Is There Any Justification For Teaching Evolution In School?

Part 3

theories exist. However, with a model available, predictions

could be made related to what data would be expected. As data

became accessible, the model that identified itself closer to the

data based upon its predictions would be the more probably

correct model (Morris, Creationism 9). With this proposal in

mind, the following table will illustrate the basic predictions

that are addressed in this thesis.

Category______________Evolution Model___________Creation Model____

Natural Laws Evolving Constant

All Systems Building Up Breaking Down

Fossil Record Innumerable Transitions Systematic Gaps

Life Time of Earth Millions of Years Time not Necessary

The field of cosmology, the theory or philosophy of the

nature and principles of the universe, is perhaps the best area to

start a comparison of the two models. The evolution model

proclaims that the universe can be explained in terms of natural

laws and processes without need of external intervention.

Therefore, the very laws themselves must have developed on this

same naturalistic basis. The creation model, on the other hand,

infers that all matter and energy, along with the laws controlling

their behavior, were called into existence. As illustrated in the

above table, the evolution model would predict that the basic laws

of nature, matter, and energy are "still evolving since they must

have evolved in the past and there is no external agent to bring

such evolution to a halt (Morris, Creationism 18).

The creation

model would predict that matter, energy, and the basic laws of

nature are not changing.

The fact is, of course, that the basic laws of nature are not

changing at all. They are constant and invariable. Two of the

most proven laws in science are the Law of Mass Conservation and

the Law of Energy Conservation. These laws ascribe that

although mass and energy can be changed in state, they can never

be destroyed or created.

As a candle burns, it appears as if

matter is lost, but if the candle was to be burned within a

closed container, the total mass of the candle would be observed

not to dissipate. The product of the burning candle is given off

in gases, retaining its total content. In reference to these

laws, even a current college chemistry text book states,

when the term `law' is used, it refers to a physical law

or a law of nature. Such a law is an expression of an

apparently consistent pattern in nature for which ... no

exception to the law have been noted using current

methods of observation" (Dickson 37).

The same could be said about all other conservation principles in

physics. This is exactly as predicted by the creation model!

This law of Energy Conservation, naturally leads to the the

Law of Energy Decay. Both of these laws make up the two laws of

Thermodynamics. Energy Conservation (The first law of

Thermodynamics) assures that no energy can be destroyed.

The law

of Energy Decay (the second law of Thermodynamics) tells us that

energy continually proceeds to lower levels of utility. That is,

although energy is never destroyed, the level of available energy

for constructive use is always decreasing. This means that all