple for Some, Incomprehensible to Others………..……..…….35 4. Two Typical Approaches to Young Earth Creationism……………………………………38 5. The Absolute Veracity of the Supernatural…………………….…………………………..40 6. A Tactical Approach to Creationism………………………….………………………..…..43 7. Design Features Relating to Man……………………………………..…………………….49 8. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree…………………………………………………………….…..51 9. The Foundational Validity and Reliability of Scripture…………...……………………….58 10. The Power of the Supernatural in Refuting Evolution…………..…………….………….60 . 11. God’s Goodness in the Face of Man’s Pain and Suffering………..………………………65 12. Purposeful Apologetics……………………………………………………………….…..67 3 Appendices A – Answers to the Inservice Questionnaire………………………………….……….70 B – Additional Apologetic References………………………………………….……..81 C – Apologetic Sources to Augment a Religion/Science Curriculums…………..……83 D – Sample Lesson Plan – Offered as a download in Lesson Plans for Biblical Apologetics at the LCMS Michigan District website at Schools – Curriculum…..85 E – Instructor Version of Selected Genesis 1-11Thoughts along with Salient Excerpts from Science Destroys the Evolutionary Paradigm……..………………88 F – Student Version of Selected Genesis 1-11Thoughts along with Salient Excerpts from Science Destroys the Evolutionary Paradigm……………………….94 G – Cliff Notes for Science Destroys the Evolutionary Paradigm..………………….103 H – Key Aspects of the Creation and Global Flood Narratives………………………114 I – Apologetic-related Scripture References………………………………..…….…..121 Glossary……………………………………………………………………………….…..…..124 Biographical Sketch…………………………………………………………………..……....128 4 Acknowledgements Sincere appreciation is offered to John Fricke, former science professor at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has shared his professional expertise, articulate proof reading skills and helpful reflections regarding this and previous works. A thank you is also extended to Kathy Krause for her expertise in providing a final proofing to this document. This writer has found it most interesting how the gifts and life experiences of various writers add substance and depth to the creation-evolution worldview conflict discussed in this product. Many thanks also go out to my wife, Doris, who has been supportive in my efforts and time involvement with various projects and with whose help I have grown immensely in regard to my proof reading skills. Additionally, at this time in history, we are blessed by the abundance the many excellent professional creationism sources offered by young Earth ministries including, but not limited to Answers in Genesis (AiG), Creation Ministries International (CMI) and the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). The writings of the following young Earth creationists have been most helpful in expanding the creation-evolution conversation beyond a conflict involving endless comparisons and contrasts between the biblical narrative and the pseudo-science of materialistic naturalism. These works include the in-depth handling of From Atheism to Christianity by Joel Heck, professor of theology at Concordia University, Austin, TX, who dealt with C.S. Lewis’ life-long search for truth; the works of Jason Lisle including The Ultimate Proof of Creation, Logic and Faith, etc.; Brad Alles’, professor of theology at Concordia University, Mequon, WI, Life’s Big Questions God’s Big Answers; Norman Geisler and Frank Turek’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist; and Tim LaHaye, for his many excellent works on creationism and temperament. 5 Preface The primary concern for the writing of this book is the loss of our youth to the humanism that permeates our society. This evolutionary indoctrination begins with children’s cartoons and the loveable characters of Burt and Ernie and Bob the Builder and extends into the textbooks used by most children with America. Secular colleges represent the finishing school for many who seek degrees in the sciences. With the concerted efforts of skeptics, evolution is offered as a fact and those opposing this view are pictured as ignorant, if not just plain stupid. This technique of demeaning the opposition is frequently used by those who would choose not to actually discuss the issue. Unfortunately, the narratives of creation and global flood accounts in Genesis are not upheld in a majority of the Christian churches of America; furthermore, simply embracing the foundational theology within one’s confessions and periodically mentioning the Creator, Designer and Law Giver of the universe does little to refute the day to day “drum beat” of evolution’s proponents. The simple fact is that evolution is not based on science, but is a philosophy [religion] created by man designed to denigrate the Scriptural narrative. None of the four pillars of evolution (the pre-existence of matter, chance events leading to design, nature being a force in its own right in the emergence and ascendancy of life finally resulting in man and the deceptive perspective that “given enough time anything can happen”) have any basis in science. The pivotal question is what one key point will undermine the foundation of the pseudo-science of evolution. The answer this this question is quite simple! Since skeptics claim that nature provides the only compelling force in the universe responsible for the evolutionary process, contrary to this misrepresentation is the fact the supernatural exists outside of Scriptures as exemplified by the design in the universe, in nature and in mankind. This fact represents a checkmate position for creationists since the evolutionary paradigm is solely based on denying the existence of the supernatural and God. Obviously, volumes of young Earth research and rebuttal exists on a plethora of topics, e.g., dinosaurs, the Ice Age and Ape Men etc., and being knowledgeable of the evidence enhances the refutation of the Darwinian scheme; however, the starting point in this battle is the matter of understanding the basics regarding the supposed science related to the evolutionary storyline. This is the primary purpose of this offering. Understand that this product does not spend time or energy on areas indigenous to the ministry to our children, teens and adults, e.g., Bible stories and the emphasis of law and Gospel found in the theology offered in sermons and Bible classes. The point of the material in this book is that Christians need to confront and refute the false philosophies of our time just as was the case with Paul as reported in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and 6 empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” In contrast, Christ documented the truth of the Old Testament and his message in John 10:35 “The Scripture cannot be broken” and John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Efforts to harmonize “millions of years,” based on the reasoning and theories of man in opposition to the truth of Scripture, is fraught with numerous problems ultimately resulting in perceived incoherence within Scripture and therefore destabilizing the Christian message. In spite of the complications caused by the theistic evolution perspective, it is important to realize that God’s message as contained in Habakkuk 2:4 and Romans 1:17, namely “The just will live by their faith,” illustrates that it is faith alone that is the sole requirement for salvation. So although young Earth creationists sharply disagree with our old Earth creationist brethren, this does not mean that it is being suggested that their faith in Christ Jesus does not represent saving faith. As this writer reflects on this work, it would appear to take on the three dimensions: theology, science and psychology, all melded into a singular product. 7 Intended Audience The specific purpose of this document is to offer a resource for inservice to be used by professional church workers, i.e.,
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