The Most Important Decision We Ever Make

1. The Most Important Decision We Ever Make Michael G. Houts, PhD houts315@gmail.com Additional Information: www.apologeticspress.org www.answersingenesis.org

2. The Most Important Decision We Ever Make is Where to Put Our faith Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Temporal and eternal consequences! The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

3. God Provides Tremendous Evidence True science is the Christian’s friend, and the enemy of the atheist / evolutionist! We can use God’s Creation to evangelize. Romans 1:20-22 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

4. Information in the Genome? Diversity of Life (Information in the Genome) • Creation: • Given a complete encyclopedia, write a sentence about butterflies. • Neo-Darwinian Synthesis: • Given a sentence about butterflies, write a complete encyclopedia.

5. Science Shows Information is Being Lost from the Genome, not Gained • Evolution would require an unimaginably large addition of genetic information to turn a “simple” life form into all the diverse life we see today. • Natural selection acting on mutations is either information neutral or results in a loss of information. • Textbook examples of “evolution” either show nothing or actually show the opposite of evolution. • “Microevolution” can be a deceptive term.

6. Information Is Being Lost From Genome Darwin’s Finches The team predicts that if the finches were to run into a series of bad reproductive years in which extreme weather cuts off their food supply, they’d go extinct in about 50 years. A model weighted toward neutral years indicates they’d be extinct within about 80 years. Unsurprisingly, a run of good reproductive luck would spell longer survival for the species: about 100 years. Reducing the number of flies could help the birds hold on even longer, or even prevent them from going extinct at all. While Clayton’s team focused on medium ground finches, given that there are at least 14 species of Darwin's finches in the Galápagos—and that they are so closely related—the problem likely extends to other species http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/charles-darwins-famous-finches-could-be-extinct-half-century-180957578/#2OoSqbcgJUdhfuXy.99 (Photo : Wikimedia Commons / nigel / CC)

7. Microevolution Does Not Produce New Genetic Information Peppered Moths • Until 1850s, dark gray peppered moths were rare. Almost all peppered moths were pale. • Around 1850, dark peppered moths started to become more common, especially in heavily industrialized areas where pale tree trunks were darkened by heavy pollution. • By 1950, peppered moth populations living near industrial centers consisted almost entirely of dark individuals. • Since 1950, England has introduced strict air pollution control measures, and there are now more light-colored moths. Carbonaria Form Typica Form From Biology: Visualizing Life, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1998, pp 181-183

8. Be Careful Not to Draw False Conclusions Incorrect Interpretation Peppered Moths show natural selection (“microevolution”) in action. Dark moths are better camouflaged when sitting on soot-darkened tree trunks and thus escape being eaten. More dark colored moths survive and reproduce. Over time, “microevolution” leads to “macroevolution” Correct Interpretation Peppered Moths show natural selection in action. Dark moths are better camouflaged when sitting on soot-darkened tree trunks and thus escape being eaten. More dark colored moths survive and reproduce. The genetic information needed to produce both dark and light colored moths was present in the original created kind. The example has nothing to do with “macroevolution”, in that no new genetic information was created.

9. Example: Bacteria Developing Resistance to Antibiotics can be Either Neutral or the Opposite of Evolution 1. Information to resist the antibiotic already in the bacterial population. 2. Plasmid Transfer: one germ inserts a tiny tube into another, and a small loop of DNA called a ‘plasmid’ transfers from one to another. 3. Mutation: Loss of a control gene may enhance resistance to penicillin (excessive production of penicillinase ). Mutation that reduces efficiency of bacteria’s chemical pumping mechanism can reduce uptake of antibiotic and provide “resistance.”

10. Selective Breeding (Developing New Breeds of Animals) Is The Opposite of Macroevolution • New breeds represent the selection of specific traits from existing information. • Selective breeding reduces available information, and is actually the opposite of macroevolution.

11. Natural Selection Can be Either Neutral or the Opposite of Macroevolution (5 of 27 possible combinations shown) (Tremendous variation from original created kind)

12. We Are All Unique! 1 Corinthians 12:17-20 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

13. Genomic Selection • Start with 1000 “perfect” manuals for manufacturing a car. • Randomly change 100 words in each manual (different changes in each) and make 1500 cars. Choose the manuals for the 1000 “most fit” cars. “Select out” the other 500 cars. • Randomly change 100 more words in each of the selected manuals and repeat the process. • After 100 generations, manuals would each contain ~10,000 “mutations,” with each manual having its own set of mutations. • Eventually “error catastrophe” will occur – no manual left that can produce an operable car.

14. Attempted “Rescue” Mechanisms Mutation-count mechanism Incorrect because assumes individual with most mutations is “least fit”, instead of individual with worst mutations. Synergistic epistasis mechanism Also attempts to artificially focus selection against high mutation count individuals. Assumes harmful mutations greatly amplify each other. Not observed, but if true would actually make case against evolution even stronger (error catastrophe sooner) Dr. J.C. Sanford, Genetic Entropy, pg 112

15. Attempted Rescue Mechanisms Gene Duplication and Polyploidy Proposed as mechanism for creating information. One gene somehow remains fixed while only the “copy” mutates. In observed reality, effect actually accelerates the loss of information. Also harmful effects – Down’s Syndrome results from an extra copy of Chromosome 21. Dr. J.C. Sanford, Genetic Entropy, pg 223

16. Information In Genome is Being Lost/Corrupted • Christians aren’t the only ones who’ve noticed the accumulation of mutations in the human genome, but the non-Christian “solutions” are frightening! • Survival of the fittest (compassion “bad”) • Genetic screening before allowed to have children • Societal screening before allowed to have children

17. Genetic Screening of Unborn Children Increasingly Encouraged. Like Many Technologies, can be Used for Good or Evil! • New, “safe” technology for genetically testing unborn babies. • “I think we could see 50, 60, 70, 80 percent of American pregnancies getting genetic testing.” • Hank Greely, director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences at Stanford • Arizona has already made it illegal to abort based on sex or race. But what about perceived genetic imperfections? • If an unborn baby is human, why is abortion allowed at all? If unborn babies are not human, why should there be any restrictions? “Too Much Information,” MIT Technology Review, January, 2014 pp 73-78.

18. “Horrified by Iceland’s near eradication of children with Down syndrome” “As the proud father of a wonderful 14-year-old son with Down syndrome, I was horrified at the news of a near eradication of children with Down syndrome in Iceland due to early identification procedures and early termination of pregnancies.” “It is clear that “technology” is ahead of understanding of the contributions that children with Down syndrome make to their families and to their communities. Studies show an extremely high happiness rate for families who have children with Down syndrome, and also for persons with Down syndrome.” Denver Post, August 28, 2017 http://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/28/horrified-by-icelands-near-eradication-of-children-with-down-syndrome/

19. Hunter, William George (1914) A Civic Biology, pp 261-263. Widely used US Biology textbook (pre-WWII) “If such people were lower animals, we would probably kill them off to prevent them from spreading. Humanity will not allow this, but we do have the remedy of separating the sexes in asylums or in other places and in various ways preventing the intermarriage and the possibilities of perpetuating such a low and degenerate race. Remedies of this sort have been tried successfully in Europe and are now meeting with success in this country.” If Atheists were right then Hunter would have been right – no free will and only those who the rulers of a society deem superior should be allowed to have children

20. What does the Bible say about Children? Psalm 127:3-5 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,The fruit of the womb is a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one’s youth.5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;They shall not be ashamed,But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

21. What do some in society say about children? Margaret Sanger, founder, Planned Parenthood: “The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” Woman and the New Race, Chapter 5, pg 30, 1920 “Plan for Peace” from Birth Control Review (April 1932, pp. 107-108) Article 1. The purpose of the American Baby Code shall be to provide for a better distribution of babies… and to protect society against the propagation and increase of the unfit. Article 4. No woman shall have the legal right to bear a child, and no man shall have the right to become a father, without a permit… Article 6. No permit for parenthood shall be valid for more than one birth.

22. What Does the Bible Say About “Races” Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

23. How Do Some in Society View “Races” Margaret Sanger, founder, Planned Parenthood: “We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities.  The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.” Woman, Morality, and Birth Control. New York: New York Publishing Company, 1922. Page 12.

24. Was Sanger a “Free Thinker” or Was She Simply Acting Upon What She Had Been Taught? “At the present time there exist upon the earth five races or varieties of man, each very different from the other in instincts, social customs, and, to an extent, in structure. These are the Ethiopian, or negro type, originating in Africa; the Malay or brown race, from the islands of the Pacific; the American Indian; the Mongolian, or yellow race, including the natives of China, Japan, and the Eskimos; and finally, the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white inhabitants of Europe and America.” From Hunter, George W. (1914), A Civic Biology, pg 196. Used to “teach Evolution” in Dayton, TN (1925) resulting in Scopes Trial

25. Was George Hunter a Racist, or was he just writing what he had been told was “Science” Charles Darwin: “At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate , and replace, the savage races throughout the world. At the same time, the anthropomorphous apes…will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla1 “The average mental power in man must be above that of woman.”2 “Thus man has ultimately become superior to woman , in poetry, strength, voice, etc.”3 1. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (New York, NY: D. Appleton, 1897), p. 241-242 2. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (New York, NY: D. Appleton, 1897), p. 586 3. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (New York, NY: D. Appleton, 1897), p. 588

26. Were Some of Sanger’s Contemporaries Really That Far Removed from the “Intellectual” Positions of their Time? Margaret Sanger “[We should] apply a stern and rigid policy of sterilization and segregation to that grade of population whose progeny is tainted, or whose inheritance is such that objectionable traits may be transmitted to offspring.”1 Adolf Hitler “If nature does not wish that weaker individuals should mate with the stronger, she wishes even less that a superior race should intermingle with an inferior one; because in such cases all her efforts, throughout hundreds of thousands of years, to establish an evolutionary higher stage of being, may thus be rendered futile.”2 1. Margaret Sanger, Woman and the New Race, 1920 2. Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1925

27. False “Science” Often Used to Claim Evil is Good and Good is Evil Isaiah 5:20-23 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,And prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,And take away justice from the righteous man!

28. “Vestigial Structures” - False Religions Hinder Real Science Atheistic Evolution: Vestigial Structure: structure that is a remnant of an organism’s evolutionary past and has no function; from the Latin vestigium, meaning “footprint.”1 Biblical Creationism: The functionality of some organs and structures may have degraded since the original perfect creation. Vestigial structures (as defined above) do not exist. So-called “vestigial structures” are evidence for scientific ignorance, not evolution. 1. Biology: Visualizing Life, Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1998, pg 868

29. What’s Taught: Vestigial Structures “A vestigial structure is a body part that no longer has a function. How is a vestigial body part evidence of evolution?”1 “There are, according to Wiedersheim, no less than 180 vestigal [sic] structures in the human body, sufficient to make of a man a veritable walking museum of antiquities. Among these [is] the vermiform appendix . These and numerous other structures of the same sort can be reasonably interpreted as evidence that man has descended from ancestors in which these organs were functional. Man has never completely lost these characters; he continues to inherit them though he no longer has any use for them.” (pro-evolution “evidence” available at 1925 Scopes Trial). 1. Biology: An Everyday Experience, Glencoe, McGraw Hill, 1999, pp 620-621

30. What’s Not Taught: Vestigial Structures Functions have been found for all 180 structures believed to be “vestigial” only a century ago. Many of these functions are vital. Additional functions of “vestigial organs” continue to be identified. Arguments concerning “Junk DNA” are analogous to those concerning vestigial structures. These arguments once again reflect scientific ignorance, not evolution. Belief in “Vestigial Structures” has slowed scientific progress. Data and real science are the enemy of the atheist.

31. What’s Not Taught: Vestigial Structures • Appendix:‘Although it used to be believed that the appendix had no function and was an evolutionary relic, this is no longer thought to be true. Its greatest importance is the immunological function it provides in the developing embryo, but it continues to function even in the adult … . The function of the appendix appears to be to expose circulating immune cells to antigens from the bacteria and other organisms living in your gut. That helps your immune system to tell friend from foe and stops it from launching damaging attacks on bacteria that happily co-exist with you.’1 ‘By the time you are an adult, it seems your immune system has already learned to cope with the foreign substances in the gastrointestinal tract, so your appendix is no longer important. But defects in [the appendix and other] immune sampling areas may be involved in autoimmune diseases and intestine inflammation.’1 The last word, New Scientist177(2381):65, 8 February 2003.

32. What’s Not Taught: Vestigial Structures • Appendix: ‘In humans, [the appendix] was thought to have no physiological function. However, it is now known to play a role in fetal immunity and in young adults. During the early years of development, the appendix functions as a “lymphoid organ”, assisting with the maturation of B lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and in the production of immunoglobulin A antibodies [both of which help fight invading germs]. In addition, at around the 11th week of fetal development, endocrine (hormone-producing) cells appear in the appendix. These cells produce peptide hormones that control various biological mechanisms.’1 The last word, New Scientist177(2381):65, 8 February 2003.

33. What’s Not Taught: Vestigial Structures • Nictitating Membrane: Pink lump in our eyes, misnamed, actually “plica semilunaris.” Serves as a support and control structure for the eye as well as lubrication and effective eyeball movement. Intercepts foreign bodies on the cornea and passes them to the region of the eye closest to the nose. Secretes mucin, one of three components of tears. Increases field of vision possible without moving head. • Human Hair: intensification of touch sensation. Conserve body heat (reduce airflow near skin) or help cool (hold perspiration – evaporate instead of drip).

34. What’s Not Taught: Vestigial Structures • Tonsils and adenoids were once considered “vestigial.” They are now known to be a ring of lymphoid tissue that protects the entrance of the alimentary and respiratory tracts from bacterial infection. In 1930’s over 50% of children had tonsils and adenoids removed. By 1971 only 14.8 per 1000 had the procedure. In 1976, New York Department of Cancer Control concluded “… people who have had tonsillectomies are nearly three times as likely to develop Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer that attacks the lymphoid tissue.”

35. As Science Advances, Atheism Debunked 2009: “What pseudogenes are useful for is embarrassing creationists. It stretches even their creative ingenuity to make up a reason why an intelligent designer should have created a pseudogene… unless he was deliberately setting out to fool us.” (Dawkins, 2009, Greatest Show on Earth). 2012 (and beyond): Extensive evidence that pseudogenes have functions. Encode proteins, regulate gene expression, sequence conservation in psuedogenes.

36. The Faith of the Atheist: : “Junk DNA” • HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Vast parts of the human genome thought to be "junk DNA" are really filled with millions of cellular "switches" helping choreograph the roles genes play in human life and disease, scientists said today. • Researchers from 32 laboratories around the world, including Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, announced the simultaneous publication of 30 scientific papers detailing new discoveries in the ongoing ENCODE Project, short for Encyclopedia of DNA Elements. It is funded in the United States by the National Genome Research Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health. • Instead of believing that only 2 percent of the genome is controlling cells, the ENCODE project has now proved that at least 80 percent of DNA has some function in cellular creation and growth, Myers said. ENCODE collaborators have also identified 4 million of the so-called genetic switches that determine whether genes are turned off or on in the overall cellular wiring diagram.

37. Homologous Structures: Common Ancestor or Common Designer?

38. “Homologous Structures” Argument is Religious, Not Scientific Atheistic Evolution: “This observation makes little sense for created objects, since a creator could mix and match features observed in any organism.”1 “Homologous structures are similar because they are modified versions of structures that occurred in a common ancestor.”2 “The similarity of these early developmental forms strongly suggests that the process of development has evolved.”2 “What other evidence is there for evolution? If later life-forms evolved from earlier ones, wouldn’t the later forms have something in common with the earlier forms? … Early life forms are made of cells. So are later life forms. Early life forms have DNA as part of there chromosomes. So do later life forms.”3 Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Biology 336 (online) From Biology: Visualizing Life, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1998, pp 178-179 3. Biology: An Everyday Experience, Glencoe, McGraw Hill, 1999, pp 620

39. Homologous Structures are Biblically Consistent Biblical Creation: Homologous structures provide evidence for a common designer, not a common ancestor. “As with “yolk sac,” “gill slit” formation represents an ingenious and adaptable solution to a difficult engineering problem. How can a small, round egg cell be turned into an animal or human being with a digestive tube and various organs inside a body cavity? The answer is to have the little ball (or flat sheet in some organisms) “swallow itself,” forming a tube which then “buds off” other tubes and pouches. The anterior pituitary, lungs, urinary bladder, and parts of the liver and pancreas develop in this way. In fish, gills develop from such processes, and in human beings, the ear canals, parathyroid, and thymus glands develop. Following DNA instructions in their respective egg cells, fish and human beings each use a similar process to develop their distinctive features.”1 1. Dr. Gary Parker, Creation: Facts of Life, Chapter 1

40. Homologous Structures Why do songs from the same musician have similarities? Why do paintings from the same artist have similarities? Why do different car models from the same company have similarities? Why are similar parts used to perform similar functions (e.g. wheels, two by fours)? Homologous structures are exactly what Christians would expect given that God created all life!

41. We Need to Let People Know Why We are Talking to Them! Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

42. Why Can These Types of Discussions Be Useful? Stay focused on the goal! Encourage people to begin studying and objectively considering the Bible as soon as possible. Encourage them to obey the Gospel! Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

43. A Straightforward Reading of the Bible Provides God’s Plan of Salvation Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Examples of people being saved: Acts 2:36-47; Acts 8:4-13; Acts 8:26-40; Acts 9:1-20; Acts 10:1– 11:18; Acts 16:13-15; Acts 16:23-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 22:6-16