Who were our Human Ancestors?

by Brian Mariani

Model of Neanderthal Man, at one time thought to be human ancestors
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/feb/04/neanderthals-modern-humans-research

Were our early ancestors ape-like creatures and dumb cavemen or were they fully formed human beings created intelligently? Why do people think humans evolved from animals?

While an evolutionist would defend the ape-to-human evolution paradigm, citing various pieces of “evidence” throughout history and describing multiple transitional species along the long journey to homo sapiens, we believe that the correct interpretation of Scripture rules out all that conjecture.

Drawing Worldview Conclusions

Reactions to the Ken Ham / Bill Nye debate
By Don Landis

Now that the big debate is over everyone is dialoguing over the different issues and evidence, but the stage is set plainly with a choice between two worldviews.

1. Believe there is a God who created all things 
2. Believe that everything came about on its own, through naturalistic processes

If you choose to believe in God, there are solid, absolute grounds for values, morality, purpose, equality and hope.

If you choose to believe in evolution and naturalistic processes, then you are willingly believing that you are the product of chance, thoughtless, relative chance. In this world there can be no authoritative right or wrong, no absolutes, no morality, and no equality between sexes or colors of skin.

Mr. Nye wanted a prediction. Here it is: Believe in evolution (his worldview woven with evolution, relativism and humanism), and the culture that follows you will have no morals, no values, no self-worth, no true equality between man and woman or black and white, no understanding of why there is evil and abuse, no purpose for living other than self, no foundation for love or compassion of others, and no hope or future. According to your beliefs, after your very short years you will die and rot and your consciousness will cease to exist. You have no one to quote but yourself Mr. Nye; if this is the case, your opinions are worthless and, by your own admission, meaningless.

If this is what the evolutionary worldview is selling, why on earth would I buy into it??

As a creationist and Christian, I "sell" a product that brings absolutes by which to live, since there is an immutable (unchanging) God. I have a base for true human value since we are made in His image. I have a base for equality since man and woman are both made in His image. I have a base for equality of tribes since all men are of one blood. I have a purpose for taking care of the world since we understand we are stewards of God's creation. I have meaning and purpose in life since there is reward now and after death. I have hope for the future since Jesus has conquered death and we will live forever with Him.

We heard Mr. Nye refer several times to things he thinks we should do. He felt troubled and unsettled over Ken's views. But upon what basis can he claim anything being right or wrong? The feeling of angst he felt shows he is making a judgment call. He wants to advance science to get ahead of other countries? To help us be a leader? To aid the economy? What moral promises and personal desires he shows here!

He condemns Ken, asking why we are to believe what Ken says, but at the same time he expects people to accept what he and "mainstream scientists" claim, to be truth. He has placed himself and other fallible human beings as the authority to determine absolute truth. He says that he will not believe anything that he cannot see with his own eyes - he has truly made himself the real authority.

If he was honest he would have to allow even in his own scheme of thinking that, just as it took time for Pasteur's views of germs to overcome the "mainstream" scientists and doctors of his day to see the truth, perhaps Ken has evolved to a higher state than Nye and the rest of the scientists pack.

Thank you Ken and keep up the good work.

Here on this blog we will continue to present evidence that confirms the authority and absolute accuracy of the Bible. Please feel free to explore our other posts and contact us with any questions!

An Answer to the Mysteries

A Response to the Ken Ham / Bill Nye Debate
By Analea Styles

As I watched the debate last night I was struck by the very real joy that Bill Nye has for science and discovery. No one can deny that Bill Nye, “The Science Guy”, has a deep passion for learning about the universe and desperately wants to figure things out “scientifically”. He mentioned that one of our greatest questions is “Why are we here?” In fact he was keen on pointing out that mankind has many big questions about life, the universe, and origins – things we don’t understand and he willingly admitted, “I want to know”.

Well, I think we would all agree that we also “want to know”. And the history of mankind testifies that we have a deep inner yearning to discover and learn. We know there is something more out there; there are great mysteries that we are eager to solve. Nye often used that very word, “mystery”. He claimed, “We go to work everyday to try to solve the mystery of the universe”. He admitted that consciousness is “a great mystery” to him and emphasized that it is the “joy of discovery” that drives humanity.

Indeed mankind has been driven to develop multiple fields of science through which to investigate the world, invent new technologies, and explore new places. We can all relate Bill’s enthusiasm for discovery, at least in part.

For Bill, these discoveries and answers must come from the natural world. He puts his faith in the “reasonable man”, believing that mankind can and will discover the answers on his own, in time, through mainstream scientific methods. Bill rejects any hint of the supernatural and said that for him, natural selection is “compelling and wonderful and fills [him] with joy.” But it can’t answer his biggest questions. And in the end, science can’t save “for the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God” (1 Cor. 3:19).

However, as believers, we can find the answers to many of these “mysteries” and deep questions that have plagued mankind. For Paul tells us in Colossians 2 that Jesus Christ is the great mystery “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3).

“For by Him all things were created, in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1: 16-17).

I love how Ken Ham repeatedly pointed to God’s Word as the answer. We do not back down on the reality that we base our beliefs on FAITH in God and His perfect Word. We have our confidence in Him. We know the compelling and wonderful truth of the Bible, the true joy that comes from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), faith in God (Romans 15:13), and salvation in Christ (Psalm 51:12)!

If you have questions like Bill Nye; if you love to discover and ache to find the answers to those big questions of life; if you find that the naturalistic and materialistic response of secular science doesn’t solve the mysteries in your soul, I will join Ken Ham in saying “there’s a Book out there” which has the answers. And we pray “ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17).


Read more of our debate responses: 

• The Proper Way to Engage - Matthew Zuk
• Drawing Worldview Conclusions - Pastor Don Landis

Was Noah's Ark Round??

By Analea Styles 

You may have seen the recent news about a newly translated artifact that supposedly sheds light on the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.

According to headlines, “the original Noah’s Ark…was round”[1]. This Fox News article goes on to promote the assumption that the biblical account of Noah’s ark is a more recent, rewritten, and unreliable version of older historical accounts.

The tablet on display at the British Museum
http://nypost.com/2014/01/24/4000-year-old-tablet-suggests-noahs-ark-was-round/

Irving Finkel, the man who translated the “4,000 year-old” tablet, states, “I am sure the story of the flood and a boat to rescue life is a Babylonian invention”[2]. There are many secular historians who would agree with him – that the biblical account of the worldwide flood was written after the Jews went into exile in Babylon. Historians claim that the Jewish people heard the tale of the global flood while they were living there and later added it to their own Scriptures.

Gears from the Ancients

By Bethany Youngblood    

          

Byzantine sundial-cum-calendar
 http://mediumaevum.tumblr.com/post/31263384884/
byzantine-sundial-cum-calendar-5th-6th
 

Gears and ancient man do not sound like two compatible subjects for a conversation. They just don't seem to mix within the mainstream view that ancient man lacked the intelligence to accomplish anything we see as modern or advanced.

But is it so out of proportion to think that the mathematical and mechanical knowledge necessary to construct something as common to us as a clock is limited only to our modern era? In reality this knowledge might simply be a rediscovered practice from our past. In other words, perhaps we forgot and have now relearned how to use this mathematical and mechanical knowledge.

Even inhabitants of the ancient world had to keep track of time. Don't you think they could have worked out ways to physically display it, like we do with our wristwatches today? Is it possible that they had actual mechanical devices to measure time, not just a sundial or an hourglass? There is fantastic evidence for just this, another marvel of ancient man's intelligence.

Timelines and Perspectives: Timelines of History

By Brian Mariani

How many religions do you think there are there in the world? Millions? Thousands? Hundreds? A dozen?

Timelines and Perspectives: Contrasting Naturalism and Biblical Creation

By Brian Mariani

In the last post (Defining our Terms and Checking our Biases), we defined some terminology and explained that even in science, subjectivity, bias, and personal opinion are unavoidable. Now let’s look at some examples showing the radical effects of those different perspectives even when looking at the same data.

Timelines and Perspectives: Defining our Terms and Checking our Bias

By Brian Mariani

In the study of Ancient Man, Creation vs Evolution, or any other controversial scientific or historical topic, terminology can be confusing and misleading. As we have mentioned before, presuppositions can also make these discussions unclear and hard to follow. 

In this 3-part series, we will discuss Naturalism and Biblical Creation, contrasting their beliefs, biases, and interpretations of evidence. This will make our position clear and defend the foundation of our point of view.