A Summary of Scientific Creationism by Henry M. Morris

This is a summary of notes taken while reading "Scientific Creationism" by Henry M. Morris

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Ch 3 accident or plan
Complexity of living organisms
- mathematical impossibility of even the simplest molecules coming together. To create a combination of 100 particles, given 10e80 electrons in the universe and 30 billion years with 10e9 tries power second, is still almost impossible.
- a dna molecule is 400 linked amino acids which are complex molecules. there is almost no chance it can be formed by random combinations.
- the DNA molecule would require 1500 or 10e450 successive binary choices to create. comparing this to all information in printed books in the world is 10e20 which is only 66 successive binary choices.
- there have been many attempts to create the simple molecules of life in labs with primordial conditions but none are anywhere near conclusive.
- Similarities in evolution are used too postulate a common ancestry. In creation, similarities are a natural consequence that the creator has perogative you create different creatures, but some would obviously have similar characteristics.
- Differences in species is evidence of creation. The Creator specifically created individual species. Evolution is about species evolving into another. Hence there should be evidence of many transitional species, but there are no evidence given over 150 years of paleontology. Various animals thought to be transitional species like the fish with limb like fins, are found to be living today.
Synthetic gaps in fossil records
- the study of geological age and fossil records has gaps in the absence of transitional species.
- many modern species were found in the same ages with no evidence of evolving.
- the fish to amphibian to reptile to birds are not supported by strong fossil evidence.
- Though many animals are extinct which are mistakenly taken as evolving, majority of insects and plants are same today as in prehistory, there are no indication again of the transitioning species.

4. Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism.
- Uniformitarianism explains the geological column takes a long time to create different layers. However this is a tautology since it assumes fossil records takes long time to create and uses fossils in earth strata as evidence of a longtime.
- Catastrophism a.k.a. rapid formation - which is quite evident, suggest that different layers can be created suddenly, hence also suggesting the fossils could be recent.
- Fossilisation occurs suddenly, not over long periods of time. We can see this that when animal dies, it decays and the remains may even be scattered by other animals or the environment. It is difficult and rare to fossils starting from skeletons, then being covered with layers of earth through time. It is much easier to preserve or fossilise when there is a sudden even like volcanic eruption, or even human skeletons which are buried in one instance by their peers.
- Various types of rock formations can be formed by direct precipitation, sudden deposits of large amount of material washed to a location, large scale even continental level flooding.
- Coal and similar resources and other layered of earth are not rare to have include fossilized trees embedded across multiple columns.
- Oil and coal are more likely to be formed by massive sudden deposits of sedimentation than long process. We currently have the technology to convert garbage into oil.
Contemporaneity of the Fossil World
- The geological column composed of various strata or layers of different material does not indicate formation through time because there is no worldwide unconformity. The reason it was first assumed as time separation because of the since groups of fossils are found together in layers, and starting with the wrong assumption that the fossils belong to different time period, hence the strata was wrongly linked to time.
- Each stratum was formed rapidly, and so was the entire column, with hydraulic cataclysm, ie the different layers are formed suddenly by flow of waters.
- There are evidence of fossils from different ages are found together in the same strata.
- Fossils thought to be more ancient are found at the bottom. However this is not due to time but by physical nature. Given the assumption of worldwide hydraulic cataclysm, ocean floor animals are buried first, followed by fish, then amphibians, some reptiles. Humans and birds would be few. Though most humans would die in such a flood, they would be able to run to higher ground then still overtaken by water, but their bodies would be afloat and not buried. The types of animals from first layer to top layer are mistaken to be evolutionary path from fish to reptiles.
- Evidence of humans living with pre-historic animals. Ancient Mayan art show a pre-historic looking reptile-bird, which must be living at the time of the Mayans up to 5000 years ago (discovered by Jose Diaz-Bolio).
- The geological ages from Archaeozoic to Pleistocene to Recent should be recalibrated from fossil based age for evolution, to the different stages of the Great Flood.
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Lent, Pentecost and the Day of the Lord

Lent has started this year on Wednesday, 26 February 2020 and ends on Thursday, 9 April 2020. We are looking for to Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. This is the fiftieth day after the Passover in the Jewish tradition. Pentecost is also significant to Christians as it is the 'Outpouring of the Holy Spirit' and is the fiftieth day after the Crucifixion of Yshua the Messiah.

Peter the Apostle made a speech on the first Pentecost after Yshua's crucifixion and Resurrection, in which he quoted Joel. The full passage of Joel is given below. However, Peter's quote was only from last part of chapter 2 in Joel. Peter's emphasis was on 'pour out my spirit upon all flesh' and those who call upon the Lord will be saved; because at that time the Holy Spirit was pourd unto believers and that gift of the Spirit and salvation is available to those who called on the Lord.

It is interesting to see that the context of Joel 2 is the the Day of the Lord, which is about endtimes. It also mentions the remnant who call will be saved. Peter's verses can be used to encourage the Gentiles to come to Christ, which is up to the End Times. During those times, when the Christians would have been taken back to be with the Lord, much more of Joel 2 will be fulfilled on earth.

The situation facing the world today is showing the potential of increased severity. It seems that the current events may be a prelude to what will be coming in the future. Hence while Peter was sharing God's Salvation at that time, for us now is the time to also share God's Salvation plans. We should also take hold of the encouragement Joel 2, such as 'Fear not, .., be glad and rejoice' and that God is also going to restore what is lost, and replace it with plenty.


Joel 2 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,
and sound an alarm in my holy mountain:
let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:
for the day of the Lord cometh,
for it is nigh at hand;
2 a day of darkness and of gloominess,
a day of clouds and of thick darkness,
as the morning spread upon the mountains:
a great people and a strong;
there hath not been ever the like,
neither shall be any more after it,
even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them;
and behind them a flame burneth:
the land is as the garden of Eden before them,
and behind them a desolate wilderness;
yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses;
and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap,
like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble,
as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained:
all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men;
they shall climb the wall like men of war;
and they shall march every one on his ways,
and they shall not break their ranks:
8 neither shall one thrust another;
they shall walk every one in his path:
and when they fall upon the sword,
they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city;
they shall run upon the wall,
they shall climb up upon the houses;
they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth shall quake before them;
the heavens shall tremble:
the sun and the moon shall be dark,
and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 and the Lord shall utter his voice before his army:
for his camp is very great:
for he is strong that executeth his word:
for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord,
turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting,
and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 and rend your heart, and not your garments,
and turn unto the Lord your God:
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent,
and leave a blessing behind him;
even a meat offering and a drink offering
unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 gather the people,
sanctify the congregation,
assemble the elders,
gather the children,
and those that suck the breasts:
let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber,
and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,
weep between the porch and the altar,
and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord,
and give not thine heritage to reproach,
that the heathen should rule over them:
wherefore should they say among the people,
Where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land,
and pity his people.
19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people,
Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil,
and ye shall be satisfied therewith:
and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
20 but I will remove far off from you the northern army,
and will drive him into a land barren and desolate,
with his face toward the east sea,
and his hinder part toward the utmost sea,
and his stink shall come up,
and his ill savour shall come up,
because he hath done great things.

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice:
for the Lord will do great things.
22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field:
for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,
for the tree beareth her fruit,
the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately,
and he will cause to come down for you the rain,
the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat,
and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,
my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God, and none else:
and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
29 and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth,
blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,
as the Lord hath said,
and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Disastrous storms an fires

The reference to two groups of people, one in which God provides the food for them, while the other would have undesirable food. It describes God's mercy in saving the people who were bitten by snakes, when these people turned towards God. God also sends flood and fire as judgment to the unrighteous, how similar is that to today. In the desert, God provided the manna at the right quantity, so that the people would have to do physical work of collecting it every morning (except Sabbath), and give thanks and recognize the provision from God.



Wisdom 16 (RSVCE)
16 Therefore those men were deservedly punished through such creatures,
and were tormented by a multitude of animals.
2 Instead of this punishment thou didst show kindness to thy people,
and thou didst prepare quails to eat,
a delicacy to satisfy the desire of appetite;
3 in order that those men, when they desired food,
might lose the least remnant of appetite[a]
because of the odious creatures sent to them,
while thy people,[b] after suffering want a short time,
might partake of delicacies.
4 For it was necessary that upon those oppressors inexorable want should come,
while to these it was merely shown how their enemies were being tormented.

5 For when the terrible rage of wild beasts came upon thy people[c]
and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents,
thy wrath did not continue to the end;
6 they were troubled for a little while as a warning,
and received a token of deliverance to remind them of thy law’s command.
7 For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw,
but by thee, the Savior of all.
8 And by this also thou didst convince our enemies
that it is thou who deliverest from every evil.
9 For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies,
and no healing was found for them,
because they deserved to be punished by such things;
10 but thy sons were not conquered even by the teeth of venomous serpents,
for thy mercy came to their help and healed them.
11 To remind them of thy oracles they were bitten,
and then were quickly delivered,
lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness
and become unresponsive[d] to thy kindness.
12 For neither herb nor poultice cured them,
but it was thy word, O Lord, which heals all men.
13 For thou hast power over life and death;
thou dost lead men down to the gates of Hades and back again.
14 A man in his wickedness kills another,
but he cannot bring back the departed spirit,
nor set free the imprisoned soul.

Disastrous Storms Strike Egypt
15 To escape from thy hand is impossible;
16 for the ungodly, refusing to know thee,
were scourged by the strength of thy arm,
pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms,
and utterly consumed by fire.
17 For—most incredible of all—in the water, which quenches all things,
the fire had still greater effect,
for the universe defends the righteous.
18 At one time the flame was restrained,
so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the ungodly,
but that seeing this they might know
that they were being pursued by the judgment of God;
19 and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more intensely than fire,
to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land.

The Israelites Receive Manna
20 Instead of these things thou didst give thy people food of angels,
and without their toil thou didst supply them from heaven with bread ready to eat,
providing every pleasure and suited to every taste.
21 For thy sustenance manifested thy sweetness toward thy children;
and the bread, ministering[e] to the desire of the one who took it,
was changed to suit every one’s liking.
22 Snow and ice withstood fire without melting,
so that they might know that the crops of their enemies
were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail
and flashed in the showers of rain;
23 whereas the fire,[f] in order that the righteous might be fed,
even forgot its native power.

24 For creation, serving thee who hast made it,
exerts itself to punish the unrighteous,
and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in thee.
25 Therefore at that time also, changed into all forms,
it served thy all-nourishing bounty,
according to the desire of those who had need,[g]
26 so that thy sons, whom thou didst love, O Lord, might learn
that it is not the production of crops that feeds man,
but that thy word preserves those who trust in thee.
27 For what was not destroyed by fire
was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun,
28 to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give thee thanks,
and must pray to thee at the dawning of the light;
29 for the hope of an ungrateful man will melt like wintry frost,
and flow away like waste water.

Benefits of Worshiping the True God

We are reminded that to worship the One True Lord is to our benefit. In contrast, it is pointless to worship idols made from our hands. It is futile to worship the idols and they only take our attention away from the True God. Besides idols, it is also pointless to worship animals and beast which are also creation of God.



Wisdom 15  (RSVCE)
Benefits of Worshiping the True God
15 But thou, our God, art kind and true,
patient, and ruling all things[a] in mercy.
2 For even if we sin we are thine, knowing thy power;
but we will not sin, because we know that we are accounted thine.
3 For to know thee is complete righteousness,
and to know thy power is the root of immortality.
4 For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us,
nor the fruitless toil of painters,
a figure stained with varied colors,
5 whose appearance arouses yearning in fools,
so that they desire[b] the lifeless form of a dead image.
6 Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope[c]
are those who either make or desire or worship them.

The Foolishness of Worshiping Clay Idols
7 For when a potter kneads the soft earth
and laboriously molds each vessel for our service,
he fashions out of the same clay
both the vessels that serve clean uses
and those for contrary uses, making all in like manner;
but which shall be the use of each of these
the worker in clay decides.
8 With misspent toil, he forms a futile god from the same clay—
this man who was made of earth a short time before
and after a little while goes to the earth from which he was taken,
when he is required to return the soul that was lent him.
9 But he is not concerned that he is destined to die
or that his life is brief,
but he competes with workers in gold and silver,
and imitates workers in copper;
and he counts it his glory that he molds counterfeit gods.
10 His heart is ashes, his hope is cheaper than dirt,
and his life is of less worth than clay,
11 because he failed to know the one who formed him
and inspired him with an active soul
and breathed into him a living spirit.
12 But he[d] considered our existence an idle game,
and life a festival held for profit,
for he says one must get money however one can, even by base means.
13 For this man, more than all others, knows that he sins
when he makes from earthy matter fragile vessels and graven images.

14 But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant,
are all the enemies who oppressed thy people.
15 For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods,
though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with,
nor nostrils with which to draw breath,
nor ears with which to hear,
nor fingers to feel with,
and their feet are of no use for walking.
16 For a man made them,
and one whose spirit is borrowed formed them;
for no man can form a god which is like himself.
17 He is mortal, and what he makes with lawless hands is dead,
for he is better than the objects he worships,
since[e] he has life, but they never have.

Serpents in the Desert
18 The enemies of thy people[f] worship even the most hateful animals,
which are worse than all others, when judged by their lack of intelligence;
19 and even as animals they are not so beautiful in appearance that one would desire them,
but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.