1. Problems In Intermediate Models of Origins
Jim Gibson
Geoscience Research Institute

2. PURPOSE
To show that all models of creation over long ages have scientific problems.
To show that no model of long age creation is better than the biblical view of recent six-day creation.

3. OUTLINE Introduction Problems in Long-age Creation Models
Problems in TE/Evolutionary Creation Models
Conclusions

4. What Is An “Intermediate Model”?
Intermediate models of origins are attempts to combine divine activity and long ages, in an “extended creation.”
Nature shows evidence of design.
This suggests divine involvement.
Science cannot study miracles.
Restricting design to natural processes requires long periods of time.

5. Two Classes of “Intermediate” Models
Immediate direct creations
Two creations, separated by long ages
Multiple creations over long ages
Gradual continuous evolution
“Evolutionary creation”
Theistic (“deistic”) evolution

6. OUTLINE Introduction Problems in Long-age Creation Models
Problems in TE/Evolutionary Creation Models
Conclusions

7. A Classification of Long-Age Creation Models
Distinguished by the meaning of “day” in Genesis 1
1. Literal, sequential days of creation
2. Non-literal, sequential days or “day-ages”
3. Non-literal, non-sequential “days”.

8. Long-Age Creation Models Literal, Sequential Days - 1
The “Active Gap” Theory
Original perfect creation long ages ago;
(accepts long-age time scale).
2. Satan corrupted the original creation,
producing the fossil record of death, etc.
3. Recent 2nd creation in six days as in
Genesis.

9. “Active” Gap Theory: Two Corrupted Creations
Genesis creation
Modern Humans
Birds
Terrestrial animals
Note that modern humans appear before the “Genesis” creation.
Marine animals
Corrupted by Satan
First creation

10. Problems With the Gap Theory
1. The model has no valid biblical support.
2. The model predicts an abrupt change or
gap in the fossil record between the first
and second creations. No such gap is found.
3. The model proposes that Satan corrupted
God’s original creation, yet the results are
indistinguishable from God’s second
creation.

11. Long-Age Creation Models Literal, Sequential Days - 2
The Multiple Gap Theory
(= Intermittent Day Theory)
1. Six literal days of creation.
2. The days separated by long ages.
3. Same creation sequence as in Genesis.

12. Multiple Gap Theory: Many Corrupted Creations
Modern Humans
Fruit trees
Birds
Dinosaurs
Land vertebrates
Marine animals
Note the sequence of “creation” based on fossil record.
Microbes

13. Problems With the Multiple Gap Theory
1. The model has no valid Biblical support.
2. The fossil sequence conflicts with the Genesis creation sequence. (see below)

14. Comparison of Fossil Sequence with Genesis Sequence
First marine creatures
Swamp plants, insects
Flying insects,
land vertebrates
“Mammals”
Birds
Fruit-bearing trees
Humans
Genesis Sequence
(3) Land plants, Fruit-bearing trees
(5) Water creatures, Flying creatures
(6) Land creatures, Humans

15. Long-Age Creation Models Non-literal, Sequential “Days”
The “Day-Age Theory”
(Includes “Overlapping Day” Theory and “Relativistic Day” Theory)
1. Six successive creation periods.
2. Creation sequence as in Genesis.

16. Day-Age Theory: Six Stages of Creation.
Modern Humans
Age 3: Fossil fruit trees
Age 5: Flying animals
Age 6: Land animals
Fossil insect
Age 6 Fossil scorpion
Note: Land creatures (D6) come befoe flying creatures (D5); and fruit trees (D3) come after animals (D5 and 6)
Age 5: Marine animals
Age 3: Formation of the Earth, plants
Age 2: Expansion of the universe
Age 1: Light from Big Bang

17. Problems With the Day-Age Theory
1. The model has no valid Biblical support.
2. The fossil sequence conflicts with the
Genesis creation sequence.
3. In Genesis, the Earth is present before
light. The day-age theory puts Day 1
light before the planet.

18. Problems with the “Serial Creation” Model
1. Inconsistent Biblical exegesis.
2. Implies serial mass destructions.
3. Scientifically, entirely conjectural, ad hoc.
4. Scientifically, is no better than saying
that God supernaturally arranged
the fossil sequence during the Flood.
5. The version that humans were created 6,000
years ago negates the rest of creation week,
doesn’t explain “pre-Adamites.”

19. Kenneth Miller 1999 (Finding Darwin’s God, p 128)
Serial Destructions
Kenneth Miller 1999 (Finding Darwin’s God, p 128)
“Intelligent design [long-age creation] does a terrible disservice to God by casting Him as a magician who periodically creates and creates and then creates again throughout the geologic ages Why did this magician, in order to produce the contemporary world, find it necessary to create and destroy creatures, habitats, and ecosystems millions of times over?”

20. Theological Problems With All Long-age Creation Models*
1. Death before sin – lost meaning of Jesus
2. No curses – suffering, death natural
3. No 7th-day Sabbath – no six-day creation
4. Bible not reliable – creation story only myth
*Except “Active gap theory,” which doesn’t work textually or scientifically.

21. Evolutionary Creation Theory:
Continuous
Active “Creation” and Multiple Catastrophes
Modern Humans evolved
Major extinction - Dinosaurs destroyed
Fruit trees evolved
Major extinction
Modern fauna evolved
Major extinction -
Paleozoic fauna destroyed
Major extinction
Major extinction Cambrian fauna destroyed
Paleozoic fauna evolved
Cambrian fauna evolved
Microbes created

22. Evolutionary Creation Theory:
Continuous
Active “Creation” and Multiple Catastrophes
Modern
Humans
Modern fauna
Fruit
Trees
Paleozoic fauna
Cambrian fauna
Microbes

23. Problems with “Evolutionary Creation/ “Tinkering” Evolution
1. The fossil sequence does not appear to
reflect a continuous process – many gaps.
2. The fossil sequence does not appear
to be intelligently guided –
many extinctions.
3. Genetic diseases do not appear to
be divinely directed – produce evil.

24. Theistic Evolution Models –2 Divinely Guided Evolution
God acts subtly to influence the direction of evolution (note pantheistic tendencies).
2. God’s actions are undetectable to us
and are constrained by natural law
(opposed to intelligent design).
3. Some theorists allow God to act in the
lives of believers.

25. Scientific Problems with Theistic Evolution
Nature appears to have many gaps:
Origin of living cells;
Origin of meiosis, sexual reproduction;
Origin of development, multicellularity;
Origin of mind, consciousness.
The fossil record has many gaps and abrupt
appearances.
Harmful mutations do not appear to be guided
by God.

26. Philosophical Problems with Theistic Evolution
1. If natural law is sufficient to explain
evolution, why propose an invisible,
undetectable God also?
2. If God created, why would He not
continue to care for His creation?
3. Why should death occur in such a
system that produces life naturally?
4. What is the explanation for evil?

27. Theological Problems With All “Extended Creation” Models
Death before sin – lost meaning of Jesus
No Adam and Eve – gradually human
3. No “image of God” – created from animals; (unless a “soul” is implanted)
4. No Fall, no curses – suffering, death natural
5. No 7th-day Sabbath – no six-day creation
6. Bible not reliable – creation only a myth

28. OUTLINE Introduction Problems in Long-age Creation Models
Problems in TE/Evolutionary Creation Models
Summary and Conclusions

29. Results 1. No model of origins escapes scientific
problems; science cannot explain origins.
2. None of the long-age models enjoys
experimental support, or Biblical support.
3. All long-age models affirm death before sin,
corrupting the gospel.

30. Telling the Story of Jesus
The Church’s mission is to tell the story of Jesus.
Before a model of origins can be seriously considered, one must first hear the story of Jesus in the context of that model.
This is sufficient reason to reject all intermediate models.

31. There Is More to Nature than Science Can Discover
Conclusions
There Is More to Nature than Science Can Discover
It would be a tragic irony if we rejected the biblical model because of its alleged scientific problems, and adopted another model that not only has scientific problems, but also a multitude of theological problems.

32. THE END
I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
Isaiah 45:12