From: Wesley R. Elsberry Posted: 18 Sep 94 12:24
To : Arthur Biele
Subj: SciCre
[Quote]
The scientific creationists themselves are men and women who have
acquired all the standard credentials of the scientist, but who
maintain that creation explains the facts of science better than
evolution does. To them it is not primarily a question of religion
(after all, people can be religious and moral while stili believing in
evolution), but of science. They are convinced that the creation
model correlates the scientific data more effectively. Although
creationism is still a minority viewpoint among scientists, all
scientists owe it to themselves and to society in general to keep an
open mind. The majority belief is not always the correct belief, and
what one believes about origins determines to a large degree what he
believes about most other major issues in life.
[End quote - Henry M. Morris, 1977, 'The scientific case for creation',
p. 2]
[Quote]
One theory involves the assumption of an initial special
creation of all things out of nothing. It also involves
catastrophic intervention in the normal processes of nature
on at least one occasion in history subsequent to the
primeval creation.
Assumed within the second theory, currently the more
popular of the two, is the uniform operation of all natural
laws and processes from past eternity. It is also assumed
that these uniform processes accomplished the evolution of
all things from primeval simplicity and randomness in
eternity past (and thus that matter or energy in some form
has always existed) to their present status of intricate com-
plexity and high organization. Thus the one theory, which in
this book is called scientific creationism and catastrophism,
represents the belief in an eternal Creator who created all
things ex nihilo. The other called evolutionary uniformi-
mrianism, postulates the natural development of all things
by innate processes of eternal matter.
[End quote - Boardman, Koontz, & Morris, 1973, 'Science and
creation', pp. 13-14.]
[Quote]
There is one theory, of course, that does fit all the known
facts of physics, chemistry, and astronomy without excep-
tion. Furthermore it is the simplest and most direct system
of cosmogony that could be devised. For this reason alone it
should be considered the most probably correct theory. In
addition, it is the theory which follows most naturally from
the implications of the two universal laws of thermo-
dynamics.
This is the theory of special creation. By this theory. the
universe in all its amazing size, variety and complexity
came into existence at some time in the past (possibly quite
recently) completely and perfectly functioning throughout,
during a period of direct creation by its omnipotent and
eternal Creator.
This Creator has in His works of creation manifested
His power and deity so that all men who refuse to ac-
knowledge the Creator and worship Him are, in the words
of Romans 1:20, "without excuse." Especially are men
inexcusable because they have rebelled against the God
of Creation. made their own false gods, and corrupted
themselves by sin. and thus brought themseives under
the just wrath and condemnation of God.
But the God manifested in creation has also revealed
Himself through His Word in the Scriptures of the Bible.
Moreover he has revealed Himself personally in His
Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, we are told in the open-
ing verses of John's gospel and of the Epistle to the
Hebrews, is the Creator by whom and for whom the
Father made all things, Lord and heir to all crea-
tion. But He is especially the Saviour and Lord of the
Church for which He died.
The ultimate putpose of this book is not merely to per-
suade the reader that evolutionary theory is false science
and that the biblical record of creation is true.
Rather the purpose is above all to exalt the
Son of God and direct to Him the faith. devotion
and adoration of all who turn the pages of this
volume in search of the Way, the Truth and the
Life.
[End quote - Boardman, Koontz, & Morris, 1973, 'Science and
creation', p. 197]
Could you be more specific in how I have misrepresented the
definition of 'scientific creationism'? Actual references would
be helpful.
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Message #254 [Evolutionary Theory Discussion]
From: Wesley R. Elsberry Posted: 18 Sep 94 12:34
To : All
Subj: ICR statement of faith
Date: Wed Jun 23 1993 23:43:00
From: Scott Faust
To: All
Subj: Icr Oath 1/2
Attr:
evolution -------------------------------
The Institute for Creation Research began in 1970 as a division of
Christian Heritage College, the later established by Henry Morris,
Tim LaHaye and Scott Memorial Baptist Church (of San Diego, CA) as
"the first college in modern times formed in order to provide a
liberal arts education based specifically on strict Biblical
creationism and full Biblical controls in all courses." (Henry M.
Morris. _History of Modern Creationism_. Master Books Publishers,
1984; p.222.)
Below is the ICR's statement of faith, written in 1981 when the ICR
became formally independent of Christian Heritage College and was
no longer governed by its statement of faith. This must be signed
annually by all ICR staff and by its trustees. According to the
ICR's by-laws, it cannot be changed. The statement of faith has
two parts -- the "tenets of scientific creationism" and the "tenets
of Biblical creationism." Also reproduced is a portion of the "ICR
educational philosophy" which appears in the Institute's Graduate
School catalog. My source is appendix G of the book cited in the
preceding paragraph:
ICR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
The programs and curricula of the Graduate School, as well as the
activities of other ICR divisions, while similar in factual content
to those of other graduate colleges, are distinctive in one major
respect. The Institute for Creation Research bases its educational
philosophy on the foundational truth of a personal Creator-God and
His authoritative and unique revelation of truth in the Bible, both
Old and New Testaments.
This perspective differs from the evolutionary humanistic
philosophy which has dominated most educational institutions for
the past century, providing the most satisfying and meaningful
structure of a consistently creationist and Biblical framework, and
placing the real facts of science and history in the best context
for effective future research and application.
More explicitly, the administration and faculty of ICR are
committed to the tenets of both scientific creationism and Biblical
creationism as formulated below. A clear distinction is drawn
between _scientific creationism_ and _Biblical creationism_ but it
is the position of the Institute that the two are compatible and
that all genuine facts of science support the Bible. ICR maintains
that scientific creationism should be taught along with the
scientific aspect of evolutionism in tax-supported institutions,
and that both scientific and Biblical creationism should be taught
in Christian schools.
TENETS OF SCIENTIFIC CREATIONISM
1) The physical universe of space, time, matter and energy has not
always existed, but was supernaturally created by a transcendent
personal Creator who alone existed from eternity.
2) The phenomenon of biological life did not develop by natural
processes from inanimate systems but was specially and
supernaturally created by the Creator.
3) Each of the major kinds of plants and animals was created
functionally complete for the beginning and did not evolve from
some other kind of organism. Changes in basic kinds since their
first creation are limited to "horizontal" changes (variation)
within kinds, or "downward" changes (e.g., harmful mutations,
extinctions).
4) The first human beings did not evolve from an animal ancestry,
but were specially created in fully human form from the start.
Furthermore, the "spiritual" nature of man (self-image, moral
consciousness, abstract reasoning, language, will, religious
nature, etc.) is itself a supernaturally created entity distinct
from mere biological life.
5) The record of earth history, as preserved in the earth's crust,
especially in the rocks and fossil deposits, is primarily a record
of catastrophic intensities of natural processes, operating largely
within uniform laws, rather than one of gradualism and relatively
uniform process rates. There are many scientific evidences for a
relatively recent creation of the earth and the universe, in
addition to strong scientific evidence that most of the earth's
fossiliferous sedimentary rocks were formed in an even more recent
global hydraulic cataclysm.
6) Processes today operate primarily within fixed natural laws and
relatively uniform process rates but, since these were themselves
originally created and are daily maintained by their Creator, there
is always the possibility of miraculous intervention in these laws
or processes by their Creator. Evidences for such intervention
should be scrutinized critically, however, because there must be
clear and adequate reason for any such action on the part of the
Creator.
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Message #255 [Evolutionary Theory Discussion]
From: Wesley R. Elsberry Posted: 18 Sep 94 12:35
To : All
Subj: ICR Statement of Faith
Date: Wed Jun 23 1993 23:43:00
From: Scott Faust
To: All
Subj: Icr Oath 2/2
Attr:
evolution -------------------------------
>>> Continued from previous message
7) The universe and life have somehow been impaired since the
completion of creation, so that imperfections in structure,
disease, aging, extinctions, and other such phenomena are the
result of "negative" changes in properties and processes occurring
in an originally-perfect created order.
8) Since the universe and its primary components were created
perfect for their purpose in the beginning by a competent and
volitional Creator, and since the Creator does remain active in
this now-decaying creation, there do exist ultimate purposes and
meanings in the universe. Teleological considerations, therefore,
are appropriate in scientific studies whenever they are consistent
with the actual data of observation, and it is reasonable to assume
that the creation presently awaits the consummation of the
Creator's purpose.
9) Although people are finite and scientific data concerning
origins are always circumstantial and incomplete, the human mind
(if open to the possibility of creation) is able to explore the
manifestations of that Creator rationally and scientifically, and
to reach an intelligent decision regarding one's place in the
Creator's plan.
TENETS OF BIBLICAL CREATIONISM
1) The Creator of the universe is a triune God -- Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. There is only one eternal and transcendent God, the
source of all being and meaning, and He exists in three Persons,
each of whom participated in the work of creation.
2) The Bible, consisting of the thirty-nine canonical books of the
Old Testament and the twenty-seven canonical books of the New
Testament, is the divinely-inspired revelation of the Creator to
man. Its unique, plenary, verbal inspiration guarantees that these
writings, as originally and miraculously given, are infallible and
completely authoritative on all matters with which they deal, free
from error of any sort, scientific and historical as well as moral
and theological.
3) All things in the universe were created and made by God in the
six literal days of creation week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and
confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual,
historical, and perspicuous; thus all theories of origins or
development which involve evolution in any form are false. All
things which now exist are sustained and ordered by God's
providential care. However, a part of the spiritual creation,
Satan and his angels, rebelled against God after the creation and
are attempting to thwart His divine purposes in creation.
4) The first human beings, Adam and Eve, were specially created by
God, and all other men and women are their descendants. In Adam,
mankind was instructed to exercise "dominion" over all other
created organisms, and over the earth itself (an implicit
commission for true science, technology, commerce, fine art, and
education) but the temptation by Satan and the entrance of sin
brought God's curse on that dominion and on mankind, culminating in
death and separation from God as the natural and proper
consequence.
5) The Biblical record of primeval earth history in Genesis 1-11
is fully historical and perspicuous, including the creation and
fall of man, the curse on the creation and its subjection to the
bondage of decay, the promised Redeemer, the worldwide cataclysmic
deluge in the days of Noah, the post-diluvian renewal of man's
commission to subdue the earth (now augmented by the institution of
human government) and the origin of nations and languages at the
tower of Babel.
6) The alienation of man from his Creator because of sin can only
be remedied by the Creator Himself, who became man in the person of
the Lord Jesus Christ, through miraculous conception and virgin
birth. In Christ were indissolubly united perfect sinless humanity
and full deity, so that His substitutionary death is the only
necessary and sufficient price of man's redemption. That the
redemption was completely efficacious is assured by His bodily
resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven; the
resurrection of Christ is thus the focal point of history, assuring
the consummation of God's purpose in creation.
7) The final restoration of creation's perfection is yet future,
but individuals can immediately be restored to fellowship with
their Creator, on the basis of His redemptive work on their behalf,
receiving forgiveness and eternal life solely through personal
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting Him not only as estranged
Creator but also as reconciling Redeemer and coming King. Those
who reject Him, however, or who neglect to believe on Him, thereby
continue in their state of rebellion and must ultimately be
consigned to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels.
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Message #256 [Evolutionary Theory Discussion]
From: Wesley R. Elsberry Posted: 18 Sep 94 12:36
To : Arthur Biele
Subj: ICR statements
Perhaps you thought that I confused 'biblical creationism' with
'scientific creationism'. Examine the ICR Statement of Faith.
Examine the quoted text from Boardman, Koontz, and Morris. It
becomes obvious that SciCre and BibCre are merely two faces of
the same concept, and further that the SciCre/BibCre distinction
is made as a deceptive legal ploy to try to foist off pseudo-
science on secondary school science teachers.
There is a definite paper trail, though, from such books as
'Science And Creation' which shows that the concepts were
considered equivalent, and diverged only after SciCre flunked
the Lemon Test.
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