ABSTRACTS
Predators have been thought to serve prey species by removing the old, sick and maimed. this alleged selective elimination of the weak is central to the dogma of natural selection and evolution. Recent evidence seems to indicate that random selection plays a major role in determining which animal is eaten. Further evidence indicates that at least under certain situations there is a selection against the strong and healthy. Evolutionary (or anti-evolutionary) implications are obvious; and a critical reevaluation of the evidence is needed.
This paper describes new information which point out the superiority of a catastrophic theory for the origin of the asteroids and the rings of Saturn to that of the nebular condensation theory currently in vogue.
The authors describe some experiments in which precipitation of sodium chloride is brought about by the mixing of originally saturated solutions of the materials concerned. Such precipitation might have played a part in the formation of great beds of evaporites which are found in rocks. This possibility is of interest to those who believe in a young Earth, for a Biblical chronology may not leave time for beds of salt to have been formed by slow evaporation.
About 1959 an object, in shape very suggestive of a ship was discovered during routine examination of aerial photographs of parts of Eastern Turkey. The shape, in fact this object is not very far from Mount Ararat, naturally leading to the suggestion that the object might be the Ark. Subsequent examination on the ground, however, showed that the object was a formation in clay, not an artifact of wood. The author suggests here that, while the formation is not the Ark itself, it may be the resting-place of the Ark. For the Ark might have left its impression in mud, which later hardened into clay.
The author was able to visit the formation which some have thought to be connected in some way with the Ark. In his opinion it has nothing to do with the Ark, but is a geological and tectonic phenomenon.
The author points out that the foetus, even in fairly early stages of development, is by no means a vegetable-like object. It displays motion, sensitivity, and, in a rudimentary form at least, most of the attributes of a sentient living being.
The preceding article, by Liley, contains the facts about the nature of the fetus. It is good first to get facts; but sometimes facts are not enough, action is called for, as St. James 1:22 points out. Here the authors draw the conclusions which follow the nature of the fetus, and from the teaching of Scripture.
There are now any data on effects of magnetic fields on living beings. Here these data are considered along with information which shows that the Earth's magnetic field is decreasing. The greater the strength of field in the past may correlate with greater lifespans, such as those recorded in the early part of Genesis.
While there are many who propose some doctrine called theistic evolution as a compromise between evolutionism and Biblical Christianity, it is by no means easy to find out what the doctrine is supposed to entail. In this article the author investigates the doctrine, with reference to scientific evidence. In fact, theistic evolution may be divided into several varieties, some of which merge with atheistic evolution or with progressive creation. None of the variation, however, is really supported by the scientific evidence; and powerful objections may be brought against each variety. The doctrine of supernatural creation in a short time is supported by the scientific evidence.
Darwin's Origin of Species created a considerable controversy at the time of publication. One scientist who disagreed with Darwin was Fleeming Jenkin. His critique of origin of species through natural selection is here quoted at length, since his arguments have never been adequately refuted. Using the work of breeders with pigeons, cattle, horses, dogs, and roses, Jenkin pointed out how through selective breeding the different species of plants and animals will at first demonstrate considerable variability. The rate of variation in a given direction, however, is a constantly diminishing rate, tending to a limit. Darwin attempted to bypass this weakness in his theory by resorting to vast lapses of time. Jenkin insisted that if man through careful manipulation was unable to overcome this natural tendency of species to reach a limit beyond which they show variability, time, no matter how vast, would be equally ineffective. Modern day geneticists have to date not provided the evolutionists with a sound refutation to the objections raised by Jenkin. Even the allopatric theory, i.e., the theory that evolution occurred among small isolated groups, fails to do this.
An article with the same title as that used here, appeared a few months ago in a well known magazine, and received considerable attention. The point in it was that Darwin's notion of survival of the fittest was tautologous. Here the author points out that the fact that it has been possible for such an article to be published is no reason for creationists to become complacent. Moreover, it is pointed out, that there are available to creationists better lines of attack than to urge tautology. For Darwin's theory requires that there be something to be selected, that variations which amount to new species or kinds arise. But the evidence shows that nothing of the sort occurs.
It is easily documented even from the writing of evolutionists that fossil evidence for transitional forms is missing. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the probability of this, given the assumption that evolution occurred through micromutations. The conclusion is that transitional forms did not exist.