Creation Vs Evolution: - a Scientific View

By Selva Sugunendran

In this book you will learn about the origins of life, which has been a popular topic of debate for decades, stirring division among groups of people regarding what to believewhether a higher entity created life (the Creation) or a series of cosmic accidents (Evolution) led to life developing on Earth. In this book, Ill try to find the seemingly elusive answers to the questions involving our very origins: Where do we come from? Who or what made usa supreme being, some cosmic event, or both? What should we believe in, the Creation or Evolution? Does it matter what we choose to believe? I have attempted to look at both sides of the argument, the Creation and Evolution, fairly and scientifically without taking sides.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Sep 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514463413

Selva Sugunendran

Selva Sugunendran is a successful entrepreneur, prolific author, engineer, and researcher with a professional career that spanned twenty-five years. Presently, he enjoys using his in-depth knowledge, skill, and expertise to help others achieve success in their lives and business. Selva is an expert platinum author for a well-established article directory. He has also published twelve books. Three of them are best sellers, including a book on success which was a number 1 best seller. In addition, Selva has spent the last two years actively engaged in the study of neuroscience and associated research. He has conducted extensive study into the “origin of life” from the biblical and evolutionist perspective from an impartial outlook. The result of his research comprises the publication of five books on creation-versus-evolution debate viewed from a scientific perspective. Presently, Selva works as a consultant in business success solutions as well as Internet marketing, social media, and personal empowerment.

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Copyright © 2015 by Selva Sugunendran.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

NIV

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

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Rev. date: 09/18/2015

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CONTENTS

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION

HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CREATION AND EVOLUTION

Section II: Part I- All About Creation

Division Among Creationists

Theories Supporting Creation

Pro-Creation Theory #1: Law of Biogenesis – All Life is from Life

Pro-Creation Theory #2: Universal Decay – Everything Disintegrates over Time

Pro-Creation Theory #3: Order of Origin Between Creation, Evolution and Science

What is Intelligent Design?

Creationism Vs. Intelligent Design

Notable Proponents of Creation

Individuals

Organizations and Groups

Criticisms against Creation

Creation is Religion, Evolution is Science

Creationists are Hypocrites

Creationists Dishonestly Distort and Select Data

Many Creation Critics are Christians

Entropy Law Works Only for Closed Systems

The Bible is Written by Humans

SECTION I: PART II- ALL ABOUT EVOLUTION

Defining the Theory of Evolution

Division among Evolutionists

Theory of Evolution and Big Bang Theory

Theories Supporting Evolution

Pro-Evolution Theory #1: Species Share Similarities

Pro-Evolution Theory #2: Progression in Species Changes Over Time

Pro-Evolution Theory #3: Evolutionary Mechanisms + 3.8 Billion Years = Macroevolution

Notable Proponents of Evolution

Individuals

Organizations and Groups

Journals

Criticisms against Evolution

Evolution is a Mere Theory

Charles Darwin’s Doubts Over His Theory

The Origin of Life Remains a Mystery

Evolution is Based on Chance

Mutations are Essentially Destructive

Evolution Makes Might Right

Dichotomy or Duality of Creation (Religion) and Evolution (Science)

SECTION III: PROS AND CONS OF CREATION AND EVOLUTION

Pros of Creation

Cons of Creation

Pros of Evolution

Cons of Evolution

CONCLUSION

RESEARCH & REFERENCES

APPENDIX- A BONUS EDITION

COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON CREATION, EVOLUTION AND SCIENCE TOPICS - RELEVANT TO THIS BOOK

CONTENTS

1.  Archaeological Finds That Confirm Truths in the Bible

2.  Creationism: Evaluating the Level of Support It Receives

3.  Creationism Not in Shortage of Real and Outstanding Scientists

4.  Three Creationist Scientists of the Present Era

5.  Do You Believe That God Exists?

6.  Evolution: Evaluating the Level of Support It Receives

7.  Gap Theory: What Is It and Why Does It Matter

8.  Operational Science vs. Origins Science – Definition and Distinction

9.  Is the Earth Really Younger Than Everyone Believed?

10.  The Five Biblical Evidences That Confirm God’s Existence

11.  When and Why Good Things Became Bad

12.  Does Brother-Sister Marriage Pose Biological Risks to Offspring?

13.  Did Noah Really Build an Ark and Save the Whole of Creation from Total Annihilation?

14.  Carbon-14 Dating: Its Story, Potential and Controversies

15.  If Only Darwin Knew About DNA

16.  Origin of Races: Where Did They All Come From

17.  Top Dig Sites Where Human Fossils Were Discovered

18.  The Truth About Dinosaurs Beyond Jurassic Park

19.  Dinosaurs as a Tool for Creation Apologetics

20.  Proof That Humans and Dinosaurs Co-Existed

21.  Transitional Fossils: The Missing Evidence That Darwin Was Looking For

22.  The Continental Drift: How the Continents Drifted Apart

23.  The Ice Ages That Many May Not Know About

24.  Do Similarities between Humans and Chimps Mean Kinship?

25.  Nephilims and Aliens: Were They One and the Same

26.  Understanding the Quest for Life in Another Planet

27.  The Big Bang Theory: Its Scientific and Theological Implications

28 - 30. Creation vs. Evolution: What do they have in common?

Both are Theories

Creation as a Theory

Evolution as a Theory

Both are Religion

Both are Science

Conclusion

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all those seeking to find the seemingly elusive answers to the questions involving our very origins: Where do we come from? Who or what made us – a supreme being, some cosmic event, or both? What should we believe in – Creation or Evolution? Does it matter what we choose to believe?

IN THIS BOOK YOU

WILL LEARN ABOUT:

The origins of life has been a popular topic of debate for decades, stirring division among groups of people regarding what to believe – whether a higher entity created life (Creation) or a series of cosmic accidents (Evolution) led to life developing on Earth. Discussions often swerve from a friendly beginning and end up as an intense argument between two opposing minds, one that is rooting for religion and faith in God and one for science and faith in human intelligence.

In this book, I’ll try to find the seemingly elusive answers to the questions involving our very origins: Where do we come from? Who or what made us – a supreme being, some cosmic event, or both? What should we believe in – Creation or Evolution? Does it matter what we choose to believe?

In writing this book, I have attempted to look at both sides of the argument, creation and evolution, fairly and scientifically. I do not attempt to take sides or to draw conclusions prematurely, but to present arguments in the most reasonable and acceptable way. I also make certain to employ terms in their purest definition and stick to their proper application, making sure that I differentiate scientific facts from mere theories or dubious findings. If there are facts that support a specific standpoint, then I categorize them as such without finding fault. After all, a fact has indisputable significance, a piece of information or evidence that has profound reality and actuality and is free from dispute. Until specific information is categorically a fact, I assume it is but a theory, an opinion, or a belief that is subject to further debate and analysis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank all those who have encouraged and helped me to complete this book.

I also would like to acknowledge my close associates who have prodded and wheedled me (and often nagged me) into undertaking this huge responsibility of carrying out an 18 months research into this topic in order to produce a balanced and scientific view on this Creation vs Evolution debate.

I have not mentioned any names but you know who you are!

I have benefitted from the numerous books, articles and videos in the public domain. A list of the authors of such material are contained in the Research and References section at the end of the book. I acknowledge with gratitude the enormous value I derived in studying the works of these great men and women.

Finally, I would like to declare a special appreciation to my family for their enormous support and encouragement throughout my life.

SECTION I:

INTRODUCTION

The origins of life has been a popular topic of debate for decades, stirring division among groups of people regarding what to believe – whether a higher entity created life (Creation) or a series of cosmic accidents (Evolution) led to life developing on Earth. Discussions often swerve from a friendly beginning and end up as an intense argument between two opposing minds, one that is rooting for religion and faith in God and one for science and faith in human intelligence. The first modern battle of the two conflicting origins propositions happened in 1859 when Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species and refuted previous beliefs of a young Earth and of a God-created cosmos. The latest debate happened on February 4, 2014, when science communicator Bill Nye debated Kentucky’s Creation Museum founder and young-Earth believer Ken Ham for three long hours.

Now, I’ll try to find the seemingly elusive answers to the questions involving our very origins: Where do we come from? Who or what made us – a supreme being, some cosmic event, or both? What should we believe in – Creation or Evolution? Does it matter what we choose to believe?

Nevertheless, I recognize the length of time that has passed since the start of the debate between creation and evolution. To this point, neither camp has presented any conclusive evidence supporting their claims. I also acknowledge that neither creation nor evolution is a straightforward claim. Creation believers have divergent opinions on how God created life and the universe, evident in the emergence of many creationist sub-groups, including Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, and Neo-Creationism. These many sub-groups hold a range of underlying theological opinions and even advocate Intelligent Design.

Evolutionists, too, have different opinions regarding which scientific theories to accept. Theistic Evolutionists believe that God and creation are compatible with science and evolution; this is the view that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have supported. Agnostic Evolutionists uphold biological evolution, but are indifferent on whether God was involved in the process or not. Meanwhile, Materialistic Evolutionists believe solely in biological evolution and argue that creationism is dangerous and contradictory to science.

For the record, I believe more in the creationist side of the argument, that there is a supreme being behind the formation of the universe and life on Earth. I will explain more of why I believe this in the Pros and Cons of Creation and Evolution section and the Conclusion. However, I want you to draw your own conclusions after reading this book.

Thus, I have attempted to look at both sides of the argument, creation and evolution, fairly and scientifically. I do not attempt to take sides or to draw conclusions prematurely, but to present arguments in the most reasonable and acceptable way. I also make certain to employ terms in their purest definition and stick to their proper application, making sure that I differentiate scientific facts from mere theories or dubious findings. If there are facts that support a specific standpoint, then I categorize them as such without finding fault. After all, a fact has indisputable significance, a piece of information or evidence that has profound reality and actuality and is free from dispute. Until specific information is categorically a fact, I assume it is but a theory, an opinion, or a belief that is subject to further debate and analysis.

HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CREATION AND EVOLUTION

How did the conflict between creation and evolution start?

In the opening Introduction section, I mentioned that the greatest battle between these two differing viewpoints was during the publication of Darwin’s The Origin of Species. Note that this was not the first instance when these two theories opposed each other. Based on historical accounts, the current (but not first) conflict actually started during the rise of geology in the late 18th century.

Creationism, or Creation Science, was the belief system embraced by even the most learned people, including early scientists such as Copernicus and Galileo. It was sufficient to believe in the literal interpretation of the creation account in the Bible in order to understand one’s origin and purpose.

However, the Church of the Middle Ages (the time between the 5th and 15th centuries, A.D.) also believed in a geocentric or Earth-centered system, one promoted by Ptolemy of Alexandria (85-165 A.D.). This system claimed that Earth was the center of the universe and that the sun, moon, planets, and all of the stars in the universe revolved around the Earth.

Copernicus was the first noted scholar who had serious doubts about the Ptolemaic system. Thus, he started observing the sun and doing calculations about the Earth’s orbit. Keep in mind that Copernicus had no telescope. However, he observed enough and mathematically determined that the Church was wrong to believe in Ptolemy’s earth-centered system. Thus, he wrote a short paper summarizing his ideas and circulated it to his friends.

Knowing the Church would frown upon his new theory of the Sun, not the Earth, being the center of the universe, Copernicus didn’t allow the full mathematical description of his theory to be published until he allowed a friend to take it to Germany for printing in 1540. Three years later, on May 24, 1543, Copernicus received a published copy of his work. Later that day, he died, thus saving him from any backlash or heresy charges he may have faced from the Church for publishing such a controversial theory to the generally-accepted theory of that time on how the universe was understood to work.

Galileo, however, was not as fortunate. In late 1609 and early 1610, he confirmed the Copernican system using the telescope. He had improved the telescope’s magnification capabilities, enabling him to see sunspots and their movement on the surface of the sun. Thus, this proved that Copernicus was correct that the Earth orbited the sun and not the other way around.

Due to proving and backing the still controversial Copernican theory, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, the chief theologian of the Church at that time, ordered Galileo to not hold or defend this doctrine, though he allowed Copernicus the freedom to still discuss it as a mere mathematical supposition.

Galileo got into much bigger trouble with the Church when he published his most well-known work, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems- Ptolemaic and Copernican, in 1632. Galileo was hauled before the Inquisition in Rome on vehement suspicion of heresy. He was found guilty of backing and teaching the Copernican doctrine; due to this, he was ordered to recant on June 21, 1633. Galileo recited a formula the next day where he abjured, cursed and detested these past errors. Though his sentence was supposed to include imprisonment, due to his recanting of his past errors, the Pope commuted the sentence to house-arrest. His house is the location where Galileo spent the last eight years of his life until he died in 1642.

Evolutionary thought developed from some of the earliest civilizations in Earth’s history. The first pre-Socratic Greek philosophers, including Anaximander of Miletus (c. 610-546 BC), surmised that the earliest land-dwelling humans came from water and only spent part of their time on land. This came from the idea that the first animals lived in water during a time in Earth’s past where the planet was largely wet. Anaximander also argued that the first human must have been born from a different animal due to the fact that a human needs prolonged nursing to live. This was his effort to try to explain