Facts & Faith

1989 Volume 3, No. 1
Spring

* Due to copyrights, original graphics and tables may not appear in these articles

Science in the News: Will the Real Adam Please Stand Up?

By Hugh Ross

Week by week, month by month, as various science publications cross my desk, I see article after article on new findings about early man and his origins. The italics are intended to highlight the crux of an emotionally-charged controversy: the use of the word man.

Genesis 1:26-27 introduces 'adham "man,' both male and female, as the grand finale to God's creative work, the one and only creature of whom God says "made in our [my] image." Genesis 2-4 goes on to tell the personal story of this first couple, how they came to be a couple, and of their interactions with God, with one another, with Satan, and with their offspring. In Genesis 5 'adham ("man"), or ha-'adham ("the man"), becomes the proper name for Adam, the patriarch at the head of the genealogy that, if complete, would include you and me.

Does this genealogy, combined with other Biblical genealogies, give us a date for the creation of Adam? Yes, but only a loose one. A problem lies in the usage of the Hebrew words for father, 'ab, and son, ben. 'Ab can also refer to grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. (It can even refer to a respected elder who is not physically related.) Similarly, ben can mean grandson, great-grandson, etc. Such flexibility helps explain why parallel genealogies (e.g. I Chronicles 3, Matthew 1, and Luke 3) seem at variance with one another. The Biblical scholarship of which I am aware places the date of Adam's creation roughly between 10,000 and 35,000 years ago (the extreme limits being 6000 and 50,000 years ago).

Who or what, then are the beings called (by anthropologists and others) "man" whose remains have been dated at a million or more years? (1-3) My view is that these were large-brained, bi-pedal, tool using "nephesh" (to use the Hebrew word for creatures of the sixth day, but prior to Adam), mammals created by God and endowed with such attributes of mind, will, and emotion as we see in others of the more complex species (e.g. dolphins, whales, chimpanzees, parrots, etc.). I call them hominids.

t is abundantly clear that the Biblical Adam was endowed with a quality, not just intelligence, that set him apart from the hominids and all other life-forms. God communed with him, and he with God, and God gave him the unique capacity and responsibility both to make moral decisions and to worship. In a word, he was a "spiritual" (as well as physical) creature. With his momentous act of disobedience, Adam did not cease to be a spiritual creature, but he did place himself and the entire human race in need of redemption and restoration.

The oldest artifacts of man's spiritual activity--religious relics such as idols, altars, and the like, related to worship--date back only 8,000 to 24,000 years, (4,5) in perfect compatibility with the Biblical date for Adam. Older evidence of "art" and of burial of the dead cannot be used as indicators of the spirit since bower birds, elephants, and other animals have been discovered to decorate their dwellings, lament their dead and bury them with trinkets, and engage in other "soulish" activities.

Not only would the Bible deny that the hominids were 'adham, but it would also deny that Adam physically descended from the hominids. On these points, of course, the Bible clashes with the theories held by many scientists. However, this conflict may soon fade, for the most recent research suggests that the hominids may have gone extinct before (or even as a result of) the appearance of modern man. (6,7) At the very least, "abrupt transition between [hominid] species is widely acknowledged." (8,9) Psalm 104:24-30 seems to suggest that during the days (epochs) of creation, various life-forms went extinct and then were replaced by God with new ones. This cyclical process apparently ended with the close of the sixth day. Today, the seventh day, we see an extinction rate as high as 24 species per day (and it's going higher) and a replacement rate that is virtually zero.

Exactly what took place in hominid history and how it took place remains a mystery. The Bible says nothing explicit about the hominids. The scientific record, even yet, sheds little light. The picture that so far vaguely emerges from the accumulating data does not, and will not, according to my understanding of God's revelation, ultimately contradict the Biblical account of the creature for whom the second Adam, Jesus Christ, gave His life. (10)

References

  1. Bower, Bruce. "Retooled Ancestors," in Science News, 133(1988), pp. 344-345.
  2. Bower, Bruce. "Early Human Skeleton Apes Its Ancestors," in Science News, 131 (1987), p. 340.
  3. Bower, Bruce. "Family Feud: Enter the 'Black Skull,'" in Science News, 131(1987), pp. 58-59.
  4. Simon, C., "Stone-Age Sanctuary, Oldest Known Shrine, Discovered in Spain," in Science News, 120(1981), p. 357.
  5. Bower, Bruce. "When the Human Spirit Soared," in Science News, 130(1986), pp. 378-379.
  6. Jones, J. S. and Rouhani, S., "Human Evolution: How small was the bottleneck?" in Nature, 319(1986), pp. 449-450.
  7. Bower, Bruce, "Retooled Ancestors," in Science News, 133(1988), pp. 344-345.
  8. Bower, Bruce. "Early Human Skeleton Apes Its Ancestors," in Science News, 131(1987), p. 340.
  9. Lewin, Roger. "Unexpected Anatomy in Homo erectus," in Science, 226(1984), p. 529.
  10. See I Corinthians 15:21-22.

From the President's Desk

Dear friends,

I recently received a newsletter from a church whose pastor and ministry are known and respected not only in southern California, but around the world. Most of the contents of that publication were informative, convicting, and encouraging, but one piece, written by the pastor, disturbed me. Someone in the congregation had asked how to deal with the scientific objections to the young universe position. Unfortunately, this sincere and scholarly Bible teacher, untrained in the physical sciences, attempted to answer, using material he had read but was ill-equipped to understand and critique.

He offered four "explanations" that seemed plausible to him, and no doubt to most of his constituency, but each of the four is based on false data and false assumptions. I never cease to be amazed at how readily people accept the word of a popular Christian leader over the word of the entire community of astronomers, physicists, and others, on matters of science. Even more discouraging is the unwillingness of some Christians to seek a reply from those trained in relevant disciplines.

At the core of this problem lies a fear and mistrust of science and scientists, a perception of science as the enemy of Christianity. As I have said many times, no perception could be farther from the truth. Let us remember that since God and His word are truth, nothing we discover about the universe He created will ever pose a threat to our faith. Certainly there will be questions, problems, and even attacks, but no threats. Whatever questions, problems and attacks arise will only give us opportunity to study further, to reconsider the data and interpretations on both sides, to grow in our understanding, and ultimately to add to our reasons to believe.

Sincerely,

Hugh Ross

P.S. for those who may be interested, the four spurious explanations (referred to above) for the "seeming" antiquity of the universe are as follows:

  1. Astronomical distances may not be as great as astronomers have said.
  2. God may have created the light waves in transit.
  3. Light may be slowing down.
  4. Light may take a shortcut through space.

If you wish to receive my response to each of these statements, please write to the Reasons To Believe office using the coupon at the back of this newsletter. Those who have been on our mailing list long enough will have already read my comments on the velocity of light (Facts & Faith, v. 1, n. 2, pp. 1-2).

Let Us Reason: Creator or No Creator?

Part One in a Series

By Hugh Ross

Our last issue of Facts & Faith introduced a series of articles on some frequently-encountered objections to faith in Christ and trust in His word. The first on our list of nine objections is this: What's to say that the universe requires a Creator? Maybe it's infinite, or maybe it just came into being on its own.

Despite publication and media coverage of findings about the beginning and other finite limits of the universe, many people still seem unaware, or perhaps doubtful, of the certainty of these discoveries. Often I see expressions of incredulity when I speak of scientists' ability, with the aid of recently developed instruments, to see to the "edge" of the universe, or of their ability to look back in time to the fraction of a second after the creation event. That is why many scientists from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives have been writing books on the subject of cosmology. Perhaps a bibliography would best serve to help you in answering this question about the necessity for a Creator. You will find a brief listing below.

For the moment, let's tackle the last issue first, the idea that the universe might be self-generated. Does such an idea make sense, based on our own, as well as researchers', observations of reality? If your dinner were to suddenly appear on the table before you, you know what your first question (or at least one of your first questions) would be: "Who made this?" Watching my 6-month-old baby reminds me that the consistent relationship between cause and effect is one of the earliest lessons a person learns. Quantum mechanics may seem, in some interpretations, to offer departures from cause and effect; but, in reality, the cause is simply hidden from the human observer. For a more thorough analysis of the recent speculations from quantum physics, please see my paper entitled "Quantum Gravity and the Origin of the Universe." For a more in-depth philosophical discussion of this issue of causality, let me refer you to the work of Dr. William Lane Craig. Two of his books are listed below.

The question about the infinity of the (at least with respect to time) might have been laid to rest long ago had not the implication of a beginning, thus of a Beginner, been so troublesome to a number of researchers. Einstein's famous equations of general relativity showed that the universe is simultaneously expanding and decelerating, something like the fragments of an exploding grenade. The indication of a start point was obvious. But it was not well-liked.

We can now be grateful that in the thoroughness of the search that ensued, the search for some way around the start point, or creation event. That investigation led to the elimination of any and all plausible loopholes, and it makes all-the-more certain the conclusions that the universe of space, time, matter, and energy came into existence from something, or more accurately, from Someone, beyond itself. (By the way, only the Bible, and no other "holy book," speaks of such a creation, a creation ex nihilo.) The book on which I have been working for several years, and which I am now wrapping up, tells the story in some detail. For a brief overview of the subject, let me refer you to an article entitled "The Heavens Still Declare...God," published in the November 1988 issue of Eternity.

Some articles and books you may find helpful in your study of the origin of the universe include the following:

  • Barrow, John D., and Joseph Silk. The Left Hand of Creation. New York: Basic Books, 1983.
  • Barrow, John D. and Frank J. Tipler. The Anthropic cosmological Principle. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.
  • Block, David. Star Watch. New York: Lion Publishing, 1988.
  • Bludman, Sidney A. "Thermodynamics and the End of a Closed Universe." Nature 308 (1984): pp. 319-322.
  • Craig, William Lane. The Existence of God and the Beginning of the Universe. San Bernadino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, 1979.
  • ____. The Kalam Cosmological Argument. London: The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1979.
  • Guth, Alan H., and Marc Sher. "The Impossibility of a Bouncing Universe." Nature 302 (1983): pp. 505-506.
  • Hawking. Stephen W., and Roger Penrose. "The Singularities of Gravitational Collapse and Cosmology," Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A. 314 (1970): pp. 529-548.
  • Jaki, Stanley L. Cosmos and Creator. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1980.
  • Jastrow, Robert. God and the Astronomers. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1978.
  • Trefil, James S. The Moment of Creation. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1983.

Kids' Space

We are pleased to have received a letter from eleven-and-a-half-year-old Melissa, of Los Angeles. She writes:

I have many questions, but one really puzzles me. Which came first, Adam and Eve or the dinosaurs?

Melissa, except in the world of Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their Bedrock neighbors - the world of make-believe - dinosaurs came into existence (by God's creative power) and then went extinct long before man came along. In fact, there is a gap of many millions of years between the last dinosaurs and the first creatures that even vaguely resembled modern human beings.

If you travel to Montana, you can spend days wandering among remains of dinosaur bones and eggs at the national monument there. From thousands of tons of evidence we have learned that dinosaurs first appeared about 250 million years ago. Many types of them roamed the earth until most were killed off by a major destructive event, probably an asteroid's collision with our planet, about 60 million years ago.

Since that time there have been no dinosaurs (except perhaps two lizard species about 6 feet long or less). The first man-like creatures came on the scene only about 1 to 4 million years ago. Because these early hominids walked on two legs, had large brains, and used tools, they are called "men" by some scientists. But the Bible would not call them that. The Bible says that Adam was the first man. He and Eve were created by God with a special quality called "spirit," a capacity to reason and make choices about such matters as life an death, right and wrong, love and hate, and most importantly, about God, Himself.

Both the Bible and the evidence from science tell us that Adam and Eve, from whom we are descended, appeared sometime between 6000 and 50,000 years ago (more likely between 10,000 and 35,000 years ago).

You may be wondering, Melissa, why the Bible says nothing specific about either the dinosaurs or the hominids. Consider this: God describes for us, through the Bible writers, only the highlights of His creative work. If He had given us all the details, we would be hauling at least 40 volumes to church week by week. What we read about are the ten or eleven most important events.

The dinosaurs and hominids are lumped together with the creation of living things, but they do not merit any special mention.

Puzzles & Paradoxes

You were promised a tougher puzzle for this issue, and here you have it [graphic excluded]. The National Mathematics League presented it as part of a contest for high school freshmen. Perhaps its solution requires the creative approach of a young mind. See what you think: In an isosceles triangle with corners labeled A, B, and C, side AB is twice as long as side AC. If the perimeter measures 200 inches, how long is side BC? Remember that an isosceles triangle, such as the one drawn below, has two sides equal in length.

[graphic excluded]

The paradox last presented for your consideration and resolution was chosen because of the frequency with which it arises in discussions of Biblical reliability and of God's character: Why was so much killing of human beings (not to mention the bloody animal sacrifices) condoned by -- even perpetrated by -- God? Doesn't this contradict the commandment "Thou shalt not kill"?

Of the steps we cited as aids in unraveling the apparent contradiction, the ones on which our answer rests most heavily are numbers one and five, those having to do with frame of reference and with gathering more complete information.

Because the Bible is a true account of man, as well as of God, and because man seems bent on violence, the Bible necessarily records many instances of murder and brutality. Never does God approve of such behavior. His command to Noah to restrain this evil (Genesis 9:5-6) strongly suggests that its rampant expression made the flood a necessity for the rescue of the human race. A fitting analogy might be the removal of a malignant tumor in order to save a life. Occasionally, God used Israel as a scalpel; at other times, His bare hand did the work.

A source of confusion seems to be the poor word choice in translation of Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill" (KJV). The Hebrew manuscripts use a more specific word, rasah, which means murder, as some of the more modern translations (New English Bible, New American Standard Bible, and New International Version) reflect. Thus, the sixth commandment cannot be construed as a prohibition on capital punishment. Exodus 21:12, a directive to use such punishment for the crime of murder, makes that point clear.

The killing of animals for sacrifice was no doubt repugnant, but appropriately so. These sacrifices were intended to show us of the horror of sin and to foreshadow the coming of the Lamb who would bear sin's penalty once and for all.

Field Report

We are glad to say that 1988 ended on a high note, a note which has been sustained through the start of 1989. God has shown us His mighty hand at work in amazing and wonderful ways.
Here are a few examples:

  • A howling windstorm prevented Hugh from driving to Bakersfield for an outreach to business people. Undaunted, the meeting's organizer played a tape of Hugh's testimony. At the close, four of those attending said they were now prepared to put their trust in Jesus Christ and His Word.
  • At Rolling Hills Covenant Church, people attending a series of colloquia on creation responded so enthusiastically to the Reasons to Believe message and team that we have been asked to return soon.
  • Business people attending various luncheon outreaches repeatedly said, "We want to hear more."
  • International students and scholars--some 700 of them--from 33 countries (but most from the People's Republic of China) flocked to Florida for some southern hospitality and a spiritual challenge during the week between Christmas and New Year's. Two conferences ran simultaneously, one focused on Christian discipleship, the other on the discoveries of science as they pertain to the Christian faith. Hugh addressed the latter group, plus a closing banquet for everyone, including host families. International Students, Inc., sponsors of the event and coordinators of the follow-up, tell us that hundreds of evaluation sheets came back to them with indications of desire to know more about Jesus Christ and to become involved in small group Bible studies. Even before the closing banquet, between 30 and 40 participants had already decided to entrust their lives to Christ.

Never have we seen more vibrant and receptive audiences than at our church outreaches, near and far, during the month of January. Sunday morning and evening services at Grace Church of Los Alamitos (CA) were packed, and our book table workers--Roberts, Mal, Patty, Mike, Marj, Charley, Miguel, and others--were kept busy answering questions and discussing issues both before and after each of the four sessions. In addition, requests for materials are continuing to come in, sparked by newspaper articles and by radio promotion of these events.

Students attending a lecture at King's River Community College (Reedley, CA) on new evidences for God's existence described that talk as "a breath of fresh air-but more than just air!" They said they are tired of hearing presentations from an atheistic perspective.

Calls and letters continue to come in from people who heard Hugh on "Saturday Singles," KBRT, and "Religion on the Line," KABC.

P.S. Already we are receiving good news of fruitful ministry in Africa. Look for a detailed report in our next issue.

Pray-ers' Closet

By Roberta Loutsenhizer

Each of our days of prayer and fasting is like a breath of spiritual fresh air to me, and this last one (Jan. 28) was no exception. I always look forward with great anticipation to what God will say and do through the group of pray-ers who come. What a tremendous joy it is to sense that together we are taking an active, vital part in building Christ's kingdom here on earth!

Personally, I have experienced His healing touch in my life each time I have participated, and I can testify to the same on behalf of others. A note I just received from a young pastor and his wife says this: "...We are still bathing in the presence of God's wonderful Holy Spirit because of the great fasting day spent with you and the others. We had a powerful service at our church the next day. There are breakthroughs that are continuing to happen, and we are again amazed..."

As we prepare to intercede for our own and others' outreach ministries and for the church around the world, we humble ourselves before God by confessing our sins to one another and praying for each other. I am amazed at how the Holy Spirit speaks comfort, love, and healing through such prayers. I certainly have reason to believe the promise of James 5:16, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (NIV).

I hope you will consider attending our next session of fasting and prayer, and also the praise and prayer meetings held on the fourth Thursday evening of each month, 7:30 P.M., at our offices in Sierra Madre, 154 West Sierra Madre Boulevard (rear entrance). If you live too far away to come, you may join with us anyway, either praying alone or with a small group in your area. I would be happy to assist you. You can call me at (818) 355-6058, or drop me a note at P.O. Box 5978, Pasadena, CA 91117.

Readers Write

"I read with interest your article regarding life on Mars [winter issue, v. 2, n. 4]. It did not mention what may be on scientists' minds when they talk of possible life on Mars these days. Conjecture is that the monumental likeness of a humanoid face may be a remnant of civilization there (see picture enclosed). This is getting serious attention in scientific and political circles.

"This all makes me wonder what form the life-evolving-throughout-the-cosmos hoax will take. I rather expect mankind will be contacted by the 'Intergalactic Confederacy,' whose ambassadors will offer us the 'ageless wisdom' and will 'save' us from 'certain self-destruction.'

"If it happens this way it is, nevertheless, as your article notes, part of an 'insidious deception' designed to seduce mankind."

--A. D., Hoonah, AK

Editor's note: The "face" has been studied more closely and has proved to be something like "the man in the moon," simply an impression created by the way light fell upon certain random topographical features. It is no longer getting serious attention.

"...I have always had problems trying to make the Bible fit in with the obvious evidence of scientific discovery. I have the Creation Science books and have never felt quite comfortable with their explanations and reconciliations. You are the first person to make sense of some difficult matters. Thank you!"

--I. E., Clarence Center, N.Y.

"My dad does not believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God because he purposes that the Bible claims the earth is only 6000 years old. I am interested in obtaining Genesis One: A Scientific Perspective..."

--S. S. D., El Centro, CA

"...I have always liked to read scientific journals, on a surface level at least, to keep up with new discoveries, but in spite of my good relationship with the Lord, there were always certain subjects that I felt I had to sort of sweep under the carpet. There was always a certain nagging murmur in the back of my mind that would get louder whenever I was undergoing a period of doubt or frustration.

"It was that uneasy feeling that perhaps science would somehow, someday be able to accurately refute the Bible and prove it wrong about creation, the flood, and other key issues...
"Of course I wouldn't allow myself to dwell on these haunting fears, but...

"To me, the revelations about the latest scientific discoveries came as a wave of joy and relief and a new sense of respect for the Word..."

--R. L., Placerville, CA

"It is a continuing satisfaction to know that you and your growing numbers of supporters are offering reliable reasons to believe in our loving Creator..."

--R. E. E., Victorville, CA

Readers Ask

By Mal Scharer

Many questions have come to us concerning the Genesis flood, specifically about its extent and its impact. We can give only a cursory answer here; if you wish a fuller discussion, we would recommend our two-tape set, "The Flood" (A8712), listed on the response panel, p. 7.

There is geologic evidence of a relatively "recent" flood in a region called the Mesopotamian Flood Plain. As far as we can know, that is where Noah lived. There is no geologic evidence for a worldwide flood in the era since man first appeared on the earth, though many have become confused by aqueous deposits from melting ice and from other changes in the earth's geology.

A study of the Hebrew text of Genesis suggests that the flood waters were supernaturally brought forth by God from natural sources on the earth and that they returned whence they came. A worldwide flood in which the water covered all the highest mountains would require many times more water than the earth and its atmosphere can hold.

Despite this consideration, the description of the flood does read as if the water covered the entire globe. Perhaps, however, we are forgetting that the writer would have had no concept of planet, or globe. "The whole earth" or "the face of the whole earth" to an ancient might mean something like "from horizon to horizon." Or, "as far as anyone has ever ventured." The size and sphericity of the earth are relatively recent discoveries.

Two key words demand some attention, also. One is bar, which in the flood story is translated "high mountains," but which literally refers to any kind of hill or relief in excess of about fifty feet. The other is kasah, translated as "covered," but which can also be used for "washed over" (as in flood runoff), or "deposit upon" (as in rainfall). One may wonder whether or not various translators' rendering of the flood account have been subtly shaped by preconceptions.

A New Testament reference to the flood gives more food for thought. Peter says, "...the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished..." (II Peter 3:6, KJV). The subject element, "the world that then was," is a curious expression. The NIV says, "the world of that time." In either case, such words suggest "the known world," or "the inhabited world."

Such as interpretation would make sense in terms of the purpose of the flood. God's stated intentions to rescue Noah and his family and to purge the earth of the rest of mankind and of all creatures that man's wickedness had infected. To destroy more would seem superfluous, out of keeping with God's character.

We see the Genesis flood as a subject needing more in-depth study by both Bible scholars and scientists.

Meet Our Staff

By Penny Karipides

[graphic excluded]

On the cover of our Christmas issue you met Evan Saline. Now we'd like to introduce his mom. Julie volunteers her time in the RTB office assisting Roberta with a variety of computer tasks. She brings a ray of sunshine, and for the first months of Evan's life, she brought her sonshine, too. He cooed, smiled, and napped his way through the afternoon as Mom's fingers rapped the keyboard. (Evan has now joined "Patty's Pilgrims"--Joel, Joel, Stephanie, and David.)

Julie began helping us before Evan was born, while she was still working fulltime for Focus on the Family. She responded to a Sunday morning message outlining the goals and purposes of the budding apologetics ministry.

"For some time I had been feeling God's tug toward ministry involvement outside my work at Focus. When I heard Hugh's words that day, my heart confirmed that this was the place to which He had called me," she says.

Julie has a special appreciation (and aptitude) for science. Her father is a distinguished scientist. She entered UC Irvine as a biology major; but, realizing that her greater interest lay in people and relationships, she changed majors to psychology. Upon graduation, she married Carter, and 15 month old Evan is their first child. Someday Julie will complete her graduate studies in Marriage and Family Counseling, but for now she's concentrating on her work as wife, mother and RTB volunteer.

The Salines view apologetics as an essential part of their personal faith and preparedness to communicate about Christ with others. Julie says that they often share RTB materials with members of their Bible study in Walnut. "It's fun to see people face their doubts and tough questions and then get some answers. I know what that feels like."

Julie describes the past year and a half as the period of greatest spiritual growth in her life. "God has been teaching me every day to rely on Him in a moment-to-moment relationship.. What a blessing that lesson has been!"

And what a blessing Julie has been--Evan, too--to Roberta and the entire Reasons To Believe team.

This page, and all contents, are Copyright © 1989 by Reasons To Believe.