Acts & Facts - Institute for Creation Research

ACTS&FACTSVOL. 37 NO. 11INSTITUTE FORCREATION RESEARCHwww.icr.orgNOVEMBER 2008Uncoveringcreation truth inancient cultures

Start something new!TheCr e at i o n i s tWo r l d v i e wToday’s Christian is surroundedby compromise in politics,science, law, medicine, andeven theology. Knowing anddefending God’s truth has never beenmore vital.Where can you go to find an indepth,Bible-based program that isgrounded on the authority of theCreator and the authenticity of HisWord—especially one that fits withyour busy schedule?Comprehensive Online Studiesfor the Christian LeaderICR’s Creationist Worldview programis online and self-paced. At your ownspeed, you can acquire the knowledgeand tools required to mentorothers and motivate them to discerntruth, defend truth, and demonstratetruth to a culture on the verge ofmoral bankruptcy.Each course addresses issues you faceeach day as a leader in your field, coveringbiblical, scientific, and culturaltopics such as:• The impact of biblical creation onworldview• Applying God’s Stewardship Mandateto our changing culture• Handling conflicts betweenScripture and science• Integrating the Creationist Worldviewwith the secular workplace• Training staff to maintain biblicalprinciples on the job• Responding to non-creationistChristians• and much moreProfessional Developmentfor LeadersThe Creationist Worldview program istailored to the needs of the workingprofessional. Online course materialsand tests are supplemented with textbooksfrom leading authorities andother audio/visual media so you candig deeper into each area of study.Start impacting your world. Enroll today!Re n e w Yo u r Mi n d . De f e n d His Tr u t h . Tr a n s f o r m Ou r Cu l t u r e .The Creationist Worldview online program is offered exclusively through ICR Distance Education.Call Toll Free:800.337.0375Visit Online:icr.org/cw

FROM THE PRESIDENTCreation EvangelismScripture, which claims to be the writtenaccount of the Creator Himself, revealsa past time when God separately createdeach basic plant and animal type.These complex inhabitants all played a vital role inearth’s early environment. According to His Word,creation was perfect at the start, but suffered ruinationwhen the head steward of creation rejectedGod’s authority over him. Soon a great worldwideflood cleansed the earth of these rebellious humaninhabitants, and all the earth suffered. Today westudy the remains of that once “very good” world,devastated by man’s disobedience.God’s written message is totally trustworthy,for He was there, knows everything, can communicateclearly, and cannot lie. He wants us to knowwhat really happened, and realizes we might cometo error if we try to unravel past secrets withoutHis help. Our Creator has the authority to tell ushow we should live if we are to function properly.He has the authority to set the guidelines for lifeand the penalty for breaking those guidelines. Ifwe live according to His “owner’s manual,” we canexpect to enjoy life more fully than if we chooseotherwise.The fossils testify to a message written instone that is remarkably similar to the one givenin writing by the Creator. However, fossils and theother historical sciences may tell us a lot, but theydon’t provide the details. A complete reconstructionof past events from partial evidence in thepresent is nearly impossible. The forensic sciencescan do much, but they can never provide certainty.In just that way, studying the fossil record onlyprovides clues in our quest to understand the past.The trouble is, we simply don’t know all truth andcan’t accurately reconstruct the past from the fossilsalone. We can only come to a better approximationof that truth as we do our investigationunder the Creator’s authority. Obviously, we cannever discover full truth if we have already deniedtruth. But with His help, we can begin to fill inthe blanksRemember, fossils are dead things, yet thefossil record speaks eloquently of the Creator’sprecise design and of the truth of the Bible’s messageto us. There we are told of His creative power,His judgment of man’s sinful rebellion, and Hisultimate solution to the sin problem. When Adamsinned, God justly declared the penalty of sin tobe death, eternal death. Yet He desired a relationshipwith sinful man, and knowing that man waspowerless to overcome this sentence on his own,God moved to accomplish it Himself. This wasaccomplished by the death of the Creator in paymentfor our sins. Only in this way could God’sholy and just nature be satisfied, and bring manback into right standing with his Creator.God’s plan of salvation is a free gift to anywho confess their sin, turn from it, and accept thegift. He will respond with forgiveness of our sins,restoration of our standing before Him, adoptioninto His family, and eternal life in His presence.Such forgiveness can only be received by faith. Evidencesuch as that preserved in the fossil recordcan be a stimulus to faith, but evidence can neversubstitute for faith.John D. Morris, Ph.D.PresidentCONTENTS4Life6Sleuthing8in the LettersAva Ford, M.D.SuperfaultsLarry Vardiman, Ph.D.Man of Science,Man of God:Louis PasteurChristine DaoA New Theory of10 Climate ChangeLarry Vardiman, Ph.D.13The Contrasting Religionsof Creationand EvolutionJohn D. Morris, Ph.D.Complex Plant Systems:14 Rooted in God’s GeniusFrank Sherwin, M.A.15The Gaps in “The Godof the Gaps”Brian Thomas, M.S.Letters to the Editor16 Radio Log1719A Heritage ofThanksgivingHenry M. Morris IVBook Review: Slaughterof the DissidentsBrian Thomas, M.S.Published byInstitute for Creation ResearchP. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229214.615.8300www.icr.orgExecutive Editor: Lawrence E. FordManaging Editor: Beth MullAssistant Editor: Christine DaoDesigner: Dennis DavidsonPresident: John D. Morris, Ph.D.No articles may be reprinted inwhole or in part without obtainingpermission from ICR.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS3

Uncovering creation truth in ancient culturesAva Ford, M.D.he truth about origins—aboutthe creation of the world and itsimplications—has increasinglybecome a topic of colorful conversationin many facets of our society, not theleast of which are the pulpits of our churches.At a recent Sunday night church social, I satdown at a table where two men were discussingthe pastor’s talk that night regarding creation,evolution, and the Bible. Both men had earneddoctorates, and while one remained a steadfastbeliever in young earth creation, based on theauthority of Scripture, the other man ardentlyheld to the theory of theistic evolution, convincedthat the earth is billions of years old.I remained silent during the conversationuntil our church’s evangelist sat down wearingan unusual shirt—a gift he had received on his4 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008recent trip to China. The shirt had scribbles ofvarious Chinese characters, most of them in disjointed,incomplete sentences.As I began to translate for him, I honedin on two of the characters in particular: “life”and “believe.” It struck me that these words hadrelevance to the creation account in Genesis, thevery topic of the pastor’s talk.Ancient Insight on Faith and the CreatorChinese script is expressed through ideographicpictures developed from the picturewritings on ancient oracle bones—a kind of“hieroglyphic” of Chinese language. Therefore,each character can be broken down into componentparts. For instance, the word for “life” ismade up of “motion” plus “Lord,” which revealsthe ancient Chinese belief that the Lord is themaker of all life. 1 “Believe” is also comprised oftwo components: “person” plus “word,” whichmeans that placing trust in a word is consideredan act of faith or believing. Simple, yet profound,especially when translated within a biblicalcontext. The story of the Roman centurionin Luke 7:2-10 comes to mind; Jesus specificallyremarked that this man’s “belief” in His Wordwas greater than what He could find in Israel.According to research found in Harvard’sYenching Library, the written Chinese languagemay have originated as far back as 2500 B.C., 2which coincides closely with the estimatedtime of the great dispersion of humanity fromBabel, as calculated from the biblical genealogies.3 When all mankind was divided into newlinguistic groups and scattered over the face of

the earth, ancient Chinese people would havealso carried with them an accurate account ofearly human history. Their knowledge of creationand the great Flood had to be fresh intheir minds since they were likely contemporariesof Noah, who lived for 350 years after theFlood (Genesis 9:28) and knew all the details ofcreation through his own father, Lamech, whowas only 56 years old when Adam died. With lifespans averaging about 912 years in that era, hewould have been considered a relatively youngman (Genesis 5:1-11).Interestingly, the ancient Chinese recordFeng-su T’ung-yi (Comprehensive Meaningof Customs) states that all people on earth aredescended from “Nu-wa.” (Some have suggestedthis to be a version of the biblical nameNoah, as found in other ancientChinese texts.) 4 The Chinese were“known for meticulous recordkeepingfrom the time of the Hsia Dynastyin 2205 B.C., and according totheir most acclaimed set of ancientmanuscripts, Shu Jing (The Book ofHistory), many generations of Chineseemperors recited texts of praise during theannual Border Sacrifice as they brought theirpeople together to worship “Heavenly SovereignShangDi,” the Creator of the universe andthe one true God. 5Of old in the beginning, there was the greatchaos, without form and dark. The five elements(planets) had not begun to revolve,nor the sun and the moon to shine. In themidst thereof there existed neither formsnor sound. Thou, O spiritual Sovereign,camest forth in Thy presidency, and firstdidst divide the grosser parts from thepurer. Thou madest heaven; Thou madestearth; Thou madest man. All things withtheir reproducing power got their being. 6Sounds remarkably similar to Genesis,doesn’t it?Acknowledging the Creator through ScienceWhen you look at our beautiful planetearth, the changing colors in its seasons, and allits diverse, complex, interdependent creaturessustained by sophisticated ecosystems, haveyou ever stopped to wonder how it all came tobe? Who set it all in motion and why?Growing up in an unbelieving home,I was quite ignorant of the concept of God asCreator. In school I was only taught CharlesDarwin’s theory of evolution: that all life formsevolved from a single cell. However, when I enteredmedical school, and particularly duringanatomy class, I began to seriously questionits validity. Each day I encountered the intricaciesof the human body and something withinme demanded an honest appraisal of Darwin’stheory. I really wanted to know the true accountof man’s beginning. But none of my professorscould give satisfactory answers to my questions.I got my first glimpse of the Genesis accountduring a grueling 10-day mountainclimbing expedition through a region calledthe “Valley of Death.” At one point during theclimb, we were forced to spend a night in a caveL ife” does not come through faithin the science of men, but through“belief ” in the Creator of life, Jesus Christ.because of a heavy rainstorm. In that cave, oneof my teammates introduced me to the book ofGenesis and the God of the Bible.It wasn’t until months later when I beganto attend a Bible study with this same studentthat I heard the full story of the creationof the universe, the first man and woman, theinstitution of marriage, the temptation andfall, death as the consequence of sin, God’sworldwide judgment through the Flood, thetower of Babel and the subsequent dispersionof humans through the confusion of manylanguages. As I studied, my excitement in theBible grew. Not surprisingly, most of my classmatesat medical school laughed at my enthusiasmfor these new discoveries, which theyconsidered to be no more than fairy tales suitedfor children, not for scientifically-minded,educated people.So I began to search for evidences outsidethe Bible, mainly through books on archaeology.I recall at this time in the late ’70s that the mediawas buzzing about the cuneiform discoveries atTel Mardikh (Ebla), on clay tablets dating backto 2250 B.C. Many scholars suggested parallelswith the early chapters of Genesis, sheddingnew light on the credibility of the Bible. Namesof biblical patriarchs were recorded, as well as a“creation hymn.” I found through other bookson fossils, geology, astronomy, history, ancientlanguages, and medicine, much more evidenceI could not simply brush aside—evidence thatsubstantiated the veracity of Genesis, which ledme to place my trust in the authority of God’sWord, to “believe” the Bible accounts from Genesisthrough Revelation as literal truth. In time,by God’s grace, this confidence in the Scripturesled me to personal faith in the Lord Jesus.Critics of the CreatorThere are, I know, many well-meaningand well-educated Christians today who strugglewith belief in the Genesis record. Sadly, theyhave placed more trust in science—in the wordsof men—than in Scripture. Tothese critics of the Creator I wouldask if they consider themselvesmore qualified than the patriarchJob to answer the hard questions ofGod (Job 38-42). With all his wisdom,Job could only reply, “Whatshall I answer thee? I will lay minehand upon my mouth” (Job 40:4).It is both dangerous and dishonoring toGod when His own people attempt to “spiritualize”the Scriptures in order to make them fitthe musings of men (Job 36:26; 37:1-24). Scienceand its resultant evidence are vital for theprogress of our God-given stewardship of theearth, but these must never be placed over theauthority of God.“Life” does not come through faith in thescience of men, but through “belief” in the Creatorof life, Jesus Christ. 7References1. Compare Colossians 1:15-17.2. Kang, C. H. and E. R. Nelson. 1979. The Discovery of Genesis:How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the ChineseLanguage. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, xiii.3. Johnson, J. J. S. 2008. How Young Is the Earth? Applying SimpleMath to Data Provided in Genesis. Acts & Facts. 37 (10).4. Truax, E. A. 1991. Genesis According to the Miao People. Acts& Facts. 20 (4).5. Compare Psalm 74:17; Acts 17:26-27.6. James Legge, The Notions of the Chinese Concerning God andSpirits (Hong Kong: Hong Kong Register Office, 1852), page28, as cited in Kang, C. H.and E. R. Nelson. 1979. TheDiscovery of Genesis: How theTruths of Genesis Were FoundHidden in the Chinese Language.St. Louis, MO: ConcordiaPublishing House, 15.7. John 3:14-16; 20:31.Dr. Ford has served in medicalmissions on three continentssince 1985.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS5

RESEARCHSleuthingSuperfaultsLarry Vardiman, Ph . D .The catastrophic processes during and following the GenesisFlood continue to amaze and challenge geologists and geophysicists.Mountain building, faulting, and other geologicprocesses are believed by the conventional scientific communityto have occurred over millions of years. But evidence continues tomount that many massive geologic processes have occurred in months,days, and even minutes. For example, the rapid movement of large blocksof limestone for distances of up to 50 miles has recently come underscrutiny by scientists of the Flood Activated Sedimentation and Tectonics(FAST) program.Most faults show the displacement of rock for tens of feet or less.However, much larger displacements of rock for many miles have cometo be called superfaults. They require catastrophic explanations. The HeartMountain detachment fault in northwestern Wyoming near YellowstoneNational Park is the largest continental rockslide known on earth. Thismass of rock, more than 400 square miles in area and over 1,000 feet thick,moved rapidly down a slope of less than 2 degrees at an estimated speedof 50 miles per hour. Because of the weight of such a large block of rockand its rapid movement, it has been an enigma to geologists for years.What processes could have reduced friction on the underlying surface sufficientlyto allow sliding at such a low angle without deforming the lowersurface? Could the rock have melted to form a thin layer of liquid or gas?Recent research by both secular and creationist scientists has focusedon an unusual layer of rock found in superfaults that has propertiesthat argue for catastrophic emplacement. This thin layer of rock in thefault contains melted glassy minerals that indicate temperatures exceeded1000˚C and vaporized the limestone when it slipped. Similar glassy mineralshave previously been found in craters where large meteors struck theearth at high velocities and melted basaltic rock at high temperatures. Theamazing irony of Heart Mountain is that uniformitarian geologists whobelieve in millions of years of earth history and slow, gradual processes arebeing forced by the evidence to recognize catastrophic process.Members of the FAST group conducted field surveys in the summerof 2008 near Heart Mountain to document and explore the evidence forcatastrophic emplacement of faults in the area. They mapped the SouthFork detachment fault to the south of the Heart Mountain detachmentfault and collected rock samples. Although much of this fault is inaccessiblebecause it is buried underground, there are several locations whereit is exposed at the surface. The fault at these locations is being studiedin detail and samples of the minerals in the fault collected for laboratoryanalyses.Plans are also being made to numerically simulate the superfaultsin the Heart Mountain region and illustrate their movement under catastrophicconditions following the Genesis Flood.Dr. Steve Austin, who manages the FAST programunder contract to ICR, has studied the HeartMountain detachment fault for several years andis excited about its potential as an argument for ayoung earth and a catastrophic Flood.Dr. Vardiman is Chair of the Department of Astro/Geophysics.6 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

EVENTSNOVEMBER 2008NOVEMBER 6-7Mesa, AZ – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 6-7Sturbridge, MA – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 7-8Charlotte, NC – National Conference on Christian ApologeticsNOVEMBER 13-14Dayton, OH – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 24-25Anaheim, CA – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 24-25Dallas, TX – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 24-25Orlando, FL – ACSI ConventionNOVEMBER 24-25Washington, DC – ACSI ConventionThe Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI)holds yearly regional conventions for teachers and administrators.ICR offers seminar speakers and/or exhibits at manyof these, so we list them to let ACSI members know to visitus at their local convention. If non-members would like toattend, more information and the costs involved are availableat www.acsi.org.For more information on these events or to schedule an event, pleasecontact the ICR events department at 800.337.0375 or events@icr.org.New Opportunities for Spreading the Creation MessageAs we head into the busy holiday season, we rejoice in God’sprovision this year for the ministry of the Institute forCreation Research. Recently, there have been new opportunitiesfor those who wish to participate with us in spreading themessage of creation. We invite you to prayerfully consider whetherone of these options would fit the Lord’s leading in your life.If You Are a Federal orMilitary Employee…Time is running outto support ICR inthis year’s CombinedFederal Campaign!Those who serve our country can uphold theauthority and accuracy of Scripture by supportingICR’s research and educational programs.If you believe in ICR’s work and would liketo support our ministry, please prayerfullyconsider designating ICR as the charity of yourchoice. Our CFC identification number is23095, and we can be found in the “National/International” section of your local campaignbrochure. God bless your service, both for yourcountry and for Him!Attention,Stock Donors!As part of our move to Texas, the Institutefor Creation Research is pleasedto announce that we have recentlyestablished a new brokerage accountwith Woodbury Financial. If you areprayerfully considering a gift of stockthis year, please contact ICR for informationto help in the transfer. Thankyou for your support!IRA RolloverHas BeenExtendedGood news! The Emergency Economic StabilizationAct of 2008 (H.R. 1424) that was recently signedinto law included an extension of the IRA CharitableRollover, which will apply to IRA distributions madethroughout the 2008 and 2009 tax years. Individualswho are 70½ years or older can make a directcharitable contribution of up to $100,000 from theirIRAs without having to declare it as income.For those who qualify, this is an excellent opportunityto practice good stewardship and supportthose tax-exempt organizations that God has laidon your heart. For further information on the IRArollover extension, please contact your financialadvisor. We would also be happy to assist you.For more information on these opportunities, send an email to stewardship@icr.org, or call 800.337.0375.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS7

Man of Science, Man of God:PasteurLouisWho: Louis Jean PasteurWhat: Father of Modern MicrobiologyWhen: December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895Where: Arbois, FranceLittle was known about preventativemedicine and the causes of disease inthe days of Louis Pasteur. Today, weowe all the discoveries in the fields ofmicrobiology and immunology to his work.Pasteur came from a long line of peasants.Biographers Albert Keim and Louis Lumetwrote that Pasteur was a “rather slow” studentand “gave no indication of brilliant qualities. Hestudied diligently, but without enthusiasm.” 1His father, however, wanted him to become aprofessor, so the young Pasteur applied himselfto his studies and eventually gained admittanceto the prestigious École Normale Supérieure, towhich he returned in 1856 as director of scientificstudies.Pasteur was a devout Catholic and was“regarded as conforming with the biblical accountof the creation.” 2 At the time, the conceptof spontaneous generation was widely accepted,which maintained that life was generated by nonlife(i.e., maggots appeared to arise out of exposedanimal carcasses). Darwin used this theory, alsoknown as abiogenesis, to propose that the firstlife forms miraculously grew out of a “warm littlepond, with all sorts of ammonia and phosphoricsalts, lights, heat, electricity, etc.” 3C H R I S T I N E D A OPasteur conducted experiments comparingorganic material that was exposed to airwith organic material that was not. Nothinggrew in the sealed or filtered vessels. This empiricallydemonstrated that the fermentation inthe open containers was caused by the growthof microorganisms from the air, not spontaneousgeneration, thus proving biogenesis (lifebegets life). His studies led to the practices ofsterilization and “pasteur”ization, particularlyin the fields of medicine and food preparation.He wasn’t the first to propose the theory thatgerms cause disease, but his experiments supportedit and he shares the title of “the fatherof germ theory and bacteriology” with Germanphysician Robert Koch.Pasteur received criticism for his work anddetail-oriented methods. He wouldn’t make anyclaim until he had re-tested several times andwas sure of the results. His vigorous approachto his work eventually led to perhaps his mostsignificant contributions: the anthrax and rabiesvaccines. Anthrax was responsible for destroyingwhole flocks of sheep in France, and Pasteur successfullydemonstrated the survival of inoculatedsheep from the vaccines he developed.In 1880, Pasteur and his pupils began researchinto hydrophobia, or rabies. At the time,treatments included cauterization with hotirons, stifling sufferers between two mattresses,and other useless “remedies.” Pasteur isolatedthe rabies virus and developed both a non-virulentand a virulent vaccine. The non-virulentversion was given to a nine-year-old boy bittenby a mad dog in 1885. The vaccine succeeded,as it did in subsequent cases. On October 26,1885, Pasteur officially presented his researchon hydrophobia, preventative vaccines, andvaccination treatment applied after infection,and this work was highly praised.On June 4, 1887, the Pasteur Institutewas established in Paris so Pasteur and his researcherscould expand their work on infectiousdiseases. 4 A university was also named forhim, and he received high honors and acclaimfrom his peers, years after he had endured theircriticism. Later in life, he suffered from a seriesof strokes and died from complications in 1895near Paris.Pasteur’s work set the foundation forsome of the most important advances in ourmodern world. He was an experimentalist ofthe highest order, and his science was undoubtedlyfueled by his faith:Are science and the passionate desire tounderstand anything else than the effectof that spur towards knowledge whichthe mystery of the universe has placed inour souls? Where are the true sources ofhuman dignity, of liberty, of modern democracy,unless they are contained in theidea of the infinite, before which all menare equal? 5, 6References1. Keim, A. and L. Lumet. Translated by Cooper, F. T. 1914.Louis Pasteur. New York, NY: Frederick A. Stokes Company,5-6.2. Ibid, 63.3. Darwin, C. Written in 1871, published in 1887. The Life andLetters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographicalchapter, vol. 3. London: John Murray, 18.4. The history of the Pasteur Institute. Posted online atwww.pasteur.fr/english.html, accessed September 22, 2008.5. Keim and Lumet, Louis Pasteur, 143.6. Galatians 3:28.Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor.8 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

GreatTeachingPoster!Natural DisastersScience teachers will love this newteaching poster on natural disasters,which covers geological disasterssuch as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis,and landslides. It providesbasic terms and definitions, as wellas valuable information on thedifferences between evolutionaryand young-earth creationistinterpretations of the physicalfeatures of our world.Only $1.95(plus shipping and handling)Global Warming:A Scientific and Biblical Exposé of Climate ChangeIs mankind causing global warming?Featuring ICR astro/geophysicist Larry Vardiman, this new DVD documentary challengesthe myths and misinformation that are rampant in our society. Politicians,scientists, and others are using this hot-button issue as a driving force for change,but what is the truth?Leading Christian scientists, climatologists, and other commentators reveal thedangers and politics of global warming. Learn how you can be effective in caring forcreation without becoming an unwitting accomplice to the myths of global warming.On-location interviews are combined with compelling graphics to make this one ofthe most urgent and important DVD releases of the decade!Only $19.95(plus shipping and handling)To order, call 800.628.7640, or visit our online store at www.icr.org/store.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS9

IMPACTA New Theory ofClimateChangeL a r r y V a r d i m a n , P h . D .10 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

IntroductionMan-made carbon dioxide is generallythought to produce global warming.However, in a recent article entitled“Does Carbon Dioxide Drive GlobalWarming?” I presented several major reasons whycarbon dioxide is probably not the primary cause. 1But if carbon dioxide is not the cause, then whatis? Evidence is accumulating that cosmic raysassociated with fluctuations in the sun’s electromagneticfield may be what drives globalwarming. A new theory called cosmoclimatologythat proposes a natural mechanismfor climate fluctuations has been developedby Henrik Svensmark, 2 Head of theCenter for Sun-Climate Research at theDanish National Space Center.Some HistoryEdward L. Maunder reportedin 1904 that the number of spots onthe sun has an 11-year cycle. 3 Sunspotscan be observed in real timeonline at www.spaceweather.com.Figure 1 shows a 400-year record ofthe monthly number of sunspots.Note the low number of sunspots inthe period from 1645 to 1715. This periodis called the Maunder Minimum 4and coincides with the Little Ice Age,the coldest period of temperature duringthe last 1,000 years.Figure 1. Monthly Solar Sunspot Number. 5For many years, climatologists attempted to correlate the numberof sunspots with various climate variables, including temperatureand precipitation. By the 1980s these attempts were determined to befutile, because the percentage change in solar heating was found to beinsufficient to explain the variations. However, this interest began to increasethe connection between cosmic rays and sunspots, carbon-14 inthe atmosphere, beryllium-10 on the surface of meteorites, and otherprocesses. In particular, it was found that carbon-14 dating needed to becorrected for fluctuations in cosmic ray flux. Without such adjustments,many carbon-14 dates were inconsistent. The question was raised, couldcosmic rays affect other geophysical phenomena as well?A New Climate TheoryIn 1995, Henrik Svensmark discovered a startling connection betweenthe cosmic ray flux from space and cloud cover. He found thatwhen the sun is more active—more sunspots, a stronger magnetic field,larger auroras, stronger solar winds, etc.—fewer cosmic rays strike theearth and cloud cover is reduced, resulting in cooler temperatures. Figure2 shows the relationship he found between low-level cloud amount derivedfrom satellite data from the International Satellite Cloud ClimatologyProject and cosmic ray counts from Climax, Colorado.Figure 2. Globalvariation in cloudamount for cloudsbelow 3.2 kilometersabove sea level (blueline) compared tothe anomaly incosmic ray counts atClimax, Colorado(red line). 6It is evident in Figure 2 that for the 12-year period from 1983 to2005, the average amount of low-level cloud follows the flux of cosmicrays very closely. In fact, Svensmark claims that the correlation coefficientis 0.92, a very high correlation for this type of data. In addition,when looking at various longer periods of record using proxy data forthese two variables, he also found good correlations and similar trends.In particular, he suggested that during the Little Ice Age when the sunwas inactive, cosmic ray flux from space was high, cloud amount wasgreater, and global temperatures were cooler. As the sun became moreactive after 1750, cosmic ray flux decreased, cloud amount decreased,and global temperatures warmed. Svensmark proposed that the globalNOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS11

IMPACTwarming we’ve experienced for the past 150 years is a direct result of anincrease in solar activity and attendant warming.A potential change in cloud cover of 3-4 percent caused by changesin cosmic ray flux is sufficient to explain global temperature changes ofseveral degrees due to the change in the reflectivity of clouds. The reasonthe variation in direct radiation from the sun was rejected earlier is becauseit has been found to vary only by a few tenths of a percent. This isinsufficient to explain observed global warming.Experiments on Cloud Condensation NucleiThese statistical correlations are intriguing, but manycritics are skeptical of Svensmark’s theory until hecan explain the mechanism by which cosmic rayscreate more clouds. This led him to design alaboratory experiment to demonstrate thatcosmic rays produce more cloud nucleion which cloud droplets can form. In2007, Svensmark et al published the resultsof an experiment which confirmedhis theory that cosmic rays increase thenumber of cloud condensation nuclei(CCN). 7Most CCN that nucleate clouddroplets in water clouds near the earth’s surfaceare composed of compounds of sulfuricacid derived from water vapor, sulphur dioxide,and ozone found in the atmosphere over the ocean.Svensmark built a cloud chamber containing these gasesto see if CCN can be multiplied when cosmic rays are introducedinto this mixture. He found that the cosmic rays ionize molecules in theair, releasing electrons that in turn attach themselves to oxygen moleculesand collect other water and sulfur dioxide molecules to form clusters.This process occurs extremely rapidly and many times for each electron.The electrons function as a catalyst to form clusters of molecules thatgrow and produce sulfuric acid CCN. When the air is lifted by normalmeteorological processes, these additional CCN form more dense andwidespread clouds because of their greater number.In addition to the results Svensmark obtained from the experimentabove, which he called SKY, he anticipates confirmation of his results in amore complete experiment called CLOUD to be conducted at the CERNlaboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. The experiment at CERN was delayednumerous times, but has now been funded and approved for 2010.ConclusionsIt would be prudentfor the political leadership in theU. S. and the world to look moreclosely at Svensmark’s theoryof cosmoclimatology for anexplanation of global warmingbefore restructuring our entireeconomic system to eliminatecarbon dioxide.Svensmark’s theory of cosmoclimatology is now complete. Hehas discovered a complete chain of events that explains the variations inglobal temperature that have puzzled climatologists for so many years,and that has now led to an explanation for the recent global warmingepisode. It starts with cosmic rays coming to earth from exploding supernovasand collisions of remnants of stars with nebula in space. Manyof these cosmic rays are shielded from striking the earth by the electromagneticactivity of the sun. When the sun is active, the solar windprevents cosmic rays from entering the earth’s atmosphere by sweepingthem around the earth. When the sun is inactive, more ofthem penetrate the atmosphere. Upon reaching thelower atmosphere where more sulphur dioxide,water vapor, and ozone is present, the cosmicrays ionize the air, releasing electrons that aidin the formation of more CCN and formmore dense clouds. This increase in lowcloudamount reflects more solar energyto space, cooling the planet. Variations inelectromagnetic activity of the sun andfluctuations in cosmic ray intensity fromspace result in the periodic warming andcooling of the earth.Solar-modulated cosmic ray processessuccessfully explain the recent globalwarming episode. It would be prudent for thepolitical leadership in the U. S. and the world to lookmore closely at Svensmark’s theory of cosmoclimatologyfor an explanation of global warming before restructuring our entireeconomic system to eliminate carbon dioxide. If, in fact, Svensmark iscorrect, reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide will have littleimpact, anyway.References1. Vardiman, L. 2008. Does Carbon Dioxide Drive Global Warming? Acts & Facts. 37 (10): 10.2. Svensmark, H. and N. Calder. 2007. The Chilling Stars: A New Theory of Climate Change. Cambridge,England: Icon Books Limited.3. Maunder, E. W. 1904. Note on the Distribution of Sun-Spots in Heliographic Latitude, 1874-1902. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 64: 747-761.4. Eddy, J. A. 1976. The Maunder Minimum. Science. 192 (4245):1189-1202.5. Robert A. Rohde, www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Sunspot_Numbers_png.6. Svensmark, H. 2007. Cosmoclimatology: A New TheoryEmerges. Astronomy & Geophysics. 48 (1): 1.19.7. Svensmark, H. et al. 2007. Experimental evidence for the roleof ions in particle nucleation under atmospheric conditions.Proceedings of the Royal Society A. 463 (2078): 385-396.Dr. Vardiman is Chair of the Department of Astro/Geophysics.12 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

BACK TO GENESISThe Contrasting Religions ofCreation and EvolutionJ O H N D . M O R R I S , P h .D.The often-asked question“Do you believe in evolution?”expects the answer“Of course!” Don’t onlyignorant yokels have any doubt? Butpolls consistently reveal that a greatmajority of Americans do not believein the evolution of all life formsfrom a common ancestor. Why isn’tevolution something you can knowfor sure, not just something in whichyou can believe?As always, it helps to defineterms. First, evolution is the “descentfrom a common ancestor” model,the idea that all of life came from more primitiveforms. Humankind came from an ape-likeancestor that came up through the mammalsfrom an original rodent-like creature. All mammalscame from early reptiles and amphibians,which all came from fish. And the fish camefrom some marine invertebrate like a snail orstarfish, which had still earlier evolved fromsingle-celled life.Thus, a more revealing question mightbe “Do you believe your ancestors were fish,as evolution teaches?” Or, “Are you a mutatedrodent-like creature?” Fewer people wouldbe inclined to answer, “Yes!” Despite severalgenerations now of aggressive evolution-onlyteaching in the public school classroom, mostpeople just know that they didn’t come from afish or a rodent or a starfish. They can chooseto believe they have an animal ancestry, butfew do. It just isn’t believable. Thankfully, itisn’t the only alternative explanation for origins,and the other is not only more believable,it’s more appealing.Dr. Michael Ruse, perhaps the mosteloquent spokesman for evolution today, hasadmitted:Evolution is promoted by its practitionersas more than mere science. Evolution ispromulgated as an ideology, a secular religion—afull-fledged alternative to Christianity,with meaning and morality. I am anardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian,but I must admit that in this one complaint…theliteralists are absolutely right.Evolution is a religion. This was true ofevolution in the beginning, and it is trueof evolution still today. 1Christianity has its God and its revealedtruth. It tells us our origins, who we are, wherewe came from, the meaning of life, and wherewe’re going after we die. It tells us how to live andhow to make life decisions along the way. Createdin the image of God, we have great worthin His eyes, and great standing before Him as weappropriate His gift of redemption, a great destinyto perform on earth, and life with our lovingand righteous Creator/Savior after death.Evolution answers these samequestions differently. We are andcome from the universe’s chemicalsthat have self-organized into unlikelyforms over eons of time. Single-celledlife transformed itself intohigher forms until finally the humananimal came along. As higheranimals, we have incorporated animalbehavior into societal normsand even “religious” beliefs. Theonly true meaning to life is survivaland reproduction, and life’s highestgoal is to pass on one’s genes moreefficiently than others. After life, wesimply cease to exist.As Dr. Ruse explains, “Evolution is a religion,”and not a science at all. It might be bestunderstood as a worldview, a way of thinkingand making sense of the world aroundus. Some, such as Eugenie Scott, have calledthis worldview “philosophical materialism,” areligious claim of naturalism that holds thatnature is all there is. There is no supernaturalBeing who has ever interfered with the naturalorder of things. Surely this is a religious claimregarding all of reality.And surely it’s not the only or the bestsuch claim. As constitutional attorney WendellBird has pointed out: “Evolution is at least asreligious as creation, and creation is at least asscientific as evolution.” Creation is also morebelievable.Reference1. Ruse, Michael. Saving Darwinism from the Darwinians.National Post, May 13, 2000, B-3.Dr. Morris is President of the Institute for Creation Research.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS13

BACK TO GENESISComplexPlant Systems:%75Rooted inGod’s GeniusFRANK SHERWIN, M.A.There are at least a half-million speciesof plants in the world. Althoughthey do not contain living souls, 1plants nevertheless display incredibledesign features and complex interactions withother plants and insects.Plants have immune systems that seem tobe every bit as biochemically complex as thosein vertebrates. Botanists have discovered that aplant can distinguish a nematode (tiny parasiticroundworm) from a virus, actively resist a penetratingmold, and produce odors to defend itselfagainst a feeding caterpillar. 2 Indeed, the Creatorhas designed plants with chemical detectors thatare precise enough to discern between a beetleand a caterpillar.Plant resistance is a whole new field (soto speak) of botany that has bloomed in recentdecades. Fascinating discoveries include proteinsproduced by plants that are toxic to invadingmicrobes, and toxic soap-like compoundscalled saponins that are designed to resist plantpathogens such as various fungi. Other effectiveanti-fungal chemicals include cysteine-richpeptides called defensins, which are found inpeople as well as plants. This fact does not necessarilyindicate that plants and people camefrom a common ancestor. On the contrary, ifthey had the same Designer, we would expectthat He might have provided them both witheffective fungistats.Far from being inert entities that merelyprovide us with food and aesthetic value, plantscan actively respond to their environments byadjusting their looks and growth—and eventheir behavior, from defensive to aggressive.For instance, plants can wage chemical warfareagainst other plants. In 2003, researchers fromColorado State University found that the rootsof the spotted knapweed produce a natural herbicidecalled catechin that causes nearby plantsto self-destruct. When these plants die due to aspecific series of biochemical reactions causedby the catechin, the spotted knapweed takesover their territory. 3In fact, plants even seem to have a sophisticatedsocial life! One study showed that a wildflowercalled a sea rocket was less competitivewith those of the same species, but more aggressivewith others. The authors state, “Our resultsdemonstrate that plants can discriminate kin incompetitive interactions and indicate that theroot interactions may provide the cue for kinrecognition.” 4How do neo-Darwinists respond to suchclear evidence of design? A decade ago, in achapter titled “The New Darwinism,” retiredAustralian evolutionary scientist S. A. Barnettwrote:The transformations revealed by modernbiology are, however, not directed by anyoverriding agency. Biologists can no longerpresent organisms as the product of an intelligentdesigner. 5This pronouncement is not based on empiricalscience, but upon the author’s naturalisticworldview. He credits natural selection ofmutations as “the only credible explanation.” 6But natural selection is not the powerful mechanismthat its supporters envision. One reason todoubt the neo-Darwinian story is that 80 percentof mutations are so slight that they are invisibleto selection. 7 Also, realistic ratios of beneficialto deleterious mutations hover around 1:1 million.8 Therefore, the deleterious ones relentlesslyaccumulate, cannot be selected “out,” and eventuallylead to fatal data corruption.Natural selection at most accounts forsome members of a population surviving ingreater numbers, but it leaves the less fortunateones unfit for survival. This might lead to extinctionof certain breeds, but not to the inventionof a whole new organism, useful body part,or a single cell, much less the complex biochemicalcommunication systems in plants. There isa more convincing explanation for the origin ofplants, with their capacity for minor variations,but it would give glory and honor to the Creator,not to His creation.References1. Morris, J. 1991. Are Plants Alive? Acts & Facts. 20: (9).2. Sherwin, F. 2005. All Out War in the Cornfield. Acts & Facts.34 (8).3. Bias, H. P. et al. 2003. Allelopathy and Exotic Plant Invasion:From Molecules and Genes to Species Interactions.Science. 301: 1377-1380.4. Dudley, S. and A. File. 2007. Kin recognition in an annualplant. Biology Letters. 3 (4): 435-438.5. Barnett, S. A. 1998. The Science of Life. Australia: Allen &Unwin, 215.6. Ibid, 214.7. Kimura, M. 1979. Model of effectively neutral mutations inwhich selective constraint is incorporated. Procedures of theNational Academy of Science. 76 (7) 3440-3444.8. Gerrish, P. J. and R. E.Lenski. 1998. The fate ofcompeting beneficial mutationsin an asexual population.Genetica. 102/103:127-144.Mr. Sherwin is Senior ScienceLecturer.14 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

The Gaps in “The God of the Gaps”B R I A N T H O M A S , M . S .Is a “god of the gaps” at the root of IntelligentDesign (ID) and creation science?This informal logical fallacy occurs whena given mystery (or gap) that sciencehas not solved is “explained” with reference todivine activity: “God just made it work out,somehow,” some theists might say.For example, science cannot yet fundamentallyexplain why atomic nuclei, packedwith positively charged and repelling protons,do not fly apart. “God of the gaps” reasoningwould posit that God simply holds them together.The standard model of particle physics,in contrast, holds that an enigmatic “nuclearforce” keeps them together. (But this also seemsfaith-based—perhaps using a “nature of thegaps” concept.) If, however, a new property ormodel of atoms is found that can explain thisatomic cohesion, then invoking either the divineor some natural force to fill in “the gap”will become unnecessary.Contrary to the claims of ideologicalnaturalists, “god of the gaps” thinking doesnot characterize the central tenets of either IDor creation science. ID specializes in detectingdesign, just like archaeologists and forensicsscientists, who carefully examine artifacts orevents to determine whether they were manufacturednon-naturally. ID researchers likewiseinfer a designer from the observation of purposefullyplaced patterns.For example, after studying a bi-directionallyrotating molecular machine like ATPsynthase—complete with a stator, anchor, axle,and rocking cams—ID scientists do not concludethat “God must have made it because wewant to believe in a God.” Rather, they reasonthat an intelligent entity, though left undefined,must have crafted it precisely because of the inferencefrom machine to machinist: “So we inferdesign on the basis of what we know ratherthan what we don’t know.” 1Creation scientists do not use “god of thegaps” reasoning either. Their approach is somewhatthe opposite. They begin with Scriptureas a reliable source of historical, scientific, andtheological information. Then, they endeavor tofill in the missing pieces by using either inductiveorigin science or deductive empirical science.When critics mistakenly assume thatcreator-friendly views use the “god of the gaps”fallacy, it leads them to impose another faultyaccusation. They maintain that the “God didit” mentality stifles motivation for meaningfulscientific inquiry. Science Historian at CornellUniversity Will Provine “described intelligentdesign as an ‘utterly boring’ theory, one thatoffers the ‘same answer for every irreduciblemechanism.’” 2 And since science can’t be donewithout an innate curiosity, they reason, creationistsare not actually scientists.However, this reasoning rests upon theprior faulty assumption that ID and creationscience use “god of the gaps” thinking, and itignores real history. Since ID advocates focuson probing objective evidence for intelligence,and since creation scientists work to fill gapsin scriptural knowledge with scientific investigation,then neither group is using the “godof the gaps.” Rather, both are quite interestedin science.In fact, it was the intense scientific interestsof creationists that gave birth to modernscience in the 18th and 19th centuries, establishingthe major disciplines still in use today.If any discipline is to be considered invalid becauseit is too boring or because it infers design,then by the same logic archaeology and theSearch for Extraterrestrial Intelligence are likewiseinvalidated.As mentioned above, many of the samecritics who swing the “god of the gaps” club attheir ideological competitors, nonetheless takerefuge in their own “nature of the gaps” reasoning.Nature is assumed, for example, to havespontaneously generated matter from nothing;atoms, galaxies, stars, and planets froman explosion; and life from non-living soup.Well-educated people, wise enough to includethe Creator in their thinking, need not fear thespecious accusation that they are relying on the“god of the gaps.”References1. Dembski, W. and S. McDowell. 2008. Understanding IntelligentDesign. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 98.2. Provine Talks on IntelligentDesign Debate. CornellDaily Sun, October 25, 2005.Accessed online September23, 2008.3. Morris, H. 1982. Bible BelievingScientists of the Past.Acts & Facts. 11 (1).Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS15

LETTERSTO THEEDITORJust a note to thank you…1. for sending the Days of Praise to us each month.2. for the sound biblical teaching.3. for presenting the strong biblical teaching on creation…young earth, etc.4. for having courage to expose liberalism and neo-evangelicalism.5. for the many books that I have secured from you throughout theyears.Keep up the good work that God has called you to do. Please don’t everchange your views on the above.— C.L.W.Thank you for your firm stand on God’s Word!...We are praying that thestate of Texas will come to its senses concerning your application for certification.God can overrule in this situation. You played this same game inCalifornia. That is how we became aware of your ministry….I have a lot ofyour literature and it is great. Thanks again for all that ICR does!— L. & J.B.Back in July we had a speaker [from ICR] at our church….I just wantedto write and tell you how captivated my husband was. I didn’t have toeven ask him to go along to VBS after the first night. On the way home hewould actively talk about what was spoken on for the evening….It was avery good experience.— S. M.Camp Marez (9,000 troops) has your devotional…keep up the good work!Praise God! Hang in there.— J.M. (in Iraq)Thank you very much for the program today on Science, Scripture & Salvationon the Radical Feminist movement, its detrimental effects on Americansociety and the world, and the connection that the belief in evolutionhas had on the Radical Feminist movement. This program was most interestingand informative, and I thank God for the way He has led you inproducing this radio program.— D.L.M.We have been long-time fans (using the daily devotional, the monthly Acts& Facts, and various other literature…) and monthly supporters of the ICRministry. We are very impressed with the degree of research and detail thatgoes in to everything you do. Thank you for your continued faithfulness.— B.S.Have a comment? Email us at editor@icr.org. Or write to Editor, P. O. Box59029, Dallas, Texas 75229.16 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008This month on“Science, Scripture, & Salvation”W e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r 1Great ApesGorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans are magnificent creaturesmade by God on day six of the creation week. However, evolutionaryscientists believe that these primates, known as great apes, sharea common ancestor with man, thus making them an evolutionarypart of our family tree. Hang around for this interesting discussion!W e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r 8Hibernating AnimalsWhile we as humans tend to either enjoy or dislike the winter season,for certain wildlife, winter is all about staying alive. But these animalsare not without a special survival kit given to them by their Creator.Listen in as we discuss hibernating animals and their amazing abilityto go to sleep and wake up at just the right time.W e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r 15Molecular MachinesAll of God’s creation is amazing and wondrous. But perhaps Hismost complex and incredible works are the things we can’t see. Forexample, inside the microscopic cell, hundreds of thousands of littlemachines work to keep us alive. How do they do it? Come with usthis week into an invisible world of tiny cities inside our cells and findout why they are so important to us.W e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r 22Molecular ClocksEvolutionary scientists use a variety of methods in order to maketheir belief system appear scientific. In an effort to prove that differentorganisms, such as man and apes, are related, they use somethingcalled molecular clocks. Join us as we explain the molecular clock andthe calculations used to make it tick.W e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r 29Space: The Final FrontierThe vast, seemingly endless universe holds many mysteries. In hisquest for knowledge of cosmic origins, man continues to search fornew discoveries in the heavens. But could the answer he’s looking forbe right here on earth? Don’t beam out! Listen in as we discuss theuniversal topic of space, the final frontier.To find out which radio stations in your city air our programs, visitour website at www.icr.org. On the Radio page, use the station locatorto determine where you can hear our broadcasts in your area.You can also listen to current and past Science, Scripture & Salvationprograms online, so check us out!

STEWARDSHIPA Heritage ofTHANKSGIVING“The First Thanksgiving”by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris(1863-1930)Perhaps no other custom reveals ournation’s original character as clearlyas the celebration of ThanksgivingDay. Other countries have adoptedsimilar observances, but America was the firstto nationally recognize its dependence on Godwith a special day set aside for thanksgivingfor His wondrous provision and deliverance.Although the exact date of the firstAmerican Thanksgiving observance maybe uncertain, there is no question that thistreasured custom sprang from our deepJudeo-Christian heritage. From early Spanishexpeditions in the late 1500s, to a small bandof settlers in Maine in 1607, each group heldservices to give public thanks to God. Twelveyears later, settlers in Virginia set aside a day ofthanksgiving for their survival on the shoresof this vast and uncharted land. And in 1623,Governor William Bradford created the mostfamous of all such observances at PlymouthColony when a bounteous harvest promptedhim to proclaim a special day to “renderthanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all Hisblessings.” 1In 1777, during the War of Independencefrom England, the U. S. Continental Congressset aside a day for thanksgiving and praise forthe decisive victory at Saratoga, marking theHenry M. Morris IVfirst time that all American colonies took partin such an event on the same day. The followingyear at Valley Forge, George Washingtondeclared a special day of thanksgiving uponreceiving news that France had agreed toprovide aid. And later, as the fledgling nation’sfirst president, he responded to a congressionalpetition by declaring Thursday, November26, 1789, as the first Thanksgiving Day of theUnited States of America.Since that first Thanksgiving declaration,many state and national days of thanksgivinghave been proclaimed for a variety of reasons.But it was the tireless crusade of one woman,Sarah Josepha Hale, that finally led to theestablishment of this beautiful observance asa national holiday. Her moving editorials sotouched the heart of Abraham Lincoln that in1863—even in the midst of the Civil War—heenjoined his countrymen to be mindful of theirmany blessings, cautioning them not “to forgetthe source from which they come,” that they are“the gracious gifts of the Most High God” whoought to be thanked “with one heart and onevoice, by the whole American People.” 2In this spirit, ICR invites allChristians—not just Americans—to again takepart in this beautiful tradition wrapped in thedeep heritage of our shared Judeo-Christianethic, and deeper still in our hearts. We declareour gratitude to God for the many blessings Hehas showered upon our ministry, our lands, andour people. And in this season of Thanksgiving,we are most grateful for our abundant harvestsand the productivity of our industries; for thediscoveries of our laboratories through thework of our researchers, scientists, and scholars;for the achievements of our writers, clergy, andteachers, physicians, businessmen, and publicservants, farmers, mechanics, and workers ofevery kind whose honorable toil of body andmind rewards them and their families andenriches our lands. Let us then thank God forour families, friends, and neighbors, and forthe joy of this heritage of thanksgiving that wecelebrate in His name.Let every house of worship, every home,and every heart be filled with the spirit of praiseand gratitude and love for our Great Provideron this Thanksgiving Day. As the psalmistsang, “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks,unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy nameis near thy wondrous works declare” (Psalm75:1). In this vein, won’t you prayerfully joinwith ICR to see that His wondrous works aredeclared throughout the land?References1. Governor William Bradford’sThanksgiving Proclamation,Plymouth Plantation,1623.2. Proclamation of Thanksgiving,Abraham Lincoln,1863.Mr. Morris is Director of DonorRelations.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS17

Expelled:No Intelligence AllowedBig science has expelled smart new ideas from the classroom....What they forgot is that every generation has its Rebel!In this groundbreaking documentary, economist, actor, lawyer, and columnist Ben Steintravels the world on a quest for truth, and learns that educators and scientists are beingridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired—for merely believing that there might be evidenceof design in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of random chance.This DVD will open your eyes to the shocking suppression of academic freedom inAmerican schools, universities, and media.Only $19.95(plus shipping and handling)Slaughter of the Dissidents:The Shocking Truth about Killingthe Careers of Darwin DoubtersDr. Jerry BergmanSlaughter of the Dissidents is a unique and groundbreaking work exposinghow the careers of Darwin skeptics are being brutally attacked anddestroyed in many academic institutions throughout America. Dr. JerryBergman carefully documents with agonizing detail in his page-turningand mesmerizing case studies the discrimination, bigotry, prejudice,and tactics used against students, professors, and other science practitionerswho dare to question various aspects of Darwinian evolution.If you appreciated the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, thisbook picks up where the film left off. Slaughter of the Dissidents is awake-up call for those who are interested in freedom.$23.95(plus shipping and handling)To order, call 800.628.7640, or visit our online store at www.icr.org/store.18 ACTS&FACTS • NOVEMBER 2008

BOOK REVIEWSlaughter of the Dissidents:The Shocking Truth about Killing the Careers of Darwin Doubtersby Dr. Jerry Bergman(Leafcutter Press, 2008, 477 pages)BRIAN THOMAS, M. S.If Ben Stein’s 2008 documentary filmExpelled: No Intelligence Allowed was thetip, then Dr. Jerry Bergman’s Slaughterof the Dissidents is the rest of the iceberg.With clarity and thoroughness, Bergmanprovides detailed accounts of 17 of the over 300scientists and educators he has interviewed, allof whom have advanced degrees. Though theirviews range from creation science to intelligentdesign to evolution, all of them expressed somedoubt regarding neo-Darwinism, observingthat selection of mutations is not creating life’sdiversity. And all of them have received someform of discrimination.Dr. Bergman has observed thatevolutionary elitists incorrectly lumpall “Darwin Doubters” into one group,“creationists,” who are then categoricallyridiculed. Though highly qualified, thesescientists and educators are verbally andphysically threatened, lose privileges, loseopportunities for promotion, and losejobs and whole careers, just for expressingsome measure of doubt about the standardevolutionary story.One example is Rodney LeVake, the onlyhigh school biology teacher in his Faribault,Minnesota, public school with a master’s degreein biology, who was displaced in 1998 strictly forthe inadequacies he noticed in evolution. Hisschool administration required (only) him towrite a “position paper,” wherein LeVake notedthat “life’s complexity and the fossil record do notsupport the theory of macroevolution” (p. 217).Another biology teacher stated that evolution “isa fact like gravity, and a teacher who questionsDarwinism is blatantly incompetent and shouldbe fired” (p. 220). LeVake made it clear that hewas “not interested in teaching creationism inbiology class” (p. 219), but he was reassignedto teach chemistry. In June 2000, the RiceCounty District Court ruled that LeVake “hasno constitutional right to teach his proposedcriticisms of evolutionary theory, though theymay be scientifically meritorious” (p. 221).Dr. Bergman points out that if teacherswere required to believe all that they teach, thenWhen freedom of speechis revoked from one group,then the precedent is set torevoke it from others. Whoknows what group will betargeted next for academic“slaughter,” and who knowswhen the “slaughtering” willexpand beyond academia?history teachers would have to believe Marxismand Christianity when those subjects are covered,and religion teachers would have to believe allthe different religions that they survey. Bergmanquotes legal scholar Francis Beckwith’s opinionthat “since the court concedes that Mr. LeVake’sreassignment was based on his beliefs, an actthat is de facto unconstitutional, therefore, theCourt should have ruled in his favor on thesegrounds” (pp. 223-224).The purpose of Slaughter is to call usto “recognize that the pendulum has swungtoo far away from a reasonable center andagainst Christians.” It is “a plea that readers andsupporters will work to move the pendulumtoward…accommodation of Darwin skeptics inline with the principles of a free and just society”(p.15). Slaughter firmly verifies the theme ofExpelled, that our rights to free speech are beingtaken away. When freedom of speech is revokedfrom one group, then the precedent is set torevoke it from others. Who knows what groupwill be targeted next for academic “slaughter,”and who knows when the “slaughtering” willexpand beyond academia? Slaughter calls us todo the work of defending the innocent now,before such a task grows monumental or evenimpossible.With a total of 477 pages, Slaughtercontains 386 pages that recount and analyzecases of discrimination, a useful index, anda 68-page bibliography. This first of threevolumes has an accompanying website,SlaughteroftheDissidents.com. The secondvolume will detail the means by whichdiscrimination is carried out, and the thirdwill focus specifically on cataloging censorship.Slaughter provides ample evidence that “Darwinfundamentalists,” a phrase penned by Stephen J.Gould, are determined to punish others who donot agree with their beliefs.Well-documented, well-referenced, andwell-analyzed, Slaughter of the Dissidentspresents a clarion wake-up call for those whoare interested in freedom.Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS19

ICR RADIOFor nearly 40 years, ICR Radio has featuredscientists and experts addressing such hottopics as genetics, global warming, origins,the age of the earth, and much more—allfrom a thoroughly biblical framework. Our 3 programsnow air on more than 1,500 outlets aroundthe world.n Science, Scripture & Salvation is a weekly15-minute program that provides biblically-basedcommentary on scientific and cultural issuesshaping our world today.n Back to Genesis with ICR President Dr. JohnMorris provides daily 60-second highlights onfrequently asked questions about science andthe Bible.n And De Regreso a Génesis, our 90-second Spanishversion of Back to Genesis, takes the creationmessage to Latin America and beyond.To find a local station that carries our programs,use the Station Finder on our Radio page atwww.icr.org/radio. You can also listen to currentScience, Scripture & Salvation programs online, aswell as explore our archive of past programs.ICR Radio is just one more way that the messageof the Creator is proclaimed to the nations.Visit icr.org/radio and tune in today!P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229www.icr.orgNonprofit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPAIDINSTITUTE FORCREATION RESEARCHCHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED