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Download July 2021 INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH ICR.org JULY 2021 ACTSVOL. 50 NO. 7 FACTS & Walton’s Lost World Obscures Biblical Clarity page 4 The Fossils Still Say No: Tumultuous Triassic Tussle page 10 Acadia: The Maine Jewel Among America’s Parks page 14 Can Scientists Replace God with Nothing? page 19 Our Most Popular Creation Resources! UPDATED SECOND EDITION! CARVED IN STONE CREATION BASICS & BEYOND Geological Evidence of the An In-Depth Look at Science, Worldwide Flood Origins, and Evolution Dr. Timothy Clarey $39.99 • BCIS • Hardcover $9.99 • BCBAB2E ICR geologist Timothy Clarey utilizes In this revised and expanded edition, drill and seismic data to explain what ICR’s scientists and scholars provide a the rock strata reveal about Earth’s thorough introduction to the basic past. Rather than reflecting millions issues in the creation-evolution debate. of years, the rock record demonstrates Covering biology, geology, astronomy, that a progressive, year-long global and more, this book demonstrates that flood occurred just thousands of years not only does the scientific evidence ago. not support evolution, it strongly con- firms the biblical account of creation. THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS Guide to Creation Basics Guide to Dinosaurs A Practical Guide to Understanding BGTD Hardcover $16.99 • BGTCB • Hardcover $16.99 • • Genesis $22.99 $49.99 • BTBOB • Hardcover This comprehensive The perfect gift for 120-page guide by dinosaur fans of all ages—the most In this comprehensive com- ICR scientists and mentary, Dr. Henry M. Mor- scholars is loaded family-friendly bibli- cal dinosaur book ris III addresses the difficult with hundreds of full- issues in the Genesis record. color illustrations and ever created. Learn about the history These in-depth answers will scientific facts cover- give you confidence in your ing the basic ques- of dinosaur fossils, different dinosaur study of the Scriptures and tions in the creation- help you communicate the evolution debate. types, and man- kind’s interaction richness of Genesis to those Suitable for seekers of around you. all ages! with “dragons” after the Flood. The Book of Beginnings is also available in digital format. CREATION DVD SERIES — Buy All Four DVD Sets and Save $100! This pack includes all four major DVD series produced by ICR. $149.99 $249.96 • PDICRDVDS Unlocking the Mysteries of Uncovering the Truth about Genesis Dinosaurs (12 episodes + viewer guide) (4 episodes + viewer guide) $74.99 $129.99 • DUTMOG01 $34.99 $39.99 • DUTTAD Made in His Image: Exploring the The Universe: A Journey Through Complexities of the Human Body God’s Grand Design (4 episodes + viewer guide) (4 episodes + viewer guide) $34.99 $39.99 • DMIHI $34.99 $39.99 • DTUAJTGGD Please add shipping and handling to all orders. Offer good through July 31, 2021, while quantities last. Call 800.628.7640 or visit ICR.org/store | See our wide selection of other gifts at ICR.org/store feature 4 Walton’s Lost World Obscures Biblical VOLUME 50 NUMBER 7 Clarity JULY 2021 RANDY J. GULIUZZA, P.E., M.D. Published by research INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH P. O. Box 59029 7 Offshore Cenozoic Coal Confirms N-Q Dallas, TX 75229 4 214.615.8300 Flood Boundary ICR.org TIM CLAREY, PH .D. Acts & Facts is a free publication. impact For subscription information, call 800.337.0375, 10 The Fossils Still Say No: Tumultuous visit ICR.org/subscriptions, Triassic Tussle or write to ICR at the above address. JEFFREY P. TOMKINS, PH .D. EXECUTIVE EDITOR 10 back to genesis Jayme Durant 13 Dinosaurs: Delightful Dragons SENIOR EDITOR JAKE HEBERT, PH .D. Beth Mull EDITORS park series Michael Stamp 14 Acadia: The Maine Jewel Among Christy Hardy Lori Fausak America’s Parks JAMES J. S. JOHNSON, J.D., TH .D., AND DESIGNER 14 TIM CLAREY, PH .D. Dennis Davidson No articles may be reprinted in whole or in 18 The Plate Twirler and Our Solar System part without obtaining permission from ICR. MICH A E L S T A MP Copyright © 2021 Institute for Creation Research creation q & a All Scripture quotations are from the New King 19 Can Scientists Replace God with James Version unless otherwise indicated. Nothing? 20 SCOTT ARLEDGE apologetics Front cover: Coelophysis Image credit: BigStock 20 Grasshopper Apologetics: No Need to Get Jumpy JAMES J. S. JOHNSON, J.D., TH .D. stewardship 21 A Prayer for ICR MICH A E L S T A MP creation kids 23 Moon 23 CHRISTY HARDY AND SUSAN WINDSOR JULY 2021 | ACTS & FACTS 50 (7) | ICR.ORG 3 RANDY J. GULIUZZA, P.E., M.D. Walton’s Lost ow, that was as clear as mud!” throw into shadow: darken.” It adds that “ is an exclamation we’ve heard the word is related to “obscure” and that before. We picture a frustrated obfuscation is a practice of being “evasive, N person having just heard a World Obscures unclear, or confusing.”2 In Walton’s case, convoluted account where, despite their his accounts obscure or distort the mean- best efforts, they can’t figure out what a ing of the words in Genesis away from speaker is trying to say. We chalk such Biblical Clarity how they would normally be understood episodes up as the unintentional conse- in common usage. He does this first by quence of the speaker’s hasty thinking or a lack of experience in com- his claims that the intended meaning of Genesis cannot ever truly be municating. known by anyone except the original author, and second through his But how do we explain the experience where our clear under- habitual use of ambiguous language. standing of a topic has been thoroughly muddied by the end of a talk In addition, Walton does not teach that Christians can reliably or a book? Christians who have read some of The Lost World series arrive at a correct biblical interpretation by giving the words their nor- of books by Dr. John Walton of Wheaton College have complained mal meaning in their normal context. He insists that outside informa- to me that, in effect, their formerly clear understanding of Genesis tion supplied by historians or scientists is essential. Thus, his teaching has now been turned to mud.1 These are only anecdotal accounts. I is contrary to the doctrine of biblical clarity. would never imply they can be extrapolated to a generalization of Obfuscation can be unintentional such as coming from a con- everyone’s experience with Walton’s materials. But I’ve heard enough fused child or intentional such as with a criminal trying to thwart the from some very thoughtful people that I needed to read Walton’s police with a bewildering alibi. Does Dr. Walton intend to obscure the material to see why it’s having this effect on some people. normal understanding of the historical accounts in Genesis to make The explanations of Genesis them compatible with today’s con- contained in Walton’s writings, article highlights sensus of evolutionary thought? in my view, constitute a clas- Obfuscate means to darken or confuse. Dr. John Walton Only the Lord Jesus knows his sic illustration of the practice darkens the Genesis narrative by claiming the text is clear intentions. of obfuscation. Pronouncing only to its original human author and the people from that However, looking strictly that word leaves someone a bit era and culture. at outcomes, we ask: Is the in- tongue-tied. That’s altogether He twists the meaning and even questions the inspiration of tended meaning of Genesis the text in his effort to force Genesis to align with his belief fitting. The result of a concept obscured by Walton’s writings? in theistic evolution. being obfuscated for someone Biblical inspiration and clarity go hand in hand—Christians Yes, it is. Using Walton’s ap- is that their understanding of it can understand the Bible by giving the words their normal proach, Genesis is now com- has also been tied up in knots. meaning and context. patible with his belief in theistic Merriam-Webster says the verb evolution. We’ll review a few obfuscate means “to examples of how that happens and why Walton’s conclusions are incompatible with biblical Christian faith. Walton Obscures Genesis with Professional Jargon Explanations that are chock-full of professional jargon—uncommon words that most people don’t know—are a powerful means of obfuscation. Even though laypeople may not fully under- stand what a professional person says, for many of them jargon sounds both 4 ICR.ORG | ACTS & FACTS 50 (7) | JULY 2021 JULY 2021 | ACTS & FACTS 50 (7) | ICR.ORG impressive and intimidating. So, they tend voluted explanation of his central theme. not to question what a professional says He says: and, by faith, defer to their expertise. Those who take the Bible seriously be- In Walton’s case, his professional jar- lieve that God has inspired the locu- gon consists of his appeal to the ancient tions (words, whether spoken or writ- writings of Near Eastern people groups that ten) that the communicator has used supposedly lived contemporaneously with to accomplish their joint (divine + biblical writers. For Walton these writings human) illocutions (which lead to an (and his interpretations) are extremely im- understanding of intentions, claims, affirmations and, ultimately, meaning) portant. When introducing The Lost World but that the foundational locutions are of Adam and Eve, he explains, “In recent decades, the availability of tied to the communicator’s world. That is, God has made ac- documents from the ancient world has provided a remarkable re- commodation to the high-context communication between the source for our reading of the biblical text. We dare not neglect these implied communicators and their implied audience, so as to op- tools when they can contribute so significantly to our interpretation.”3 timize and facilitate the transmission of meaning via an authori- Most people cannot read or access Near Eastern writings.
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