Evolution Impossible: 12 Reasons Why Evolution Cannot Explain Life on Earth

by John F. Ashton

There is scientific evidence proving evolution cannot be responsible for life on Earth. In Evolution Impossible, Dr. John Ashton uses discoveries in genetics, biochemistry, geology, radiometric dating, and other scientific disciplines to explain why the theory of evolution is a myth. Regardless of your level of scientific education, you will finish this book able to cite 12 reasons why evolution cannot explain the origin of life.

Genres: Science, Christian, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2012

About the author

Dr. John F. Ashton PhD CChem FRACI is an Australian scientist. He writes, edits and co-authors books which provide evidence for creation and the historical accuracy of the Bible. He also co-authors books on health and nutrition.

He holds research degrees in both chemistry and philosophy and is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Applied Sciences at RMIT University, Melbourne and as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at Victoria University.

Reviews

[Jae Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Today, many of us Christians are mislead to think that if God is true and Christ is our savior, then evolution cannot be true.

I am a Christian, and with some research, I have found that the theory of evolution, for the most part is correct. I personally feel that it's not a big deal to stay ignorant, and think what you want to think; but belief in creationism and denial of science is dangerous. If the statement that "If God is true, then evolution cannot be true" is actually correct, then the inverse must also be correct "If evolution is true, then God cannot be true."

Here is a link to a great sermon on this topic, and I will be using some of this pastor's points to hopefully get you to think a little bit (though not all points will come from this sermon). http://biologos.org/blog/maker-of-hea...

1. How does evolution explain the creation of life on Earth?
The theory of evolution does NOT try to claim to explain how life arose. The theory of evolution only deals with the change in life. That goes to show you that Dr. Ashton (who is not an evolutionary biologist, but a food scientist) really has very little understanding of the subject.

2. Have you read the bible? It says here in Genesis 1 that...
Yes, I have read the bible from beginning to end. And I believe it to be completely true. But that is not to say that I believe that everything is literal. If the creation story is taken literally, word for word, then there are some seriously weird things going on. Take Adam and Eve, who had 2 sons: Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel, and in Genesis 4:14, who is he so afraid of that will kill him? Then in verse 17, who was his wife? If Genesis is a word for word account, there is no mention of Adam and Eve having any daughters.

3. But Dr. Ashton says that there can be no good mutation and all mutations are harmful!
The blue eye color in humans is a mutation, which obviously was not harmful. And if we say that there are mutations that are harmful, logic would dictate that there must be some mutations that are advantageous.

4. But Dr. Ashton says that there's a scientific cover up, and that anything that denies evolution is ignored!
Scientists are a group of people, who LOVE to prove each other wrong. Hence, if there is an incorrect theory, other scientists would be the first ones to point it out. Also, there is a part in this book where dr. Ashton says that top evolutionary scientists got together, and one was quoted saying "Basically, I don't think anyone knows how evolution works." When reading this book, that line made me think, "So scientists don't even know how evolution works!" but when I reread the book, I understood that to mean, "So the general public (who doesn't believe in evolution) doesn't understand how evolution works." This book is very skewed to make you think that evolution is a lie.

I could go on and on. But to cut it short, there are way too many things that don't make sense if evolution were not true.

1. Diversity
If we were all created, and created so that we do not evolve, then our genetic make up should be identical. We would all still have brown eyes, all our skin colors should be the same, and generations of offspring should look the same. How does a tiger and lion mate and create offspring? That should be impossible of they never shared some sort of ancestry.

2. Vestigial relics
Why do whales have hind leg bones (if you've ever seen a whale skeleton at the Natural History Museum, you might have wondered what those extra bones that are floating near it's tale are)? Why do we still have a tendon in our arms that function to retract nails (when we obviously can't do that) Why do we have an appendix? Why are some babies born with tails? Why do ostriches have wings? Why do we have wisdom teeth?

3. DNA
If we were created, then why would we have so much junk material in our DNA? Why would our DNA be so similar to chimps? And likewise, why are similar animals also similar in genetic material?

If the bible were a source for all information, why doesn't it mention atomic theory? Why doesn't it mention all the animals that are in this world?

Most serious biblical scholars actually do not and did not take the Genesis account of creation literally. To name a few notable people: C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, and Billy Graham. You can't just read the bible and assume you can understand all of it word for word. You have to take into account the context, and the way it's written. In the sermon I linked above, Dave Swaim teaches us that the creation account is written in the form of a poem. It is like a parable, to teach us that God is our creator (just because evolution is true does not mean that God is not our creator), that God desires to have a relationship with us, about sin, etc.

Many of you will and have read the book "Evolution Impossible" will probably think the same things that I thought. When I first read it, I was excited, "So Creationism can be true!" is what I thought. "So there is really no proof for evolution!" But don't just confirm what you want to believe with this book. Confirmation bias will kick in and make this book feel more credible than it is. Read more books, do more research, and don't close your mind on the subject matter!

For another book by a Christian scientist, check out "Language of God" by Francis Collins who was the lead scientist in the Genome Project.

For proof of evolution, read "Why Evolution is True" by Jerry Coyne

Biologos.org is also a great resource for Christians who want to know more as well.

Please please please, do not close your mind! There were people who fought strongly against the idea that the Earth revolved around the sun, and were wrong. We have a history of taking things that are of no importance to our faith and making it way too important, so "important" that it causes people to lose faith!

[MegaSolipsist · Rating 1 out of 5]

John Ashton does not even understand the subject he is attempting to refute. Evolution does not occur through new organs or species being assembled by chance and random mutations.
He makes the same mistakes regarding irreducible complexity as Michael Behe made in his academically panned book 'Darwin's Black Box'.
He then proceeds to ignore all of the many thousands of transitional fossils that have been found over the years, such as Archaeopteryx, Tiktaalik, Australopithecus afarensis and more.
Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne is a much better book and is written by somebody who knows what they are talking about. I highly recommend it.

[Brandon Lehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you repeat something long enough, eventually people will come to believe it.

This pretty much sums up today's unquestioned endorsement of evolutionary theory.

Stop and think for a moment. When Darwin first proposed his ideas they would have seemed, dare I say, crazy. To the masses, the idea of something from nothing and that we all evolved slowly, starting as nearly invisibly small organisms, then building ourselves up through one species at a time towards what we are today, would have seemed ridiculous.

But today, you're crazy if you dare say otherwise. What changed? Well Darwin's ideas never have been novel to me. I was exposed to this line of thought since my earliest science classes. These ideas have continued to be presented without contest to repeated generations. Amazingly, we've come to believe them. But should we?

I find it amazing in our world of questioning everything and finding your own way, this subject is off limits, there can be no debate. What is everyone afraid of?

God. We would rather find comfort in the delusion of evolution, than face the reality of an all-powerful God, to whom we must give account.

Thankfully, there are those who will stand against the tide of popular opinion and seek the truth. Dr. John Ashton is one of these who have dared to question and test the credibility of evolutionary theory. His book Evolution Impossible, is a direct attack on the core beliefs of evolution. He questions the unquestionable, leaving us to question how the world could be so utterly fooled.

Can evolution be true?

One thing I like about Dr. Ashton's approach, is that rather than just focusing on finding proofs for creationism, he sets out to examine the claims of evolution itself, by meticulously explaining its core issues and beliefs, and then revealing the error of its ways using its same science against them. As he unfolds the truth, you will begin to see through the hype and assumptions on which the entire theory rests.

Obviously, much of the material is rather technical in nature, but thankfully it is written in such way as to be accessible to most. I recommend this book to everyone. We need to be willing to confront the unsubstantiated claims of evolution, leading people to examine the truth, while proclaiming the God and Savior of all creation.

Here are the twelve reasons why evolution cannot explain the origin of life on Earth that Dr. John Ashton covers in his book. Not being all that scientific myself, these may not seem all that impressive at first, but if you read the book you will easily see just how much they are.

1. Mutations do not produce new purposeful genetic information.
2. Evolution of a new species as a result of new genetic code arising has never been observed.
3. There is no proven mechanism that can explain how new purposeful genetic information could arise, and statistically it is impossible.
4. There is no known proven mechanism that can explain all the steps for a living cell to form from nonliving molecules (abiogenesis), and statistically it is impossible.
5. Abiogenesis has never been observed and all experiments to initiate it have failed.
6. The fossil record is a record of extinction of fully formed animals and plants- not a record of the evolution of life forms.
7. There are no fossils of proven mutant evolutionary intermediate organisms, yet there should be millions and millions of fossils of such mutations. That is, we have no evidence of actual evolution in the fossil record.
8. Some of the oldest fossil-bearing rocks contain fully developed advanced animals such as trilobites, with no evidence of evolutionary ancestors.
9. Erosion rates for the continents are too fast for the continents and their fossil content to be old enough for supposed evolution to occur.
10. There are not enough ocean sediments or volcanic deposits for the continents to be old enough to allow for supposed evolution.
11. Radiometric dating results give old ages for recent rock, so we cannot accurately "know" the age of rocks. Also, the finding of carbon-14 in coal and diamonds means that these deposits must be less than 100,000 years old, indicating insufficient time for supposed evolution.
12. The rate of mutation of DNA currently observed suggest that DNA must be less than 100,000 years old, which is not enough time for supposed evolution.

Right now the Kindle edition is on sale for $1.99 Evolution Impossible

I'd like to thank Master Books for sending me this free copy for review.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The theory of evolution has been around for less than 300 years. Belief in divine creation has existed since the creation of man. Current secular scientists would have us believe that there is not, nor has there ever been, any serious doubt concerning the veracity of their claims.

The new book, Evolution Impossible, tackles the theory of evolution head on and delivers some very helpful, and encouraging, insight into the truth about what the science really tells us about our origins.

Dr. Ashton realized that evolutionist were making the claim that evolution is a ‘proven fact’, but her were no published papers to support these claims. Dr. Ashton’s researched revealed that, no only was evidence for the ‘theory of evolution’ lacking, there was much published evidence that showed the theory to be highly improbable.

In Evolution Impossible, Dr. Ashton presents clear and compelling evidence that the idea of creation fits the actual scientific facts much better than the theory of evolution. He gives easily understandable responses to the issues, such as:
-the similarity in chimp/human DNA
-the lack of transitional fossils (if evolution were true, transitional fossils would be abundant)
-the inability of adding any helpful information to genes
-the fact that it does not take nearly as long as evolutionists would have us belief it does to create the types of landscapes we see all around the world
-problems with current methods of dating rocks and fossils
-the bankruptcy of the ‘big bang’ model of our origins

Dr. Ashton shows that the probability of even the simplest cell forming by chance is so small as to be impossible. Even evolutionists would consider the probabilities to amount o an impossibility concerning any other theory. Nevertheless, they still cling to the belief that life formed by chance random processes.

The scientific facts and information reveal that the theory of evolution is impossible no matter how much time evolutionists says it took.

The book has some excellent information on how fossils form. Dr. Ashton states that the fossil record is actually a record of extinction, not evolution. It preserves a record of death, not of improvement.

A very interesting section of the book centers around names of cities and their connection with the people in the Bible who existed right after the flood.

This book helped me solidify concepts that were forming in my biblical worldview. I have been studying the ‘theory of evolution versus Creation’ debate for some time now. I already had a reasonably good grasp on the problems inherent in the theory of evolution, but this book, not only helped me get better grasp of the facts, it presented material and concepts that were new to me.

Overall, this book is a solid defense of the six literal day creation of the universe by the Creator, God. It is difficult to imagine the evolutionist’s response to the clear scientific facts presented in Dr. Ashton’s book. Scientists, who claim to deal in facts, should take this book very seriously.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as bad as Ken Ham, it's actually worse! ie John Ashton actually does know a lot of science, alas he allows his religious superstition to overrule massive amounts of data that points away from his young earth creationist views. the very cover announces a straw man, "reasons why evolution cannot explain life on earth". Seriously misses the boat here, ( he sides with Noah).

It's all downhill from the cover. He wants his science cake and eat it too. eg when genes of parts of them get deleted or don't copy - its information loss but when there's extra genes copies or insertions tadaa its not added information.

The book is a wonderful study of how intelligent people can get derailed by religion. To believe that Noah's flood was real, you don't have to be an idiot, sometimes it takes a lot of work, other times it's indoctrination.

Not worth wasting time doing a serious review of this awful book, basically its lying for Jesus ( albeit unwittingly I presume ).

For a better look at this awful book see ->
http://sandwalk.blogspot.com.au/2016/...

[Tony Breeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The back cover of John Ashton’s Evolution Impossible claim that his book is “one of the most compelling and authoritative rebuttals of evolution today!” It is a very strong book, filled with numerous examples of evidence against the premises of evolutionary theory.

The subtitle of the book states that the book promises to give us 12 reasons why evolution is impossible. Ashton does this, but the format of the book isn’t what you’d expect. Rather than dedicating a chapter to each reason, he covers them over the course of the book with a few extras thrown in. This is perhaps the book’s only weakness, making a final summary of the 12 reasons he’s covered something of a necessity.

Over the course of the book, he gives multiple examples from statistical research, biology, geology and history to demonstrate how fossils are evidence of extinction rather than evolution, why mutations don’t produce new genetic information, how geological data undermines old earth timelines and why evolution cannot explain the origin of life on Earth. One of Ashton’s strongest arguments is how he demonstrates the bankruptcy of uniformitarianism; giving multiple examples, he makes the simple yet elegant argument that “we do not observe fossils forming in the conditions that produce the regular annual alluvial deposits we see today, which presumably correspond to conditions that Lyell assumed for his calculations of great ages” [p. 73-74]. In other words, how can the present be the key to the past when we don’t see fossilization occurring today? Rather the fossil record is evidence for catastrophic burial.

Some surprises in the book include a scientific theory to explain pre-Flood lifespans as being due to deuterium water levels [chapter 8] and the whole of Chapter 13, where Ashton gives evidence of supernatural intervention in recorded history by an examination of fulfilled prophecy and accounts of premonitions, foreknowledge and angelic intervention. I had to read Chapter 13 twice. I give Ashton credit for making a case for supernatural intervention in Earth history in a book dedicated to refuting evolution, for preachers like myself full well realize that positive evidence for supernatural agency undermines any account of the world that assumes pure naturalism as its premise. It is not included as one of his 12 reasons, but if the book is reprinted I hope they’ll consider subtitling it “13 Reasons Why Evolution Cannot Explain the Origin of Life on Earth.”

I should also mention that chapter 12 contains an overview of some scientists who reject evolution found in the preceding chapter, also found in his other book In Six Days: Why 50 Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2001). There is also an appendix on approximate calculations of the dates of Creation and the Flood.

Again, Dr. John Ashton’s Evolution Impossible is a strong book and I highly recommend it.

You can find out more about Evolution Impossible at the publisher's website or by watching the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLYdWrZdmro&feature=player_embedded.

-Tony Breeden, from the Bookwyrm's Lair

Read more reviews from a Biblical creationist POV at http://bookwyrmslair.wordpress.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the New Leaf Publishing Group Book Bible Defender’s Review Team <http://www.creationconversations.com/group/bible-defenders>. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When examining the testimony of an expert, juries are often informed by the courts to consider the testimony of the expert and give it the weight they think it should have, the value of the testimony being for them to determine. Juries are not required to surrender their own judgment to that of any person testifying as an expert or otherwise.

I wish our science teachers were required to instruct us of the same when teaching us about the “fact” of evolution. As young impressionable children we often defer our own reasoning capacity to those we consider to be “experts”. Thus, so many of us are indoctrinated with the idea that human origins by and through evolution has been so established and so proven that we may as well question the existence of gravity as question the process of evolution.

Dr. John Ashton has done the “lay” people a tremendous service by compiling in this easy to read book 12 reasons (supported by valid and extensive scientific evidence) to reject the idea of origins through evolution.

In Evolution Impossible, he explains how the Theory of Evolution developed and identifies the many assumptions upon which it is based. Gathering data from many different scientific fields, Dr. Ashton elaborates upon the difference of what should be seen in nature based upon the Theory of Evolution, and what is actually observed.


If you have subscribed to the Theory of Evolution as a valid explanation of our origins, this book will shake the foundations upon which you formed that belief.


If you have questioned the Theory of Evolution and always been bothered by its claims, this book will affirm your suspicion that “Evolution” truly is not only unbelievable, but impossible.


You be the judge. You be the jury. You CAN decide for yourself. Don’t let “experts” dictate what you believe about where we came from and where we are going. And don’t make a decision without all of the evidence. Dr. Ashton’s book presents substantial evidence against the Theory of Evolution that you may never have even known existed.

[WriterR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book says it goes under Juvenile Non-fiction, but I don’t agree. There are many technical terms and some of the material was difficult for me to understand.

I was surprised when I learned about how many scientists know that the flood did happen and the earth is not millions of years old. If so many scientists know, then why don’t more of us know it, especially Christians.

I enjoyed chapter 14 and the list of twelve reasons for rejecting evolution. It really helped to bring the whole book together.

This book may be hard for someone to read and enjoy if they have preconceived notions and are unable to change. If people are open to change this book is great. We all need this book though, because time and time again evolution is being proven wrong. Pick up a copy today.

Disclosure- I received Evolution Impossible: 12 Reasons Why Evolution Cannot Explain the Origin of Life on Earth by Dr. John F. Ashton for free. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I’m disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this to any open minded person who is willing to take a look at science based arguments against the theory of evolution - from mathematics to geology and other well-reasoned and scientifically validated reasons to oppose current scientific dogma.

[Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this, I think our science textbooks need to be seriously updated. And since when did scientists stop being our pioneers for answers and truth? Scientists are meant to explore how this world works based on observation or proved theory through experimentation. Based on what I read in this book, that isn't happening. Instead scientists are desperately trying to adjust observation to explain their theories, or, when they can't do that, they go looking for new theories to explain what clearly, after 150 years, still doesn't have a single shred of evidence for its defense. And all because you don't want to believe in a universe that isn't purely materialistic? All because you don't want to acknowledge that Someone might be the cause for all the scientific brilliance you spend your life researching? Come on!

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of either/or options. Often times when we are given two options to choose from we are mislead into thinking those are the only two options and that one of them contains the totality of known truth on that particular subject. Though often this is not the case, sometimes it is. One of the few areas in which I believe this is the case is the debate between macroevolution and microevolution as the explanation for the similarity and diversity we find within all of life. In short, this is an option between either Dawrinian evolution (DE) by random chance purposeless natural selection or the creation of all living things by God through the initial creation of kind and the subsequent creation of the diversity within kind through microevolution. If macroevolution is the mechanism by which all living things came into existence then the Bible’s account of creation is not and vice versa. It is a truly either/or situation.

Following a long line of books seeking to refute the claims of DE is a new books by Dr. John F. Ashton, Evolution Impossible: 12 Reasons Why Evolution Cannot Explain the Origin of Life on Earth. Dr. Ashton is a proponent of creation science and written several books on the subject with Master Books. Ashton is an adjunct professor of biomedical and applied sciences in Melbourne, Australia. Evolution Impossible follows two of Ashton’s previous works, In Six Days: 50 Scientists explain Why They Believe in Creation and On the Seventh Day: 40 Scientists and Academics explain Why They Believe in God, and seeks to summarize their content.

Evolution Impossible is a book defending creationism and the belief in creation in 6 literal 24 hr. days and a worldwide flood. It does this primarily by refuting the claims of DE that (1) life began through the process known as abiogenesis (life coming from non-life) and (2) that, once started, all of the diversity of life we see came about by macroevolution over the course of millions and billions of years. The basic assumption of macroevolution is that everything originated from a single celled organism and evolved over vast amounts of time to the present. So, Ashton seeks to defend his position primarily by showing how DE is not a valid theory to explain the existence and diversity of life. In a way, Ashton is making the case that the burden of proof is on the side of DE proponents because their theory is indefensible and not as assuredly assumed as they would like to think.

Dr. Ashton accomplishes this task by addressing twelve lines of support DE proponents give in defense of their theory, only a few of which I will touch on.

Abiogenesis and Natural Selection

One of the most audacious claim of DE supporters is that an original living cell, from which all of life evolved from, originated by chance. This is behind the teem aboigenesis which is the belief that life comes from non-life. What is perhaps worse is that, though there is no substantial or defensible proof for this, this theory is purported to be a scientific fact that is propagated in all science text books. What Ashton does first is show that based on all that we know about both the structure/makeup and formation/development of life as we observe it this is indefensible. Ashton states

"If it can be shown that it is absolutely impossible for a living organism to arise by natural processes from nonliving matter, then the theory of evolution would be without foundation and unable to provide the complete mechanical-naturalistic explanation of how we came to be here.: (p. 37).

After a short discussion on how cells form and how many would have to form in the right pattern (among other things) Ashton concludes that

"For the first life to start from nonliving matter, thousands of specialized large complex molecules must somehow be synthesized in very large numbers from simple small inorganic molecules. These molecules then have to come together randomly over and over again until somehow the structure of the cell is formed. This remarkable and complex structure would still, however, not be alive. To become alive, hundreds of metabolic reactions wold have to be initiated, with the metabolic intermediaries already in place at just the right concentrations so that the reactions went the right way." (p. 43)

One does not have to be a scientist to realize that DE is asking for more than life itself can give. There is so much required, that is not present, in order for DE to be possible that it is highly statistically impossible.

But the improbability of DE’s case is further seen when we move from the beginning of life to the continuation and development or the diversity of life. Here we run into the belief that all of the diversity of life that we see came about by the process of natural selection. In this discussion Ashton overviews the three types of evolution:

Type 1 Evolution – This “involves no new additional genetic information being formed. It commonly involves the loss of preexisting genetic information that results in changes to the inherited genetic code in the offspring, making it different from the parent” (p. 51) Here we have changes within the same kind of organism and thus the loss of the genetic information does not produce a new kind of organism but rather a variation of the same kind of organism.

Type 2 Evolution – This “involves the transfer of new genetic information from one organism into another organism. That is, additional new genetic information enters the DNA of an organism via, for example, virus-like proteins or by plasmids that can carry specific genes.” (p. 55) This is not the creation of a new organism but rather the transfer of genetic information from one to another thus creating a new strain – not type.

Type 3 Evolution – This would require “the generation of totally new useful genetic information within the DNA code of an organism by some supposed process in nature, which results in a completely new function that has never occurred before.” (p. 56) This is the creation of completely new organisms from previously existing organisms of a different kind.

Ashton rightly points out that the examples used in text books to to prove type 3 evolution are actually examples of type 1 evolution. This fits with the fact that we do observe type 1 evolution and have never observed type 3. Further, type 3 evolution has never been observed by anyone neither is it probable for it to occur and develop all of life within the 4 billion years of supposed evolutionary time (p. 60).

Fossil Record

Within the DE theory of millions of years is a connection between macroevolution and the fossil record. Over the course of several chapters Ashton discusses various theories and assumptions held by DE proponents such as uniformitarianism and the geological time scale (see also pgs. 136-37). Ashton thoroughly discusses the contents of sedimentary rocks and how they are formed by “the action of water.” (p. 67) One of the key points Ashton brings out time and time again is how sedimentary rocks are formed by water – massive amounts of it. With this in mind, there are four basic lines of evidence concerning the fossil record:

1. Virtually all of the fossils used by DE supporters to support macroevolution are found in sedimentary rocks. These are fossils that “are mainly found in rocks formed under water.” (p. 73)

2. These sedimentary rocks are found all over the world.

3. In order for this fossilization to occur, the plants and animals contained in the sedimentary rocks “had to be buried rapidly so that they would not rot or decay, or be eaten or break up under weatherizing conditions.” (p. 73)

4. The fossil record clearly shows that there were a large number of plants and animals that existed in the past which no longer exist today. It is agreed on by both sides of the issue that 98-99 percent of all animals that have ever existed are now extinct. Thus, the fossil record is a record of extinction of preexisting lifeforms rather than transition from one to another.

One contemporary example of rapid and massive sedimentary rock formation is Mt. St. Helen’s. After her eruption in May of 1980 massive amounts of strata formed in just a few hours. This would normally be interpreted by DE as having happened over thousands of years. In order for the worldwide and massive amounts of fossils we see today to have occurred there had to be a universal event requiring water. Contrary to the claims of DE of all the fossil beds taking millions of years to develop, the fossil record (based on how we know sedimentary rocks form) could only have been laid down several thousand years ago.

Following discussion of the requirements for the formation of sedimentary rocks, Ashton discusses the absence of transitional fossils, pointing out that what we see is immediate presence of multi-cell organisms in the fossil record along side single-cell organisms. Even the late Stephen J. Gould admitted that the fossil record contains no transitional fossils (p. 94). Further, there is the reality that DNA and intact protein sequences contained in a fossil only last so long and would not be detectable millions of years later (p. 131).

Conclusion

While I have not read all of the books out there testing the claims of DE, I think Evolution Impossible is the best one I have read yet. Ashton is clear and concise. He is heavily footnoted and deals with the issues head on. Ashton lets the scientific evidence speak for itself. What becomes clear is that proponents of DE have an agenda to remove God from the picture. They need millions of years of life forming in order to do this.

Evolution Impossible is a book every Christian should read. It would make a great learning tool for school and can be the catalyst for further learning in the areas discussed.

NOTE: I received this book for free from Master Books in return for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

[Rob Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really there can be no question - Darwinian Evolution (I don't know how one defines it, but this seems to be clear?) is in serious trouble. It has failed the test of scientific theory - namely it has not been able to explain consistent with its precepts the ever expanding findings of biology and genetics (more fields I'm unqualified to exactly define).

Ashton brings an extremely strong argument, explaining at a layman's level where these weaknesses arise. He provides a great educational overview of cutting edge science. Essentially as he says, evolution arose in the age of machines; and Darwin imagined some kind of fine tuning of machines adding gradual change could explain the world we live in. However what we have now discovered is that the building blocks of life are not machines at all, but rather information that is so incredibly complicated it could not arise accidentally (the machine age has passed into the information age!). Genes, DNA, proteins etc are really all complex information carriers - language encoded in vast chemical structures; and evolution cannot explain the proverbial works of Shakespeare appearing by random action (although Ashton doesn't use that analogy)

Ashton also makes a very good point that the fossil record is a record of extinctions not of evolution... and a complicated confused record at that! He is probably less strong in physics trying to discount the big bang - although he makes the telling point that has been made elsewhere - that physics has stagnated failing to advance so that perhaps something is wrong at the heart.

Regrettably in our day (indeed also so in the past, albeit for different reasons), science is gone down far too many cul-de-sacs - especially physics (CERN's failures), climate change, coronavirus madness and above all evolution. Science has entered these dead-ends for philosophical reasons, through sociological response and above all in the pursuit of money; thus these drivers mean science can't turn back, instead getting deeper and deeper into absurdities, contrary to any revealed evidence.

Nevertheless I feel Ashton is a little premature in announcing the death of evolution. An entirely 'new force' may yet one day be discovered that produces a new paradigm in much the same way radiation and DNA foundationally underpin so much of our current science (and indeed Ashton's arguments here counteracting Darwin's naivety) . Such has happened before and will happen again and the whole whirligig will start afresh.

A belief or an argument for Intelligent Design does not actually necessitate an overly literal reading of the first part of Genesis and Ashton doesn't really do himself any favours here. He actually weakens the strength of his previous arguments by going too far the other way. There is certainly a strong scientific argument both for global floods as cataclysmic extinction events (several of them in fact, including that of the dinosaurs with flood caused by the asteroid strike) and also for an historical Noah flood on the cusp of civilisation; but Ashton just seems to be working on the assumption these can collapse into one biblical flood on supposition alone.

Without question God exists and Jesus is His son! There is intelligent design at work, but the mechanisms to explain this remain in question! Ashton's chapter 13 on evidence for an intervening God was surprisingly good, but maybe it was a mistake in the context of this book. Really what this chapter was, is evidence there still remain things we can't explain and Ashton fails to make this point against evolution. Instead he is taking too great a leap saying we must automatically accept a literal Genesis chapters 1 - 9 (or 12). These biblical chapters contain absolute truth, but by nature are theological rather than scientific explanations. All the same this book is a daring work of truth against a different kind of flood - the flood trying to drown God.

[Peter Uetz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Admittedly, I have only read the first chapter and then stopped. Here is the reason why I think it's not worth continuing beyond the first chapter:

First, let me start with the back cover of the book, which summarizes Ashton's main reasons why he does not believe in evolution:

1. "Fossils are evidence of extinction, not evolution". Sorry, this makes no sense. The fact that we have fossils requires an origin, and evolution is the best explanation for that. Note that I do agree that fossils are not the best arguments for evolution, given that they are so spotty.

2. "Mutations never produce new genetic information" -- sorry, but this is complete nonsense. Anybody who took an introductory class in genetics (or even biology) knows that there are a gene and genome duplications, there is horizontal gene transfer, recombination and a bunch of other mechanisms that do produce new genetic information.

3. "Geological data undermines secular timelines" -- not sure what he means by secular timelines, but for a discussion of creationist vs. geological timelines I recommend this book review by E. G. Nisbet: https://www.nature.com/articles/360390a0

4. Living cells and new classes of organisms don't form by chance." This is, of course, the biggest blunder of this book. We could argue whether mutations happen by chance, but even chemists agree that they do, and if they do, they will give rise to new organisms. It's just a matter of time: at a mutation rate of, say, 60 mutations per generation (which is the mutation rate in humans), you will inevitably get new species after a few million years, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Now, after I have debunked the cover text, let's take a quick look at chapter 1. On page 22 Ashton repeats the claim that new genetic material cannot arise "by chance". Ashton even claims that "I could find not a single published scientific paper reporting the evidence that [...] new meaningful genetic information arises by chance." I wonder if Ashton has actually read ANY scientific paper on the topic. Just a search for "gene duplication" in PubMed produces more than 30,000 results. So much for "not a single published scientific paper".

In the rest of the chapter Ashton cites mostly philosophers, mathematicians, and physicists and their arguments against evolution. It doesn't help that Ashton cites people like Jerry Fodor, one of those philosophers, saying "I don't think anybody knows how evolution works." (p. 24). Well, apparently, neither Ashton nor Fodor do, but why write articles and books about it if you don't know the subject?

They shouldn't and you shouldn't waste your time reading their convolutes.

[Paul Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone like me who's been looking at the evidence against evolution for many years, this book was only a reminder of some of the insurmountable problems associated with the theory. I maintain my belief that a rational thinker, considering what they see in the world around us, must come to the conclusion that, at the very least, there is a being of infinitely great intelligence who brought the universe into existence. My own experiences led me to believe this entity is the God described in the Bible.

The book does a good job, generally. Some of the technical content doesn't do well in audio format. Here, for example, the narrator reads off the content of a table of geological ages. Creating a good audio book sometimes needs more than merely recording someone.

Not everyone's voice is suitable for narration, either. Here, without any disrespect meant to the narrator, his voice simply isn't suitable. It reminds me of a computer-generated voice like Siri, and it distracted me—so much so that I'd avoid any other audio book which he narrated.

Most useful was a summary of the twelve points at the end of the book, seeing as there was way too much to remember in the body.

My only criticism in terms of content was the section which gave examples of miracles. Most claims of miraculous visions are at the very least questionable. Disappointingly, many Christians soak up such stories and rehearse them to others without question. There's enough incontrovertible information in this book to seriously damage the idea of evolution without putting the case at risk from sentimental anecdotes.

[Bill B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Book

This book should be required reading in science classes. I was a trial lawyer for 40 years. Trials always involve two sides to a story, otherwise there is no need for a trial. Science for too long has “assumed” evolution to be true. Such assumptions violate the laws of logic, and scientific inquiry. The animosity exhibited by those favoring materialistic evolution against those who question evolution is antagonistic to the search for truth and extremely unprofessional. We should all be excited and diligently searching for truth, for without truth, there can be no meaning to life. This book is well researched, and thoroughly documented. It is written so we can all understand. I have no problem if scientists or other critics want to attack this book’s conclusions-but if you do so, do it based on science and not ad hominem attacks. And, make sure you specifically address the issues raised, not some superficial materialistic straw man theory. I support this book’s conclusions. Again, it should be mandatory reading for education, if for a minimum to make student’s or anyone who reads the book to engage in personal, serious reflection on the science, and what it means for each of us personally. This book unequivocally deserves to be read, and it deserves 5 stars.

[Ethan Senne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book 5 stars but I’m not smart enough to fully understand all of it.

Dr. Ashton does a great job at presenting the material in a way that is chewable for readers w/o dense biology/chemistry/geology/history backgrounds. After reading “The God Delusion” and all of Dawkin’s talk about Darwinian evolution, this was a refreshing and delightful read to counter the “facts” of evolution according to Dawkins.

Dr. Ashton dives deep into geology and biology to explain how the global flood recorded in Genesis 6 is a large reason as to why scientists think the earth is hundreds of millions of years old. Definitely a recommended read for those who enjoy science and apologetics!

[Barbara Ixba · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main problem I have with this book is that it doesn’t stay on topic throughout. While some valid arguments are made that question the theory of evolution, much of the book veers off topic to simply proving the Bible correct in general. The book contains a lot of research making it a very dense read and difficult to follow at times.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simple enough for the unscientific reader but has enough references in it to be authoritative. It does burden the reader with a lot of detailed statistics and charts. I did not like the narrator, he sounded like a sports announcer.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really Good Book!

This book was very informative! A lot of information and detail! I have never believed in evolution but this book gave me some good answers!.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with information!

[Tharun G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for writing this. The reasons were compelling and interesting.

[Allan Nemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Plenty of documentation. Well reasoned. It is quite an experience to read this book and see the data presented. The author tackles the subject head-on and doesn't shrink back. The result, to me anyway, is stunning. The book is classified as an e-textbook so the audience is likely more for those in school, college, university. The wording is more for that audience but still I believe most lay people can read it for the most part.

[Margaret Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Evolution Impossible, by Dr. John F. Ashton, is a must read for everyone who has serious doubts about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, even though it is still being taught as fact in most schools right through to universities. It gives an explanation of what Darwin's theory of evolution really says, Why a living cell cannot arise by chance, why new types of organisms cannot evolve by random mutations, the fossil record - evidence for extinction, not evolution, the missing fossils of evolutionary intermediates - evidence that evolution never occurred, The geological evidence for a catastrophic global flood, Historical evidence for a worldwide flood, Erosion rates, sedimentation rates and other evidence in conflict with radiometric dating ages, Radiometric dating methods give old ages for young rocks, and other evidence of major problems with this method of dating, The big-bang theory is not supported by observed data, Highly qualified scientists who reject Darwin's theory, and Evidence for the existence of an Intervening God. I found some chapters very difficult to read and comprehend as there is so much data but even I with only a high school education, am able to understand what Dr. Ashton is saying. Perhaps it is because I have not gone through the college or university system where evolution has had such a huge effect on the teaching of nearly every discipline and evolution is not something that I really could accept as being true although before coming to faith in Jesus Christ,being created in the image of God is not something that had entered my head. I am a Christian and have been since my mid forties and, why would God not want us to know something of our ancient history? . The Holy Bible is historical as well as theological in content. It is not wrong for scientists to reveal truth as they observe it, that is their job, their calling and this is what Dr. Ashton is doing, revealing the truth of a gracious, loving, beautifully creative God.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author outlines the history of evolution and how the theory came to be. In the beginning of the book he doesn't completely discredit evolution, but instead highlights the major mechanisms of evolution. Then point by point he finds the flaws in the theory while backing it up with his own research and the research of other professional scientists.



The first point has to do with the complexity of E Coli's DNA. E Coli is a single celled organism that is supposed to have evolved into an even more complex bacteria.Taking that point he calculates the possibility of evolution as 1 chance in 10 to the 150 power, "in other words abiogenesis is absolutely impossible".

Through out the book Dr. Ashton continues to compare/contrast the theory of evolution and creation. While some of the points have some complex science, the concepts are easy to see. If you love learning about the wonders of God, this book will give you a look at the genius and magnitude of our creator.

[Jay Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashton provides a devastating, I would say irrefutable critique of Darwinism as well as the more recent neo-Darwinian synthesis. My favorite refutation involves the logically necessary conclusion that nonmaterial intelligence MUST precede any linguistic system, and the operation of DNA/RNA in living systems obeys its own language - an impossible feature of purely materialist, mechanical systems.

[Michael Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting take-always, but his writing is spotty at best. I have no doubt he is a highly intelligent man, and a competent scientist, but writing is not his strong suit, and it makes for an uneven, but informed journey.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read chapters 1-6, 13-14 for a class presentation. I think it was very detail oriented. It was a bit hard to follow because it got pretty long in discussing each point. He held a very confident attitude a strong voice. It was definitely interesting.

[Haelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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