Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Clivedurdle · 05-14-2003, 08:25 AM

I have come across a "tract" by Gary Parker "From Evolution to Creation" subtitled a personal testimony of an evolutionist turned creationist.

His main arguments discuss errors with radiometric dating and something called paraconformities.

Could someone enlighten me to what he is on about?

For example, he asserts an unnamed professor (in America a professor is any lecturer) stated:

"If a fundamentalist ever got hold of this stuff he would make havoc out of the radiometric dating system. Keep the faith."

What puzzles me is this continuous assertion that just because something is not completely worked out that means the whole structure must be wrong!

Christians work on a strong assumption that thou shalt not bear false witness.

I get the impression that if a fundamentalist accepts evolution, their whole house of card collapses. For example Genesis states that God's creation is "very good". The snag is that dinosaurs with arthritis and cancer does not match this excellent creation they postulate! Imperfection has to be from satan....it has to be a young earth cos it was Adam wot sinned and this led to Jesus having to die for us all. QED (Quite Easily Done!)

SULPHUR · 05-14-2003, 09:14 AM

Let's see the evidence before we comment

roxrkool · 05-14-2003, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Lots of them. One concerns the word paraconformity. In The Genesis Flood, I had heard that paraconformity was a word used by evolutionary geologists for fossil systems out of order, but with no evidence of erosion or overthrusting. My heart really started pounding when paraconformities and other unconformities came up in geology class. What did the professor say? Essentially the same thing as Morris and Whitcomb. He presented paraconformities as a real mystery and something very difficult to explain in evolutionary or uniformitarian terms. We even had a field trip to study paraconformities that emphasized the point.

First of all, he says that "he heard that paraconformity was a word used by evolutionary geologists..." So this did not actually come from anything he learned in his geology class - that's obvious.

Geologists use the term 'paraconformity' to indicate missing rock/time as shown by the fossil evidence. It infers a hiatus in depostition, and the only mystery, if I remember correctly, is trying to figure out exactly how and why non-deposition occurred. I believe it's also possible that the unconformity can be the result of erosion, it's just that no evidence has been found to indicate that.

Mr. Parker would be wrong to assume paraconformities are difficult to explain in evolutionary or 'uniformitarian' terms.

GRRR!!! There is that misleading term again - 'uniformitarian.'

ps418 · 05-14-2003, 10:29 AM

What a moron. He's confusing paraconformity with overthrusts. And of course, there's no such thing as an 'evolutionary geologist.'

Patrick

Clivedurdle · 05-14-2003, 01:08 PM

"evolutionary geologist" is probably an attemp to tarnish geology with that evil Darwinism!

They might not realise its the other way around - that Lyall and Darwin were good friends and Lyall corrupted Darwin's thinking!

Why can't they read the original stuff, like Voyages of the Beagle!

I note Parker claims to have a PHd!

roxrkool · 05-14-2003, 01:24 PM

Actually, Parker has an Ed.D. - a Doctorate in Education - focusing on Biology with a cognate in Geology. I have no idea what a cognate is - a minor of some type?

He does have a B.S. and M.S. in Biology, but he doesn't state from what institution(s).

05-14-2003, 08:25 AM	#1
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	Gary Parker radiometric dating and paraconformities I have come across a "tract" by Gary Parker "From Evolution to Creation" subtitled a personal testimony of an evolutionist turned creationist. His main arguments discuss errors with radiometric dating and something called paraconformities. Could someone enlighten me to what he is on about? For example, he asserts an unnamed professor (in America a professor is any lecturer) stated: "If a fundamentalist ever got hold of this stuff he would make havoc out of the radiometric dating system. Keep the faith." What puzzles me is this continuous assertion that just because something is not completely worked out that means the whole structure must be wrong! Christians work on a strong assumption that thou shalt not bear false witness. I get the impression that if a fundamentalist accepts evolution, their whole house of card collapses. For example Genesis states that God's creation is "very good". The snag is that dinosaurs with arthritis and cancer does not match this excellent creation they postulate! Imperfection has to be from satan....it has to be a young earth cos it was Adam wot sinned and this led to Jesus having to die for us all. QED (Quite Easily Done!)

05-14-2003, 09:14 AM	#2
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	wait Let's see the evidence before we comment

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05-14-2003, 10:29 AM	#4
ps418 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 1,840	What a moron. He's confusing paraconformity with overthrusts. And of course, there's no such thing as an 'evolutionary geologist.' Patrick

05-14-2003, 01:08 PM	#5
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	"evolutionary geologist" is probably an attemp to tarnish geology with that evil Darwinism! They might not realise its the other way around - that Lyall and Darwin were good friends and Lyall corrupted Darwin's thinking! Why can't they read the original stuff, like Voyages of the Beagle! I note Parker claims to have a PHd!

05-14-2003, 01:24 PM	#6
roxrkool Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 75	Actually, Parker has an Ed.D. - a Doctorate in Education - focusing on Biology with a cognate in Geology. I have no idea what a cognate is - a minor of some type? He does have a B.S. and M.S. in Biology, but he doesn't state from what institution(s).

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