Is there evidenceIs there evidencein the Rocks for Evolutionin the Rocks for Evolution

in past ages?in past ages?

Is there evidenceIs there evidencein the Rocks for Evolutionin the Rocks for Evolution

in past ages?in past ages?

WHAT WHAT DODO THE FOSSILS THE FOSSILS

TELL US?TELL US?

TYPES OF ROCKSTYPES OF ROCKS

1. 1. IGNEOUSIGNEOUS – were once molten (as they – were once molten (as they are more than 50 miles deep down)are more than 50 miles deep down)– contain no fossils!contain no fossils!– E.g. granite, basalt, felsparE.g. granite, basalt, felspar

2. 2. SEDIMENTARYSEDIMENTARY – were laid down as – were laid down as sediment during flood(s) – in layerssediment during flood(s) – in layers

- Many fossils hereMany fossils here- E.g. sandstone, limestone, coal seams, shaleE.g. sandstone, limestone, coal seams, shale

IGNEOUS ROCK – BASALT COLUMNS

SEDIMENTARY ROCK

IN LAYERS (STRATA)

FOSSILISED

TREE TRUNK

FOSSIL 100 cm x 40 cm

How to become a How to become a Fossil ?Fossil ?

How to become a How to become a Fossil ?Fossil ?

No! No!Yes!

THE“GEOLOGICALCOLUMN”

HEAD-LINE CLAIMS ARE - HEAD-LINE CLAIMS ARE -

“The fossil record grows more The fossil record grows more complete all the time, and shows a complete all the time, and shows a clear sequence of change.”clear sequence of change.”

- from the BBC website 2009 - from the BBC website 2009

BUT actually … !BUT actually … !

""geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain and this perhaps is the graduated organic chain and this perhaps is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be most obvious and gravest objection which can be used against my theoryused against my theory".".

Charles Darwin, Charles Darwin, 18591859

““I fully agree with your comments on the I fully agree with your comments on the lack of direct illustration of evolutionary lack of direct illustration of evolutionary transitions in my book. If I knew of any, transitions in my book. If I knew of any, fossil or living, I would certainly have fossil or living, I would certainly have included them.included them.

I will lay it on the line — there is not I will lay it on the line — there is not one such fossil for which one could one such fossil for which one could make a watertight argument.”make a watertight argument.”

In 1979, Colin Patterson, Senior In 1979, Colin Patterson, Senior Palaeontologist at the British Museum of Palaeontologist at the British Museum of

Natural History in London, wrote:Natural History in London, wrote:

“…“…. in the ‘Origin of Species’ Darwin showed . in the ‘Origin of Species’ Darwin showed that the record was useless for testing between that the record was useless for testing between evolution and special creation because it has evolution and special creation because it has great gaps in it. The same argument still applies. great gaps in it. The same argument still applies.

Prof. Richard Dawkins, Oxford University, Prof. Richard Dawkins, Oxford University, 20052005

... In any case, no real evolutionist uses the ... In any case, no real evolutionist uses the fossil record as evidence in favour of the theory fossil record as evidence in favour of the theory of evolution as opposed to special creation.”of evolution as opposed to special creation.”

MISSING LINKS are MISSING LINKS are notnot there theredespite the head-line claimsdespite the head-line claims

FOSSILS GIVE AGE OF FOSSILS GIVE AGE OF ROCKS?ROCKS?• ““Because plants and animals evolve over Because plants and animals evolve over

time, we can use fossils to estimate the time, we can use fossils to estimate the age of the rocks” (Museum, 2009)age of the rocks” (Museum, 2009)

• ““The age of the fossil is given by The age of the fossil is given by reference to the rock in which it is found”reference to the rock in which it is found”

• ““The oldest rocks are estimated to be The oldest rocks are estimated to be about 2,000,000,000 years old”about 2,000,000,000 years old”

??

How old is the earth?How old is the earth?55 thousand million years?? thousand million years??

Measure Radioactivity in some igneous rocks- rate for uranium to change into lead (half-life)?

- eg 1 g per million yrs per ton- how much lead now in sample? - eg 25 g per ton- calculate age = 25 million yrs !

ONLY IF - RATE HASN’T CHANGED OVER 25 MILLION YRS

AND IF - THERE WAS NO LEAD IN SAMPLE TO START WITH

EXTRAPOLATIONEXTRAPOLATION - CAN BE - CAN BE DANGEROUS! “DANGEROUS! “True here” is not True here” is not

always “True there”!always “True there”!• expansion of steel rod, 0 - 1200 degrees expansion of steel rod, 0 - 1200 degrees

- then 1200 – 2200 - then 1200 – 2200 degrees??degrees??

• growth of child, 1-17 yrsgrowth of child, 1-17 yrs

- then 17-70 yrs??- then 17-70 yrs??

• in Earth’s present statein Earth’s present state

– – then at the beginning??then at the beginning??

– – in outer space??in outer space??

Examining the Examining the EvidenceEvidence

Examining the Examining the EvidenceEvidence

Morphology / SpeciesMorphology / Species

TimeTimeCambrianCambrian

PrecambrianPrecambrian

Darwinian Model

Actual Actual DataData

Sudden appearance of complex creatures

Created after their kind

Sudden appearance of complex creatures

Created after their kind

Tree of life

PROBLEMS FOR EVOLUTION PROBLEMS FOR EVOLUTION THEORYTHEORY

• 1. “Earliest” fossils already very 1. “Earliest” fossils already very complex complex

– – no “simpler” ones existno “simpler” ones exist

- the “Cambrian explosion”- the “Cambrian explosion”

• 2. 2. No missing linksNo missing links – no hybrid life forms – no hybrid life forms

– – all defined typesall defined types

• 3. Column 3. Column incompleteincomplete, many strata , many strata invertedinverted, , - fossils in “wrong” place- fossils in “wrong” place

older than older than its its

supposed supposed dinosaur dinosaur

ancestors !ancestors !

ArchaeopterArchaeopteryxyx

Long time!Long time!- is a problem for evolution!- is a problem for evolution!

• Goes towards equilibrium stabilityGoes towards equilibrium stability

= less complexity, not more= less complexity, not more

• Loss of variety = extinctionLoss of variety = extinction

• Energy becomes less usefulEnergy becomes less useful

• ““Ice ages” interuptIce ages” interupt

• Best explanation uses Best explanation uses the Biblical story of the the Biblical story of the Great Flood of Genesis 6-7Great Flood of Genesis 6-7

FOSSILISATION -FOSSILISATION -

• Erosion and destruction everywhereErosion and destruction everywhere

• Creatures rapidly buried in flood-borne Creatures rapidly buried in flood-borne siltsilt

- then cementation/petrification- then cementation/petrification

• More mobile creatures escape longestMore mobile creatures escape longest

• Layers are zones of habitatLayers are zones of habitat

– – ecological zones ecological zones

- - not chronological recordnot chronological record

SEA / WATER

DRY LAND

FOSSILISATION -FOSSILISATION -

• Rapid burial in flood-borne siltRapid burial in flood-borne silt

• Layers are zones of habitatLayers are zones of habitat

- - not chronological recordnot chronological record

- a lot of water not a lot of time!- a lot of water not a lot of time!

• Violent hydrological sorting/stirringViolent hydrological sorting/stirring

• Huge volcanic activity - changes in Huge volcanic activity - changes in stratastrata

HUGE CHANGES AT HUGE CHANGES AT FLOODFLOOD

• TOPOGRAPHY – higher + deeperTOPOGRAPHY – higher + deeper• TECTONICS – drift, separation, volcanoes TECTONICS – drift, separation, volcanoes • ATMOSPHERE – water vapour canopy lost ATMOSPHERE – water vapour canopy lost

(immense rainfall) – less benign climate(immense rainfall) – less benign climate• EXTINCTION – adapt to survive, or perishEXTINCTION – adapt to survive, or perish• REPOPULATION – 3 distinct branches of REPOPULATION – 3 distinct branches of

human race human race - - from 3 couples to 6 billion in ~ 5,000 yrsfrom 3 couples to 6 billion in ~ 5,000 yrs(average 2.5 children per family in stable times) (average 2.5 children per family in stable times)

VIOLENT – water from above & beneath

40 days of rain - YEAR LONG FLOOD

WORLDWIDE

CAUSE OF IT EXPLAINED

WhatWhat dodo the the

fossilsfossils tell tell us?us?

• God

judges

sin

• God provides salvation

A FLOOD-PROOF ARKA FLOOD-PROOF ARK

Warning of judgement – coming soon!

Invitation to come on board – plenty room!

Guarantee of safety - all the way

Rainbow Promise - of blessing

A JUDGEMENT-PROOFA JUDGEMENT-PROOFSALVATIONSALVATION

– Needed?Needed? … by … by me?me?

– Available? Available? … for all?… for all?– Guaranteed? Guaranteed? … …

forever?forever?

JESUS CHRIST SAID –

“Come to Me … – and I will give you rest” Matthew 11.28

“Whoever comes to Me – I will never cast them out” John

6.37

“I give to them eternal life – and they shall never perish” John

10.28