This Week in Creationism Episode 63

In episode 63 of "This Week in Creationism," I discuss recent developments within the young Earth creationist community and scientific challenges to their narratives. Major topics include the interaction between Ken Ham and Gavin Orland, climate skepticism at Answers in Genesis, and contradictory evidence regarding the dinosaur-bird connection. I critique the organization’s selective use of data and misinformation, emphasizing the importance of engaging with scientific evidence.

April 2, 2024

Did Adam and Eve Have Tails? A Molecular Genetic Tale

The video explores the possibility of Adam and Eve having tails, challenging the views of creationists like Ken Ham. It delves into the genetic and morphological aspects of tail development, highlighting a study in the journal 'Nature" that suggests a genetic mutation responsible for the absence of tails in humans and great apes. The content encourages a dialogue on the interpretation of creation narratives and the integration of scientific understanding with theological beliefs.

April 1, 2024

Review of “The Ark and the Darkness”: A Critical Perspective

I react to "The Ark and the Darkness," a film blending scientific evidence with biblical interpretations. The documentary, promoting a young Earth creationist viewpoint, emphasizes Noah's flood and end-times prophecy, lacking nuance and scientific engagement. Despite catering to believers, it misses an opportunity for open reflection and falls short of critical analysis.

March 24, 2024

A Plea to Pastors and Theologians who Preach on Social Media

Many of my Facebook and Twitter (X) friends, those that follow my blog (Naturalis Historia) and subscribe to my YouTube channel (Dr. Joel Duff) may not be aware that I am a PK (preacher’s kid). I know how difficult a pastor’s life can be. It’s an emotionally demanding job with high expectations, where everything said... Continue Reading →

February 12, 2024

Isaac Newton on the Mosaic Account of Creation

Creation chronometry was a much debated topic in the late 1600s and early 1700s among Christians with virtually no opinion expressed being of the same kind that that could be described as a literalist view held today. I often wonder what would have happened had the Westminster Confession of Faith been written after this debate rather than before it given how the landscape of the discussion changed in the 40 years after the Assembly of the Westminster Divines met.

December 22, 2023

A Fossil Paradox? Footprints are Rarely Preserved in Stone and yet are very Common

Billions of footprints are preserved in the rock record. While bones get all the attention, fossil footprints, a type of ichnofossils outnumber bones. How can we make sense of this observation? Surely, preserving a bone must be far more likely than preserving a footprint? I have written about how paleontologists use information from footprints and bones... Continue Reading →

May 8, 2023

A Quadrillion Mutations Later: Why are you still alive? A response to genetic entropy

As an adult, you have experienced an astounding number of mutations during your lifetime – several quadrillion, to be specific. This number may seem unfathomable, but it's true. It's natural to wonder how you're still alive with such an immense number of mutations. How do we even know how many mutations have occurred in our... Continue Reading →

March 1, 2023

Birds are not Dinosaurs? Examining Ken Ham’s Hypocritical Viewpoint

Ken Ham, the founder of Answers in Genesis USA, has no doubts about the proper classification of birds and dinosaurs. He believes that identifying birds a type of dinosaur should be rejected and labeled a compromised view, influenced by evolutionary theory. However, it would appear he has no problem considering whales and bats to be... Continue Reading →

February 14, 2023

Ken Ham Finds Threats to Young-Earth Creationist within Young-Earth Creationism

Ken Ham has fired the first of what, apparently, will be many volleys against what he believes is one of the biggest threats to young-earth creationists: other young-earth creationists!! hanging them with the pejorative title of "young-earth evolutionists." Yes, Ken Ham is suggesting that one of the biggest danger to creationism--as defined by Answers in... Continue Reading →

February 2, 2023

Dinosaurs, Dragons and Ken Ham: The Literal Reality of Mythological Creatures

Have you ever wondered about the origin of mythological creatures like dragons and griffins? Many ancient cultures believed in the reality of such creatures and depicted them in their art and stories. But where did these beliefs, these myths find their origin? Did they come straight from the imagination of social influencers of the day?... Continue Reading →

January 25, 2023

Young Mars Creationism: What Happened to the Water on Mars?

Mars once had a thicker atmosphere and liquid water on its surface. Nearly every month data from satellites and multiple ground-based systems provide new evidence confirming what was once speculation about the watery past of Mars. But how much water and how long ago did this water exist? A large amount of water still exists on Mars... Continue Reading →

October 27, 2022

Untraced Lineages Reveal Rosetta Stone Flaws in Traced: Human DNA’s Big Surprise

The book “Traced: Human DNA's Big Surprise” by Dr. Jeanson of the Young-earth apologetics ministry, Answers in Genesis, claims to trace all human ancestry within the confines of a young-earth chronology. Ken Ham, founder of AiG and Dr. Jeanson's employer has claimed that "Dr. Jeanson has found the Rosetta Stone of human history" and extolled... Continue Reading →

May 20, 2022

Are Species Created with Hidden Information Pre-adapted for Future Environments?

How did the incredible species diversity today manifest itself from just a few individual animals preserved on Noah's Ark? How much speciation has happened? What are the mechanisms for young-earth speciation? Is there evidence that rapid speciation has occurred in just the past few thousand years? These are enduring questions that young-earth creationists have been... Continue Reading →

May 13, 2022

The Mosquito That Produced More Than A Little Buzz

Paleontologists can get excited about fossils even if they are not dinosaurs, mammoths and hominids though this story has a Jurassic Park dino connection which helps. In this case several tiny fossil mosquitos had scientists abuzz in 2013. Fossils of mosquitoes are known from amber (fossilized tree sap) but are extremely rare in sedimentary rock... Continue Reading →

January 6, 2022

Young-Earth Creationism in 2022

Rather than a retrospective on 2021, let's look forward to this year. What is the state of young-earth creationism right now? What events will or could transpire in the coming year that will impact the future acceptance or rejection of young-earth creationism as an interpretative framework for understanding earth's geological and biology history? In this... Continue Reading →

January 4, 2022

Category: Creationism