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Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man
Scientists Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross introduce a testable scientific model for humanity's origin--a Biblical model--that sheds light on the latest findings on evolution and the origins of man.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2005
120 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Fazale Rana
27 books57 followersBiochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana is president, CEO, and senior scholar at Reasons to Believe (RTB).
He earned a BS in chemistry with highest honors from West Virginia State College (now University) and a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry from Ohio University. He pursued postdoctoral studies on cell membranes at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia and worked as a senior scientist in research and development at Procter & Gamble. Additionally, Rana has been published in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and delivered numerous presentations at international scientific meetings.
He was also featured in Museum of the Bible’s Scripture and Science exhibit in Washington, DC.
He earned a BS in chemistry with highest honors from West Virginia State College (now University) and a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry from Ohio University. He pursued postdoctoral studies on cell membranes at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia and worked as a senior scientist in research and development at Procter & Gamble. Additionally, Rana has been published in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and delivered numerous presentations at international scientific meetings.
He was also featured in Museum of the Bible’s Scripture and Science exhibit in Washington, DC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 6, 2011
The fundamental question asked in this book is, what does it mean to be human? Are we the product of blind, undirected evolutionary processes that did not have us in mind, or are we carefully fashioned in the image of God, distinct from the rest of creation and thus endowed with dignity and purpose? For a century and a half, the only scientific theory on the table was Darwin's theory of evolution which, of course, taught the former. The combination of mutation, natural selection, and vast amounts of available time were claimed to be the only creative forces necessary to produce man from the lower animals. Just as the Biblical account of creation had been prior to it, evolution became the new orthodoxy and was held with a resolute zeal that was determined not to let a divine foot in the door. It was claimed that science was being objective while creationists were anything but. The truth, however, was that science, at least in the realm of origins, held a commitment to philosophical materialism (nature is a closed system of physical causes) that was no less religious than a Bible believer's commitment to the Genesis account. So Darwinism reigned supreme, and paleontologists went about their digs and examined their evidence with their evolutionary framework firmly in place. The unbroken, gradual progression of hominid evolution was presupposed, and the evolution of man from non-human hominid ancestors was confidently proclaimed a fact.
The authors suggest that a reexamination of the Biblical account might be in order. Creation is testable, they claim. It is not just a religious, unfalsifiable story of our origins. The book of Genesis makes specific claims that can be evaluated in light of scientific discoveries. They propose to examine the scientific evidence in origins research and see which model, Darwinism or a Biblical creation model, makes better sense of the evidence. The creation model consists of thirteen testable predictions, three of which are as follows:
1. Humanity's origin dates back to between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago.
2. God created humanity at the "just-right" time in earth's history.
3. Humans are behaviourly distinct (in a way that reflects God's image) from the earlier hominids, the great apes, and other animals.
The current state of paleoanthropology is examined in some detail, based especially on recent studies and discoveries. It becomes clear, at least to this reader, that the actual evidence for progressive hominid evolution does not match the picture that we have all become familiar with: that of a tree, starting with a single trunk and splitting into divergent paths as you go up., so that it is apparent where we could pinpoint our common ancestor with, say, chimpanzees. What we see instead is that "an explosive diversity of hominids occurred at the time of their first appearance in the fossil record" (p.152) which persisted throughout their history. This looks more like a lawn than a tree. As paleontologists gather more data, however, the picture does not clarify but gets more confusing as arguments abound as to whether this or that hominid species should be reassigned to this or that genus. Relationships between the various hominids cannot be determined with any degree of certainty.
Not only that, but it appears that the characteristics of modern man, the chief two of which include bipedalism and brain size, cannot be demonstrated to have emerged gradually. Modern man, along with advanced human culture, appeared out of nowhere 50,000 years ago, "a veritable explosion of human culture - anthropology's 'big bang'" (p. 249). The authors argue that this is the special creation of man by God and we are seeing evidence of the image of God in man. There is a qualitative difference between modern man and earlier hominids, not a relationship of gradual emergence. The authors conclude that the evidence consistently favours a model of origins which takes seriously implications drawn from the book of Genesis, over against the Darwinian model.
The most difficult part of the book is the one dealing with studies in molecular biology, but for those without a science background, the authors summarize their arguments at the end of each section, in a short "bottom line" paragraph that would allow the reader to skip the technical details if necessary. They go into some detail to examine recent genetic studies because one of the most widely recognized evolutionary arguments involves the claim of a 98 percent genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees. But it turns out that this similarity might have to be reduced to closer to 85 percent, which clearly increases the distance between humans and chimpanzees. The picture is more complicated than strict sequence similarity, however. We find that slight changes in genetic sequence can lead to vast differences in development.
It is astonishing that if one can extricate oneself from evolutionary presuppositions, all the lines of evidence presented by the authors leads to a conclusion that vindicates the creation model. Indeed "at no other time in human history has the biblical account of humanity's origin held greater credibility than it does today" (p. 250). Christians need not fear science. When we can follow the evidence where it leads, and not be shackled by a naturalistic worldview that presupposes that the physical world is all there is, we can be confident of the Biblical account that man is made in the image of God, distinct from the rest of creation.
In closing, this book makes a valuable contribution to helping us see that there is no conflict between taking both science and the Bible seriously when it comes to a discussion of human origins. The Genesis account is not myth: it makes predictions that can be tested by science. I don't think this work falls into the camp of Intelligent Design, as the authors make explicit use of the Bible in their arguments, while the I.D. movement does not do so in order to draw a design inference. But it is a work that is important for thinking Christians. Whether it counts as "science", however, is debatable, depending on whether you hold to a closed philosophy of science (methodological naturalism) or an open one (an intelligent agent can be part of a theoretical construct). I happen to hold the latter view, but this question is not addressed by the authors and is thus beyond the scope of the book.
The authors suggest that a reexamination of the Biblical account might be in order. Creation is testable, they claim. It is not just a religious, unfalsifiable story of our origins. The book of Genesis makes specific claims that can be evaluated in light of scientific discoveries. They propose to examine the scientific evidence in origins research and see which model, Darwinism or a Biblical creation model, makes better sense of the evidence. The creation model consists of thirteen testable predictions, three of which are as follows:
1. Humanity's origin dates back to between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago.
2. God created humanity at the "just-right" time in earth's history.
3. Humans are behaviourly distinct (in a way that reflects God's image) from the earlier hominids, the great apes, and other animals.
The current state of paleoanthropology is examined in some detail, based especially on recent studies and discoveries. It becomes clear, at least to this reader, that the actual evidence for progressive hominid evolution does not match the picture that we have all become familiar with: that of a tree, starting with a single trunk and splitting into divergent paths as you go up., so that it is apparent where we could pinpoint our common ancestor with, say, chimpanzees. What we see instead is that "an explosive diversity of hominids occurred at the time of their first appearance in the fossil record" (p.152) which persisted throughout their history. This looks more like a lawn than a tree. As paleontologists gather more data, however, the picture does not clarify but gets more confusing as arguments abound as to whether this or that hominid species should be reassigned to this or that genus. Relationships between the various hominids cannot be determined with any degree of certainty.
Not only that, but it appears that the characteristics of modern man, the chief two of which include bipedalism and brain size, cannot be demonstrated to have emerged gradually. Modern man, along with advanced human culture, appeared out of nowhere 50,000 years ago, "a veritable explosion of human culture - anthropology's 'big bang'" (p. 249). The authors argue that this is the special creation of man by God and we are seeing evidence of the image of God in man. There is a qualitative difference between modern man and earlier hominids, not a relationship of gradual emergence. The authors conclude that the evidence consistently favours a model of origins which takes seriously implications drawn from the book of Genesis, over against the Darwinian model.
The most difficult part of the book is the one dealing with studies in molecular biology, but for those without a science background, the authors summarize their arguments at the end of each section, in a short "bottom line" paragraph that would allow the reader to skip the technical details if necessary. They go into some detail to examine recent genetic studies because one of the most widely recognized evolutionary arguments involves the claim of a 98 percent genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees. But it turns out that this similarity might have to be reduced to closer to 85 percent, which clearly increases the distance between humans and chimpanzees. The picture is more complicated than strict sequence similarity, however. We find that slight changes in genetic sequence can lead to vast differences in development.
It is astonishing that if one can extricate oneself from evolutionary presuppositions, all the lines of evidence presented by the authors leads to a conclusion that vindicates the creation model. Indeed "at no other time in human history has the biblical account of humanity's origin held greater credibility than it does today" (p. 250). Christians need not fear science. When we can follow the evidence where it leads, and not be shackled by a naturalistic worldview that presupposes that the physical world is all there is, we can be confident of the Biblical account that man is made in the image of God, distinct from the rest of creation.
In closing, this book makes a valuable contribution to helping us see that there is no conflict between taking both science and the Bible seriously when it comes to a discussion of human origins. The Genesis account is not myth: it makes predictions that can be tested by science. I don't think this work falls into the camp of Intelligent Design, as the authors make explicit use of the Bible in their arguments, while the I.D. movement does not do so in order to draw a design inference. But it is a work that is important for thinking Christians. Whether it counts as "science", however, is debatable, depending on whether you hold to a closed philosophy of science (methodological naturalism) or an open one (an intelligent agent can be part of a theoretical construct). I happen to hold the latter view, but this question is not addressed by the authors and is thus beyond the scope of the book.
February 8, 2017
Excellent book. I graduated college with a BA in Biology, went through 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship, 2 years of residency, and 2 years of oncology fellowship. I am double-boarded in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. I love science and practice evidence-based medicine on a daily basis.
I stumbled upon this book at a local bookstore some years ago, specifically looking for a reference providing an in-depth analysis to reconcile secular scientific literature with the origin of humanity as described in the Bible. Who Was Adam?: a Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man is well written, is concise, and has extensive references to satisfy professionals and laypersons alike.
This book opened my eyes, proving to me that there is no need to compromise my love of science, nor any need to compromise my love of God's Word. After all, God created the universe as we see it.
I stumbled upon this book at a local bookstore some years ago, specifically looking for a reference providing an in-depth analysis to reconcile secular scientific literature with the origin of humanity as described in the Bible. Who Was Adam?: a Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man is well written, is concise, and has extensive references to satisfy professionals and laypersons alike.
This book opened my eyes, proving to me that there is no need to compromise my love of science, nor any need to compromise my love of God's Word. After all, God created the universe as we see it.
July 21, 2013
Great multi-disciplinary discussion of the theory of human evolution vs. the argument for special creation. I am fascinated by the data that shows the rapid spread of humanity, our genetic derivation from DNA that originated recently in Africa or the Middle East, and the discontinuity among ancient hominids and modern humans. The chapter on the slim cosmic window allowing for life to exist on Earth at all is excellent. More biochemistry in the chapter on "Junk DNA" than I could absorb, but bottom line summaries are given for lay people, thankfully. The authors' conclusions: modern humans originated in the last 100K years, genetically traceable to an original Adam and Eve; evolutionary trees connecting us to ancient hominids have serious discontinuities; our genetic similarity to other primates is a reflection of similar intelligent design, not evidence of evolution. Worth a read if you are seriously interested in the nuts and bolts of evolutionary theory.
October 21, 2015
COSMOLOGY & ASTRONOMY:
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
November 9, 2012
Who Was Adam was co-authored by Dr. Fazale Rana – who wrote a majority of the contents – and Dr. Hugh Ross (15). Ross obtained an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of British Columbia and a terminal degree in astronomy from the University of Toronto. In 1986, he founded Reasons to Believe (RTB) with the goal of showing how scientific advances connect with biblical theology. Rana, who completed his PhD in Chemistry from Ohio University, worked for a number of years with Procter & Gamble as a senior scientist before joining RTB. Both men have authored a number of books and articles on the science of creation and the origin of man.
Rana and Ross are vice president and president, respectively, of RTB, a nonprofit organization that seeks to “research and communicate the harmony of God’s revelation in the words of the Bible and in the facts of nature.” Using their background in the sciences, the authors seek to reframe the argument for creation from the traditional religious/biblical standpoint to testable model which the scientific community would find more acceptable. Who Was Adam was written to demonstrate that creationism can be explained and evaluated using the scientific method (14).
The book is organized into two main sections. The first section gives a brief comparison of creationist and evolutionist ideas followed by a survey of the hominid fossil record and ending with an outline of RTB’s predictions of human origin based on their creation model. These predictions are frequently referenced throughout the book and are listed as follows:
1. Humanity traces back to one woman (Eve) and one man (Noah).
2. Humanity’s early population size was relatively small.
3. Humanity originated in a single location in or near the Middle East.
4. Humanity’s origin dates back to between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago.
5. The origin of the female lineage (Eve) predates the origin of the male lineage (Noah).
6. God created humanity at the “just-right” time in Earth’s history.
7. Human culture appears and expands explosively in the archaeological record since humanity’s origin.
8. Humans share anatomical, physical, biochemical and genetic similarities with the extinct hominids as well as with great apes and other animals.
9. Humans are behaviorally distinct (in ways that reflect God’s image) from the earlier hominids, the great apes and other animals.
10. A universal but local flood, that impacted all of humanity, shaped human history.
11. Human life spans (once longer than 900 years) became progressively shorter after the Flood.
12. Humanity spread around the world from in or near the Middle East relatively recently.
13. The seeds of human civilization and agriculture had their birth in or near the Middle East (51-52).
The second part of the book is an overview of different scientific advances that enable for the testing of the RTB predictions. Genetics, anthropology, fine-tuning, life span, migration, anatomy and human uniqueness are each examined.
The authors credibly provide solid, up-to-date scientific material to support their origin model. One of the most interesting moments is their use of mitochondrial-DNA studies (62-65) and Y-chromosomal DNA research (65-66) to support their prediction that the origin of female lineage will predate that of male lineage. Their additional use of the Flood account (67) to explain this prediction biblically is both logical and profound. This is information not widely known among lay Christians and would provide valuable insight as they discuss and ponder the topic of creation.
The authors make several other persuasive arguments in defense of their model. Specifically, they excel at addressing the issues of “junk” DNA and the genetic similarities between chimpanzees and humans, topics which are frequently brought up by proponents of evolution. The authors’ use of scientific data makes good headway toward the invalidation of these two topics as a legitimate argument.
While the authors are able to support their thesis throughout the book by using scientific research, this may also prove to hinder their ultimate goal. In their quest to bring creationism into the realm of empiricism, the authors have at times appeared to force certain data into the RTB model. For example, luminescence dating is described as notoriously inaccurate, used only for approximate measurements (80-81). The authors use this inaccuracy to show that the estimates of human origin fall from 130,000 to 40,000 which is within their time margin for prediction number four (80).
Other concepts which are addressed, such as human longevity, do not have a clear relation to the debate of origin and seem to be off topic. The material provided as an explanation for decreasing lifespan (prediction 11) is valid and does tie into the RTB goal of connecting science and theology but it does not appear to add anything vital to the discussion of human origin. If there is a connection, a clearer reasoning should be given for this.
In general, the authors seem dismissive of the idea that there is debate about the credibility of the existence of hominids by referring to them as fact (27-39). Since a majority of the content is focused on anthropology and the fossil record, more time should be spent on building a case for the existence of hominids, focusing on both sides of the issue. Other concepts like day-age (43) and a geographically limited flood (51) are also taken for granted though the authors do suggest further reading for the case of day-age and a limited flood if further curiosity compels the reader.
Who Was Adam provides some common ground between the realms of science and religion. While this is the purpose of the book, it will likely be criticized by both sides. Many evolutionists will be opposed to the material in the book solely because of the nature of the disagreement in philosophies. On the other hand, creationists who are more literal in their interpretation of the biblical account may have a difficult time accepting some of the authors’ assertions.
Due to the nature of the subject, some of the material presented may be difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with biology and genetics. In many of these technical topics, the authors use a number of descriptive graphics and have “bottom line” summaries, spelling out the data in a way that is easier for the layperson to understand. Given the complex nature of the material, the authors do a good job of making the information more accessible.
I would recommend this book to creationists and evolutionists alike; anyone interested in expanding their views on human origin should find this an interesting read. No matter which side of the argument a reader might fall, they will find that the concepts in this book will broaden the horizon of their understanding of this important topic. The accessibility, candor and inclusivity of the text should provide a valuable tool for those striving to make sense of human origin.
Rana and Ross are vice president and president, respectively, of RTB, a nonprofit organization that seeks to “research and communicate the harmony of God’s revelation in the words of the Bible and in the facts of nature.” Using their background in the sciences, the authors seek to reframe the argument for creation from the traditional religious/biblical standpoint to testable model which the scientific community would find more acceptable. Who Was Adam was written to demonstrate that creationism can be explained and evaluated using the scientific method (14).
The book is organized into two main sections. The first section gives a brief comparison of creationist and evolutionist ideas followed by a survey of the hominid fossil record and ending with an outline of RTB’s predictions of human origin based on their creation model. These predictions are frequently referenced throughout the book and are listed as follows:
1. Humanity traces back to one woman (Eve) and one man (Noah).
2. Humanity’s early population size was relatively small.
3. Humanity originated in a single location in or near the Middle East.
4. Humanity’s origin dates back to between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago.
5. The origin of the female lineage (Eve) predates the origin of the male lineage (Noah).
6. God created humanity at the “just-right” time in Earth’s history.
7. Human culture appears and expands explosively in the archaeological record since humanity’s origin.
8. Humans share anatomical, physical, biochemical and genetic similarities with the extinct hominids as well as with great apes and other animals.
9. Humans are behaviorally distinct (in ways that reflect God’s image) from the earlier hominids, the great apes and other animals.
10. A universal but local flood, that impacted all of humanity, shaped human history.
11. Human life spans (once longer than 900 years) became progressively shorter after the Flood.
12. Humanity spread around the world from in or near the Middle East relatively recently.
13. The seeds of human civilization and agriculture had their birth in or near the Middle East (51-52).
The second part of the book is an overview of different scientific advances that enable for the testing of the RTB predictions. Genetics, anthropology, fine-tuning, life span, migration, anatomy and human uniqueness are each examined.
The authors credibly provide solid, up-to-date scientific material to support their origin model. One of the most interesting moments is their use of mitochondrial-DNA studies (62-65) and Y-chromosomal DNA research (65-66) to support their prediction that the origin of female lineage will predate that of male lineage. Their additional use of the Flood account (67) to explain this prediction biblically is both logical and profound. This is information not widely known among lay Christians and would provide valuable insight as they discuss and ponder the topic of creation.
The authors make several other persuasive arguments in defense of their model. Specifically, they excel at addressing the issues of “junk” DNA and the genetic similarities between chimpanzees and humans, topics which are frequently brought up by proponents of evolution. The authors’ use of scientific data makes good headway toward the invalidation of these two topics as a legitimate argument.
While the authors are able to support their thesis throughout the book by using scientific research, this may also prove to hinder their ultimate goal. In their quest to bring creationism into the realm of empiricism, the authors have at times appeared to force certain data into the RTB model. For example, luminescence dating is described as notoriously inaccurate, used only for approximate measurements (80-81). The authors use this inaccuracy to show that the estimates of human origin fall from 130,000 to 40,000 which is within their time margin for prediction number four (80).
Other concepts which are addressed, such as human longevity, do not have a clear relation to the debate of origin and seem to be off topic. The material provided as an explanation for decreasing lifespan (prediction 11) is valid and does tie into the RTB goal of connecting science and theology but it does not appear to add anything vital to the discussion of human origin. If there is a connection, a clearer reasoning should be given for this.
In general, the authors seem dismissive of the idea that there is debate about the credibility of the existence of hominids by referring to them as fact (27-39). Since a majority of the content is focused on anthropology and the fossil record, more time should be spent on building a case for the existence of hominids, focusing on both sides of the issue. Other concepts like day-age (43) and a geographically limited flood (51) are also taken for granted though the authors do suggest further reading for the case of day-age and a limited flood if further curiosity compels the reader.
Who Was Adam provides some common ground between the realms of science and religion. While this is the purpose of the book, it will likely be criticized by both sides. Many evolutionists will be opposed to the material in the book solely because of the nature of the disagreement in philosophies. On the other hand, creationists who are more literal in their interpretation of the biblical account may have a difficult time accepting some of the authors’ assertions.
Due to the nature of the subject, some of the material presented may be difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with biology and genetics. In many of these technical topics, the authors use a number of descriptive graphics and have “bottom line” summaries, spelling out the data in a way that is easier for the layperson to understand. Given the complex nature of the material, the authors do a good job of making the information more accessible.
I would recommend this book to creationists and evolutionists alike; anyone interested in expanding their views on human origin should find this an interesting read. No matter which side of the argument a reader might fall, they will find that the concepts in this book will broaden the horizon of their understanding of this important topic. The accessibility, candor and inclusivity of the text should provide a valuable tool for those striving to make sense of human origin.
September 29, 2024
WHAT ARE HOMINIDS? WERE THEY CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE? HERE IS RTB'S ANSWER
Fazale Rana is Executive Vice President of Research & Apologetics for Reasons to Believe (RTB).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2005 book, "many people (including some credible scientists) agree with the biblical perspective on human origins. Yet this view rarely receives attention in a classroom or at the high table of scientific debate. Rarely ever a serious examination. Why? The problem doesn't lie with the scientific evidence, but largely with the approach taken by creationists. People who accept creation often attack evolutionary models... but seldom offer a viable theory of their own... Even worse, the integrity of these scientists is often called into question with accusations of deception of conspiracy theories. Personal attacks destroy the possibility for dialogue... Such methods will never gain creationist ideas a fair hearing." (Pg. 12)
He adds, "This book focuses on human origins... The RTB human origins model ... reflects the science of nature (creation) based on a biblical description... By using a testable framework, this book places creation in the realm of science." (Pg. 14)
He notes, "A perspective consistent with the Bible can regard hominids in much the same way as the entire scientific community does---as real animals that existed in Earth's past. This interpretation also considers the dates assigned to hominid fossils as generally reliable within the limitations of the methods used to obtain them." (Pg. 29)
However, he asserts, "Theistic evolution ... seems to contradict Genesis 1 and 2 as well as Mark 10:6 and Matthew 19:4, where Jesus states that God created the first humans to be male and female.. God created the original human pair in a special, direct, and personal way. Thus RTB's model for humanity's origin must reject any form of theistic evolution that doesn’t posit God's direct involvement." (Pg. 44)
He suggests, "Gaps in the genealogies and the ambiguity of key words in the original Hebrew text render the best attempts at a biblical date for Adam and Eve as estimates only. If few gaps exist, the date calculates to around 10,000 years ago. If many gaps occur, the date falls closer to 100,000 years ago." (Pg. 45) He adds, "Since conveying theological ideas was the chief aim of genealogies, biblical authors frequently abbreviated them by omitting theologically less important names... In other words, gaps exist in the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies. These gaps do not imply that Scripture is deficient; rather, they signify that biblical genealogies have theological (not timekeeping) importance." (Pg. 47)
He explains, "RTB's biblical creation model considers the hominids found in the fossil record to be animals created by God's direct intervention for His purposes. They existed for a time, then went extinct. These remarkable creatures walked erect. They also possessed limited intelligence and emotional capability. Such characteristics allowed them to employ crude tools and even adopt a low level of 'culture,' much as baboons, gorillas, and chimpanzees do. But ... they were not spiritual beings made in His image. This status was reserved for human beings." (Pg. 50)
But he also argues that "According to the RTB human origins model, the literal meaning of 'years' for the Genesis account of early human life spans is accurate. This interpretation leads to an inescapable prediction--life spans of the first human being were several hundred years and became progressively shorter in human history." (Pg. 112)
He points out, "Molecular anthropologists pose what they sometimes call the 'Garden of Eden' hypothesis to explain the limited genetic diversity. This model maintains that humanity had a recent origin in a single location, and the original population size must have been quite small. From this one location, humanity expanded rapidly to occupy all the geographical regions of the planet. This scenario closely resembles the biblical description of humankind's origin..." (Pg. 60)
He summarizes, "the people groups scattered around the world trace their ultimate origin to one time and place, one human pair. People came only recently (within the last 40,000 to 30,000 years) to Europe, Asia, and Australia---still more recently to the Americas." (Pg. 137)
He states, "Sudden appearance and stasis in the fossil record stand as hallmark features of special creation. According to RTB's biblical creation model, God created large primates with optional bipedal capabilities. This model predicts the sudden appearance of various bipedal animals in the fossil record. Moreover, long period of stasis are also predicted because God would be expected to design a perfect form of bipedalism intentionally suited for the environmental, predatory, and competitive challenges of the given era... one of the most important defining features of humanity---obligatory bipedalism---came about through God's direct creative activity." (Pg. 163)
He adds, "Hominids were not made in God's image... hominid behavior and culture should be crude and qualitatively different from that of humankind. Only human beings should display behavior and culture that reflect their creation in God's image." (Pg. 175-176) He concludes, "To say that Neanderthals behaved like spiritual beings made in God's image stretches the evidence beyond reasonable limits... they behaved more like animals than humans." (Pg. 195-196)
This is an excellent, very thorough presentation of RTB's model as applied to humans and to hominids; it will be of great value to Christians studying the subject of human origins---whether they agree with all of RTB's theories, or not.
Fazale Rana is Executive Vice President of Research & Apologetics for Reasons to Believe (RTB).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2005 book, "many people (including some credible scientists) agree with the biblical perspective on human origins. Yet this view rarely receives attention in a classroom or at the high table of scientific debate. Rarely ever a serious examination. Why? The problem doesn't lie with the scientific evidence, but largely with the approach taken by creationists. People who accept creation often attack evolutionary models... but seldom offer a viable theory of their own... Even worse, the integrity of these scientists is often called into question with accusations of deception of conspiracy theories. Personal attacks destroy the possibility for dialogue... Such methods will never gain creationist ideas a fair hearing." (Pg. 12)
He adds, "This book focuses on human origins... The RTB human origins model ... reflects the science of nature (creation) based on a biblical description... By using a testable framework, this book places creation in the realm of science." (Pg. 14)
He notes, "A perspective consistent with the Bible can regard hominids in much the same way as the entire scientific community does---as real animals that existed in Earth's past. This interpretation also considers the dates assigned to hominid fossils as generally reliable within the limitations of the methods used to obtain them." (Pg. 29)
However, he asserts, "Theistic evolution ... seems to contradict Genesis 1 and 2 as well as Mark 10:6 and Matthew 19:4, where Jesus states that God created the first humans to be male and female.. God created the original human pair in a special, direct, and personal way. Thus RTB's model for humanity's origin must reject any form of theistic evolution that doesn’t posit God's direct involvement." (Pg. 44)
He suggests, "Gaps in the genealogies and the ambiguity of key words in the original Hebrew text render the best attempts at a biblical date for Adam and Eve as estimates only. If few gaps exist, the date calculates to around 10,000 years ago. If many gaps occur, the date falls closer to 100,000 years ago." (Pg. 45) He adds, "Since conveying theological ideas was the chief aim of genealogies, biblical authors frequently abbreviated them by omitting theologically less important names... In other words, gaps exist in the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies. These gaps do not imply that Scripture is deficient; rather, they signify that biblical genealogies have theological (not timekeeping) importance." (Pg. 47)
He explains, "RTB's biblical creation model considers the hominids found in the fossil record to be animals created by God's direct intervention for His purposes. They existed for a time, then went extinct. These remarkable creatures walked erect. They also possessed limited intelligence and emotional capability. Such characteristics allowed them to employ crude tools and even adopt a low level of 'culture,' much as baboons, gorillas, and chimpanzees do. But ... they were not spiritual beings made in His image. This status was reserved for human beings." (Pg. 50)
But he also argues that "According to the RTB human origins model, the literal meaning of 'years' for the Genesis account of early human life spans is accurate. This interpretation leads to an inescapable prediction--life spans of the first human being were several hundred years and became progressively shorter in human history." (Pg. 112)
He points out, "Molecular anthropologists pose what they sometimes call the 'Garden of Eden' hypothesis to explain the limited genetic diversity. This model maintains that humanity had a recent origin in a single location, and the original population size must have been quite small. From this one location, humanity expanded rapidly to occupy all the geographical regions of the planet. This scenario closely resembles the biblical description of humankind's origin..." (Pg. 60)
He summarizes, "the people groups scattered around the world trace their ultimate origin to one time and place, one human pair. People came only recently (within the last 40,000 to 30,000 years) to Europe, Asia, and Australia---still more recently to the Americas." (Pg. 137)
He states, "Sudden appearance and stasis in the fossil record stand as hallmark features of special creation. According to RTB's biblical creation model, God created large primates with optional bipedal capabilities. This model predicts the sudden appearance of various bipedal animals in the fossil record. Moreover, long period of stasis are also predicted because God would be expected to design a perfect form of bipedalism intentionally suited for the environmental, predatory, and competitive challenges of the given era... one of the most important defining features of humanity---obligatory bipedalism---came about through God's direct creative activity." (Pg. 163)
He adds, "Hominids were not made in God's image... hominid behavior and culture should be crude and qualitatively different from that of humankind. Only human beings should display behavior and culture that reflect their creation in God's image." (Pg. 175-176) He concludes, "To say that Neanderthals behaved like spiritual beings made in God's image stretches the evidence beyond reasonable limits... they behaved more like animals than humans." (Pg. 195-196)
This is an excellent, very thorough presentation of RTB's model as applied to humans and to hominids; it will be of great value to Christians studying the subject of human origins---whether they agree with all of RTB's theories, or not.
February 1, 2008
The overally scientific tone may lend itself to academic credibility, but it also has the unfortunate effect of putting off the casual reader, I'm sure. Interesting take on a fascinating topic.
September 16, 2008
Expounded a testable model of who man is.
October 5, 2023
Not a bad book. RTB gets slammed by creationist for some of their views on hominids, but it is actually a quite sensible view. RTB simply takes the facts of human nature and argues that human beings are evidently different thanks apes, and that there are specific characteristics of human nature that picks out mankind. Any hominid that doesn’t show evidence of these characteristics is most likely not human.
The chapters on pseudo genes and ERVs was interesting. I also thought that the chapters detailing the remarkable cosmic preconditions for human life was fascinating as well.
While I find some difficulties with Rana and Ross (Neanderthal interbreeding), I think it is one possible way of reconciling creation and evolution.
The chapters on pseudo genes and ERVs was interesting. I also thought that the chapters detailing the remarkable cosmic preconditions for human life was fascinating as well.
While I find some difficulties with Rana and Ross (Neanderthal interbreeding), I think it is one possible way of reconciling creation and evolution.
July 14, 2020
This belongs in the group of books by Hugh Ross, an astrophysicist who founded Reasons To Believe. Ross co-authors this volume, though the research and writing was done by Rana. Thorough treatment of the distinctiveness of humans, created by God and placed on earth some 40,000 years ago, alongside hominids and other primates which had evolved over millions of years Fits in the Old-Earth Creationism category. With some exposure to molecular biology in my youth, I was able to follow the arguments with some care. Very helpful in distinguishing humans from hominids, Neanderthals, etc. Worth reading.
March 4, 2023
I actually read the second edition published in 2015. The second edition is a 10-year update. I like the honesty of this book. Based on the 10-year update, the authors admit where the first edition was wrong and updates to the Reason-to-Believe (RTB) model needed updating. They also invite scientists to critique the RTB model for human origins. They then respond to the critiques in an honest manner by admitting that the model again needs updating. They also pose questions that they need to answer.
So, if you are looking for book on human origins that takes an honest look at evolution versus creation then I can highly recommend this book.
So, if you are looking for book on human origins that takes an honest look at evolution versus creation then I can highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2017
Very good "catch-up" of recent science regarding human evolution and how the model proposed by Reasons to Believe (RTB) fares as a result. This was an update to the original 2005 text and covered a good sampling of what anthropologists, archaeologists, and paleontologists have discovered since then. The authors provided a very candid review of where the RTB model needed to a be adjusted as well as those areas where the model's predictions were born out. Excellent overall review for the interested layman.
June 3, 2021
I probably only understood about 50% of what I read but it was enough to make reading this book a good investment of my time. More importantly, it is comforting to me to know that Rana and Ross do indeed know what they're talking about.
I don't have to know everything, usually it's enough to know that there is someone who does know. This book is a case is a good example.
And...after reading it I now know more than I did!
I don't have to know everything, usually it's enough to know that there is someone who does know. This book is a case is a good example.
And...after reading it I now know more than I did!
July 30, 2019
This book makes the case for a biblical creation model for the probable existence of Adam in light of cumulative cases based on archaeological and genetic evidence. Rana's intent does presuppose the Bible to be true. So he makes his cased based upon what is found in nature. The book is written in a technical style but Rana does provide plenty of summaries to capture his main points.
May 6, 2018
It's a good read on human origins from Rana and Ross of Reasons to Believe.
August 5, 2020
Quite hard going in places (genetics etc), I think because it tries to be thorough. Not as engaging as most of Hugh Ross’s books but worth highlighting key points for re-reading.
October 1, 2024
Good research, but left me with more questions than answers. Not up to the standards of other RTB books.
April 29, 2011
Fazale Rana spearheads this book with input by Hugh Ross addressing the question of who was Adam? That is Adam of Adam and Eve from the Bible. Biblically speaking, humans were created by God and in the image of God. Naturally speaking, humans are just another primate descended from some common ancestor with the great apes such as the chimpanzee or gorilla. Are humans a product of evolution or are they the product of a creating act by a loving God? This book not meant to definitively state one way or another but a presentation of the scientific model put forth by the non-profit organization 'Reasons to Believe'. Their model is built under the Biblical premise that God created life. However, typical creationism leaves many questions unanswered such as: How could humans only have been created 6,000 or so years ago when the fossil record clearly shows otherwise? How do Neanderthals and other hominids fit into the biblical story of creation? How do you explain the fact that humans and chimps share 99% identical DNA? If God created humans then why created them with junk DNA? In presenting their case for biblical creation Rana, a PhD in chemistry with emphasis on biochemistry, and Hugh Ross, a PhD in astronomy, build on their day-age model (that is that the earth/universe is as old as science says it is and that humans have been around for more than 6,000 years) and discuss in much detail why their model is better than the evolutionary model. They do so in part by expelling myths about evolution that are accepted by the general public (you and me) as scientific fact. They discuss our relationship to homo erectus and the Neanderthals as well as the myriad of other hominids and how they fit into their biblical model, they present more realistic genetic similarities with the chimp than the 99% figure that has been enshrined as clear evidence of a common evolutionary ancestor-ship as well as crucial and vital differences. They discuss how the fossil record seems to contradict the evolution model with rapid appearances of hominids and the sudden appearance of modern humans, termed the anthropological big-bang. They discuss the fact that research in the last decade or so has revealed that junk DNA is anything but junk (many of the "junk" areas have been found to be quite crucial. For example, when scientists manipulated one particular segment of junk DNA in mice the mice died. This went against the notion that junk DNA served no life vital purpose.) despite the fact that is has been written off for the last 30 years as such. Point being that many of the icons of evolution seem to be unraveling at the seems as predicted by their model. They predict that as science learns more and more about genetics that it will continue to be harder and harder to insist that humans are nothing but products of evolution. Are humans simply a product of evolution that started eons ago as a single-celled organism? Or are they a product of some more, something bigger? If you are interested in an alternative grounded in the same evidence used to argue the case for evolution, then this book is for you.
May 18, 2016
This book was quite the read. I really liked the fact that Ross and Rana chose to maintain the original work before evaluating the model. Even though I read the first edition when it was released, there was much of the model that I had forgotten, and for the first-timer, knowing the model being evaluated and updated, as originally presented, is essential. This allows the reader to truly see that the authors are honestly submitting their model to testing. However, this type of presentation did prove a bit frustrating at times. Since the first two parts were ten years old, some of the material was out-dated (and overturned, in some cases). Some of these I knew as I was reading while others I found out in reading the third part. If you will be reading these authors for the first time or haven't read the first edition, please keep this in mind and understand that it will be addressed in the third part.
I always have high recommendations for the authors' works, and this one is no exception. However, my recommendation does come with a small warning. If you are nominally interested in the origin of humanity, "Who Was Adam" could frustrate you quickly with its depth and detail, or it will draw you into a world of science and faith that you have only dreamed exists like it did for me nearly ten years ago. Now, if you are extremely interested in the origin of humanity (especially its relation to the record presented in Genesis), you definitely need to get a copy of this book. It will alert you to a model that scientifically challenges current naturalistic models and provides an alternative to Christian models that have little-to-no scientific merit. It is a great book, and if after reading this full review you are still interested, you will not be disappointed.
For the full chapter-by-chapter review, please follow this link: http://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2016/...
I always have high recommendations for the authors' works, and this one is no exception. However, my recommendation does come with a small warning. If you are nominally interested in the origin of humanity, "Who Was Adam" could frustrate you quickly with its depth and detail, or it will draw you into a world of science and faith that you have only dreamed exists like it did for me nearly ten years ago. Now, if you are extremely interested in the origin of humanity (especially its relation to the record presented in Genesis), you definitely need to get a copy of this book. It will alert you to a model that scientifically challenges current naturalistic models and provides an alternative to Christian models that have little-to-no scientific merit. It is a great book, and if after reading this full review you are still interested, you will not be disappointed.
For the full chapter-by-chapter review, please follow this link: http://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2016/...
December 1, 2020
As a book that aims at presenting a controversial or even resented creational theory, this one is definitely brilliantly written. Consisting of 50% frontier research data, the model presented is firmly backed up by scientific evidences; meanwhile when the model is in odds with the evidence, the author has the bravery and integrity to acknowledge the flaws and his own ignorance of that particular issue. As excellent as it is, many chapters do contain a substantial amount of scientific knowledge at the academic level, and the jargons are practically floating all over the pages. Not recommended to those who haven't received a solid biological/anthropological education.
March 30, 2017
I thought the model presented was straightforward and with the correct attitude. God gave us the truth in the form of the Bible, and this is where we should always start when searching for the truth. Then the author tests his scientific model to prove that man was created by God. My favorite chapter was the one about junk DNA, fascinating science, and I never once bought into the notion that junk DNA was ever fact. I knew God wouldn't incorporate useless information into my genome.
Conclusions:
-The Day-Age theory makes sense to me, when presented with the data
-Man was obviously (and also life, the earth, and the universe) created by the one true God
-The genetics scream the truth that man was created by God
-The existence of hominids casts a confusing light on the issue, and I am excited to hear of God's plans involving hominids even if I have to wait till heaven.
-Praise be to the Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Glory be to God.
Conclusions:
-The Day-Age theory makes sense to me, when presented with the data
-Man was obviously (and also life, the earth, and the universe) created by the one true God
-The genetics scream the truth that man was created by God
-The existence of hominids casts a confusing light on the issue, and I am excited to hear of God's plans involving hominids even if I have to wait till heaven.
-Praise be to the Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Glory be to God.
November 5, 2015
We all have expectations. They're fueled by our world-views, and it's unsettling when something unpredictable happens. Case in point, for a couple thousand years, the Biblical model for origins reigned. Adam and Eve were the first people. Depending on how you cash that out, they could have been created within days of creation itself. This makes us scratch our heads when we find hominid fossils. Were they human beings on an earlier or divergent evolutionary path? Were they something more akin to the great apes? Either way, how do they fit, if at all, into a Biblical world-view?
Ross and Rana have thrown their hat into the ring. They hold an old-earth creationist position, and they place the hominids into a separate category from humans.
What do you think? Are they right? Are hominids human? How does that affect the Biblical view?
Ross and Rana have thrown their hat into the ring. They hold an old-earth creationist position, and they place the hominids into a separate category from humans.
What do you think? Are they right? Are hominids human? How does that affect the Biblical view?
November 7, 2016
Who Was Adam? puts forward a detailed scientific model for the origin of humanity based on relevant Biblical passages and compares it with the mainstream evolutionary model. The updated edition includes the content from the first edition plus an additional section to discuss what science has discovered in the decade since the book was first published.
Rana (with his Reasons to Believe colleagues) holds to an "old earth" view of creation. Differences in the RTB and evolutionary model for human origins center less around what the facts are than how to interpret them. Rana is very thorough in his discussion of the scientific evidence, so much so that it became a bit of a burden to make it to the end. Nevertheless, for someone interested in the specifics, I would highly recommend it.
Rana (with his Reasons to Believe colleagues) holds to an "old earth" view of creation. Differences in the RTB and evolutionary model for human origins center less around what the facts are than how to interpret them. Rana is very thorough in his discussion of the scientific evidence, so much so that it became a bit of a burden to make it to the end. Nevertheless, for someone interested in the specifics, I would highly recommend it.
November 15, 2012
This book was a bit dry, but I think that's necessary for this topic. The author does a good job of pointing out the disconnect between early hominids and modern humans. How the term "modern human" sometimes included earlier species and how much of evolutionary thought presumes the multi-region origins theory. If you've read some of RTB's earlier books on their origins model, this is a must read.
May 11, 2020
Well written for non scientists - and one of the few books/articles on the origin of man to mention the Neanderthal DNA studies of the late 1990a and early 2000s. It's not easy to write on this subject for the general public without overwhelming the reader. I read it first, then my husband, both reading cover to cover without feeling overwhelmed and without feeling like the authors were talking down to us. Highly recommend.
February 26, 2008
Excellent book for a non-sciencey person like me. They explain the basics of evolution and then present their model -- made perfect sense. Though I didn't get to finish it yet, I would highly recommend this one to those who see the gaps in the theory of evolution all by itself and believe or are curious about Intelligent Design.
October 5, 2016
Heady but helpful
Though at times this work leads readers through the deeps weeds of biology, microbiology, genetics and the uncomfortable topic of non-human hominids, the work is a helpful source on being able to speak to the origins of humanity with more than, "the Bible says . . ." Which is a statement many non-believers will not listen to to its conclusion.
Though at times this work leads readers through the deeps weeds of biology, microbiology, genetics and the uncomfortable topic of non-human hominids, the work is a helpful source on being able to speak to the origins of humanity with more than, "the Bible says . . ." Which is a statement many non-believers will not listen to to its conclusion.
May 14, 2017
Good info for believers! May change skeptic minds.
A thoroughly documented treatise on humanities origins that square both scientifically and theologically. A bit technical at times but must be so.
A thoroughly documented treatise on humanities origins that square both scientifically and theologically. A bit technical at times but must be so.
July 1, 2017
A book that puts forth a great explanation of old Earth creationism and how God's written book and His book of nature go hand-in-hand. The book is a little technical, but very easy to understand even for a lay person.
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