June 13, 1999
"Science" and our
"Ancestors"
[Unless otherwise noted, the following quotes are taken from Acts
and Facts, September, 1997, in an article by Frank Sherwin entitled, "'Human
Evolution' An Update." This publication is free. Occasionally there will be some
excellent articles on evolution and creation. Be aware, however, it will also contain
premillenial doctrine and denominational error about salvation. If interested in receiving
it, write, Institute for Creation Research, P. O. Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021.]
"Science" means "knowledge." While scientific research has benefited
mankind, much parades under the banner of "science" that is not
"known" (proven and capable of demonstration) and is later exposed as false. One
field in which this is true is that of our so-called "ancestors." Remember what
you were taught in school (and what your children are being taught now)? Read the
following (the bold and underline is added for emphasis) . . .
"In December 1996, one of the world's leading paleoanthropologists and
archaeologists, the late Mary Leakey, said: 'All those trees of life with their
branches of our ancestors, that's a lot of nonsense.' . . . At almost the same time
as this startling pronouncement, Carl Swisher of the Berkeley Geochronology Center
'... published his results and set the world of anthropology on its head' (Newsweek, December
23, 1996). Why? Swisher's discovery places Java Man (H. erectus), in the era of
modern humans ... and argue(s) against an ancestral relationship" (Macleans
Magazine, science section, December 23, 1996)." . . .
"Much of what we see in evolutionary science magazines and television science
programs is artistic speculation. Boyce Rensberger, writing in Science in 1981
states: 'Unfortunately, the vast majority of artist's conceptions are based more on
imagination than on evidence. But a handful of expert natural-history artists begin
with the fossil bones of a hominid and work from there.... Much of the reconstruction,
however, is guesswork. Bones say nothing about the fleshy parts of the nose, lips, or
ears . . . Hairiness is a matter of pure conjecture. The guesswork approach often
leads to errors.'"
Did you know . . . ? The Piltdown Man turned out to be hoax. The Nebraska
Man, appealed to in proof of evolution by Clarence Darrow (lawyer for the evolutionist
in the Monkey Trial) turned out to be from the tooth of a pig. According to Drs. W.
L. Straus and A. J. E. Cave of John Hopkins Medical University, Laboratory of Physical
Anthropology and the Department of Anatomy, the first Neanderthal skeleton found had
osteo-arthritus. They said, "There is nothing about the Neanderthal man
that would necessarily cause him to walk differently than ourselves . . . Yet
Neanderthal man with 'arthritis" has been posing for half a century in museums and
countless textbooks, illustrating the supposed transition from 'stooped-over' to
erect'." Difficulties in the Theory of Evolution by A. O. Schnabel, p. 6. Java
Man is constructed from a thigh bone, a few teeth, and a fragment of a cranium, and it
cannot be determined with certainty that they are even from the same skeleton. Cro-Magnon
Man is "indistinguishable from modern Europeans." "In a 1995 biology
text published by Prentice Hall, the two authors state: 'At the present time, scientists
cannot agree on how many species of Australopithecus there were or whether
or not they were the ancestors of human beings.'"
"A 1994 issue of Time magazine said: 'Yet despite more than a century of
digging, the fossil record remains maddeningly sparse. With so few clues, even a
single bone that doesn't fit into the picture can upset everything. Virtually every major
discovery has put deep cracks in the conventional wisdom and forced scientists to concoct
new theories, amid furious debated.'"
There were those in Paul's day claiming to possess a specialized knowledge unavailable to
the masses. He warned Timothy, "keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding
profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called"
(KJV). Good advice today!
I believe I'll take my stand on the solid rock of God's Word: "In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth . . . And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness" (Gen. 1:1,26). Time after time it has been vindicated while
so-called" science" has been proven wrong. I'll continue to sing with joy and
confidence, "Give Me the Bible . . ." What about you? srf
News of Interest
Lisa Hodges was baptized in Louisiana on Monday night of last week. Pray for
her commitment to her confession and her growth in the Lord . . . New reports posted on
the bulletin board in the foyer: Steve Rudd; Vicente Ramirez; Leon Cathey .
. . If among the last to leave let's check the door at the end of the hall to be sure it
is locked . . . "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God
which has been given in the churches of Macedonia . . ." 2 Cor. 8:1, NASB. Thus
Paul used the Macedonians zealous and gracious attitude to encourage the Corinthians.
Likewise, allow me to make know the zealous and gracious attitude of the brethren in El
Reno, OK, where I recently preached in a gospel meeting. One lunch, two widowed ladies
took us out. One lunch, a single widowed sister took us out. One lunch, two ladies whose
husbands were working took us out. Another lunch, a young couple who had several children
and was keeping others took us out on the husband's day off. The church has only about 60
in attendance. Two meals a day were scheduled and they were all filled. Some had to swap
times due to schedules, but swap they did. We have over 100 in attendance. Should we do
any less? In addition, three nights after the assemblies the Buxtons (with whom we
were staying) opened their home to the members and visitors, and on the final night one of
the young couples took this responsibility. A good number of members and visitors did come
and it provided further opportunity to know one another better and to renew old
acquaintances. Let's let the Tripletts know we are glad they have come to be with us in
this special effort in the kingdom and use this opportunity to get to know and appreciate
them better and to enjoy one another.
-- June --