Why do Christians answer with data and atheists with opinion or statements?

Question

I've noticed that when an evolution or creation question comes up, Christians answer with lots of scientific data and what appears to be evidence. Atheists just say things like "didn't you go to grade school?" Is there so little real data to support the theory of evolution. I have read that evolutionists are even starting to refuse to debate creationists in a formal setting, even when their opponent has all the same credentials as themselves.

Answer 1

Here's some more data .. :D ( I LOVE # 4 below)

A tremendous pyramid of evidence for design and recent creation is available for detailed study.

Romans 1:20 states: "For the invisible things of him from the creation are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse."

Scientific evidence for creation abounds in areas of objective observation. Scholars in various scientific disciplines have written about the incredible complexity in living systems and the structure of the universe. This complexity is beyond the possibility of natural development.


EVIDENCE FOR CREATION

1. The Fossil Record...Evolutionists have constructed the Geologic Column in order to illustrate the supposed progression of "primitive" life forms to "more complex" systems we observe today. Yet, "since only a small percentage of the earth's surface obeys even a portion of the geologic column the claim of their having taken place to form a continuum of rock/life/time over the earth is therefore a fantastic and imaginative contrivance.1" "[T]he lack of transitional series cannot be explained as being due to the scarcity of material. The deficiencies are real, they will never be filled."2 This supposed column is actually saturated with "polystrate fossils" (fossils extending from one geologic layer to another) that tie all the layers to one time-frame. "[T]o the unprejudiced, the fossil record of plants is in favor of special creation." 3

2. Decay of Earth's Magnetic Field... Dr. Thomas Barnes, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at El Paso, has published the definitive work in this field.4 Scientific observations since 1829 have shown that the earth's magnetic field has been measurably decaying at an exponential rate, demonstrating its half-life to be approximately 1,400 years. In practical application its strength 20,000 years ago would approximate that of a magnetic star. Under those conditions many of the atoms necessary for life processes could not form. These data demonstrate that earth's entire history is young, within a few thousand of years.

3. The Global Flood... The Biblical record clearly describes a global Flood during Noah's day. Additionally, there are hundreds of Flood traditions handed down through cultures all over the world. 5 M.E. Clark and Henry Voss have demonstrated the scientific validity of such a Flood providing the sedimentary layering we see on every continent. 6 Secular scholars report very rapid sedimentation and periods of great carbonate deposition in earth's sedimentary layers..7 It is now possible to prove the historical reality of the Biblical Flood.8

4. Population Statistics...World population growth rate in recent times is about 2% per year. Practicable application of growth rate throughout human history would be about half that number. Wars, disease, famine, etc. have wiped out approximately one third of the population on average every 82 years. Starting with eight people, and applying these growth rates since the Flood of Noah's day (about 4500 years ago) would give a total human population at just under six billion people. However, application on an evolutionary time scale runs into major difficulties. Starting with one "couple" just 41,000 years ago would give us a total population of 2 x 1089. 9 The universe does not have space to hold so many bodies.

5. Radio Halos...Physicist Robert Gentry has reported isolated radio halos of polonuim-214 in crystalline granite. The half-life of this element is 0.000164 seconds! To record the existence of this element in such short time span, the granite must be in crystalline state instantaneously.10 This runs counter to evolutionary estimates of 300 million years for granite to form.

6. Human Artifacts throughout the Geologic Column...Man-made artifacts - such as the hammer in Cretaceous rock, a human sandal print with trilobite in Cambrian rock, human footprints and a handprint in Cretaceous rock – point to the fact that all the supposed geologic periods actually occurred at the same time in the recent past.11

7. Helium Content in Earth's Atmosphere... Physicist Melvin Cook, Nobel Prize medalist found that helium-4 enters our atmosphere from solar wind and radioactive decay of uranium. At present rates our atmosphere would accumulate current helium-4 amounts in less than 10,000 years.12

8. Expansion of Space Fabric...Astronomical estimates of the distance to various galaxies gives conflicting data.13 The Biblical Record refers to the expansion of space by the Creator14. Astrophysicist Russell Humphries demonstrates that such space expansion would dilate time in distant space.15 This could explain a recent creation with great distances to the stars.

9. Design in Living Systems...A living cell is so awesomely complex that its interdependent components stagger the imagination and defy evolutionary explanations. A minimal cell contains over 60,000 proteins of 100 different configurations.16 The chance of this assemblage occurring by chance is 1 in 10 4,478,296 .17

10. Design in the Human Brain...The human brain is the most complicated structure in the known universe.18 It contains over 100 billion cells, each with over 50,000 neuron connections to other brain cells.19 This structure receives over 100 million separate signals from the total human body every second. If we learned something new every second of our lives, it would take three million years to exhaust the capacity of the human brain. 20 In addition to conscious thought, people can actually reason, anticipate consequences, and devise plans - all without knowing they are doing so.21

1Woodmorappe, John, "The Essential Non-Existence of the Evolutionary Uniformitarian Geologic Column: A Quantitative Assessment," Creation Research Society Quarterly, vol. 18, no.1 (Terre Haute, Indiana, June 1981),pp. 46-71

2 Nilsson, N. Heribert, as quoted in Arthur C. Custance, The Earth Before Man, Part II, Doorway Papers, no. 20 (Ontario, Canada: Doorway Publications), p. 51

3Corner, E.J.H., Contemporary Botanical Thought, ed. A.M. MacLeod and L.S. Cobley (Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1961), p. 97

4Barnes, Thomas, ICR Technical Monograph #4, Origin and Destiny of the Earth's Magnetic Field (2nd edition, 1983)

5Blick, Edward, A Scientific Analysis of Genesis (Oklahoma City: Hearthstone, 1991) p. 103

6Clark, M.E. and Voss, H.D., "Fluid Mechanic Examination of the Tial Mechanism for Producing Mega-Sedimantary Layering" (Third International Conference on Creation, Pittsburg, July 1994)

7Ager, Derek, The Nature of the Stratigraphical Record (New York: John Wiley and Sons) p. 43 and p. 86

8West, John Anthony, Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt (New York: Julian Press, 1987) pp. 13-14

9 See Morris, Henry, Scientific Creationism (El Cajon, CA: Master Books)

10Gentry, Robert, Creation's Tiny Mystery (Knoxville, Tenn.: Earth Science Assoc.,1988)

11 Baugh, Carl, Why Do Men Believe Evolution AGAINST ALL ODDS? (Oklahoma City: Hearthstone, 1999)

12Cook, Melvin, "Where is The Earth's Radiogenic Helium?" Nature, Vol. 179, p. 213

13Cowan, R., "Further Evidence of a Youthful Universe," Science News, Vol. 148, p. 166

14Psalm 104:2; Isaiah 40:22

15Humphries, Russell, Starlight and Time (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1994)

16Denton, Michael, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis (Bethesda, Maryland: Adler & Adler, 1986) p. 263

17 Mastropaolo, Joseph, "Evolution Is Biologically Impossible," Impact # 317 (El Cajon, CA: Institute For Creation Research,1999) p. 4

18Restak, Richard, The Brain: The Last Frontier, 1979, p. 390

19The Brain, Our Universe Within, PBS Video

20Wonders of God's Creation, Moody Video Series

21Weiss, Joseph, "Unconscious Mental Functioning," Scientific American, March 1990, p. 103

Answer 2

Immediate reaction : from the UK (Britainistan) perspective, it was surprising that the Christmas / Holiday Tree argument didn't lead where I was expecting, nor was Islam ever mentioned. Stylistically : I wondered why I found it such a compelling read even though it contains a few non-sequiturs to say the least. This guy sounds like a very reasonable, humane man. Must be due to balance and rhythm, well-constructed sentences and so on. I doubt (mainly from evidence gleaned on this august forum) that America is "an explicitly atheist country". He is such a good writer that I could at least bear to read his take on the tired 'if God is good, how could He allow this to happen' question. I liked the paragraph about Dr.Spock and conscience. Maybe that shows my age. I am old enough to remember what it was like before precious 'self-esteem', 'role models' etc took over. Each paragraph is well-argued, but I reluctantly suspect that the whole, however well-written, adds up to an incoherent rant.

Answer 3

To argue with a christian that is imbedded with dogma is a lost cause. I have yet to see the educated atheist that refused to debate the christian, i dont know where you have been in the past 10 years but there have been many public debates such as the beyond belief conferance. It is also untrue to say that the christian is bringing any sort of scientific data to the table. on the contrary the christian brings scripture to the table and scripture is not a credible source. to call creationism "intelligent design" is just a play on words to make the christian theory sound like it has some base in reality. it does not. reason will never fail you. christians are being exposed as the true sheep they are.

Answer 4

If by data you mean Biblical quotes, evolution mis-quotes, hoaxes, fraudulant data, Kent Hovind and blatant lies then, yes Creationist Christians do have a lot of data.

However, if you mean factual data, real evidence and scientific proof then I think you'll find that evolution holds all the cards.

Answer 5

They lie. They make up the data and don't cite their sources. Once you find the source, you discover it is garbage. They use long cut and pastes that are easily rufuted, and which they better not understand because they are just babble -- pseudoscientic jabber that sounds reasonable at first glance. The weaseling of the words is far too intricate to be written spontaneously.

I've attached a classic example. Take the numbers, plug them into a spreadsheet and you see that the numbers, mathematical models and conclusions are fiction.

Answer 6

Christians just don't want their truth to be with the Devil, where atheist are already overwhelmed. Free and be let free for the sake of being free.

So, where are we? ... evolution or creation? Well, evolution have been where we are now and creation is the beginning of the biological reproduction.

Answer 7

Because even the old atheist spokesman Antony Flew said recently that the latest biological research "has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce (life), that intelligence must have been involved."

and another quote on that topic.

"The principle of [divine] purpose ... stares the biologist in the face wherever he looks ... . The probability for such an event as the origin of DNA molecules to have occurred by sheer chance is just too small to be seriously considered ... ."Ernst Boris Chain - Nobel Prize in medicine

and I include an online presentation in my sources.

Answer 8

I am sorry, but I believe you are confused on this topic. Atheist answer with scientific fact and Christians answer with opinions on how God created the earth. There is no scientific evidence that even suggests that a god created anything.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in creation also, but not the Christian version. But as an impartial observer in this debate I must say that it is the atheist who give scientific evidence.

Answer 9

I have yet to see a Christian post anything out of a peer reviewed scientific journal. What they are posting is nonsense that doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

I have had Christians tell me things like
1-Anthropologists make up the fossils and they are not real. This guy even went as far to say they were fakes.
2-Lucy was a chimpanzee. That was followed up with tonight that the new find of the same species was a human. Have you seen the skull? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060920-lucys-baby.html
3-there are no transitional fossils. Again have you seen the skull from 2?
4-Darwin recanted on his deathbed. This was a lie from the start and a simple Google will verify that, but it is here every other day at least.

It just goes on and on. We do post plenty of articles and they all link to real scientific papers. What we get in return are a bunch of half truths and outright lies that would never pass the peer review process and are not evidence of anything except someone's desperation to hold on to an idea whose time has long since past. What you get back are ridiculous web sites that are not scientific AT ALL.

Answer 10

I always answer that I am of a Christian denomination; do believe in evolution, BUT believe that it is part of God's plan.

I cannot be more honest than that. I don't need to be quoting the Bible to remember what I learned in church, Sunday school, and confirmation class--or of what I believe in. It is pointless to argue about religions, lack of religion, science vs. religion--as no one, I mean no one, can be 100% right. No one but God is perfect.

Answer 11

I am a born again Jesus Name preacher, I use no data, the Bible is all I need. Evolution is Hog Wash, baseless, lacking subject matter jurisdiction. it's a moot cause.