What the theory of evolution says
We are told that old fossils are found in old rock layers and recent fossils are found in recent rock layers. Yet, some fossils (like clams) are found in all strata, including rock layers at mountain tops. So, learning which clam was millions of years old and which one is only a few thousand years old becomes a little tricky.
Most people do not know that most rock layers are "dated" by the fossils they contain. Scientists will choose a special reference fossil called an "index fossil." Then they assume (based on the phylogenetic tree) that the "simple" index fossils were the oldest. Finding one of these "oldest" index fossils in a layer identifies that layer as the "oldest." They then assign a date to that rock layer (based on the theory of evolution) and record that date on their geologic time scale. They continue this process with the "more complex" index fossils—assigning each increase in "complexity" to a younger rock layer until they complete filling out the geologic time scale. (A complete geologic time scale is also referred to as a "geologic column.")
One special note: Although Darwin popularized "evolution," he was not the first person to suggest it. Others before him proposed that layers of the earth were laid down in a sequence—suggesting geologic dates based on their "evolutionary model." Remember, the mere fact that someone preceded Darwin does not prove Darwin’s theories, validate these dating methods, or prove the theory of evolution.
Notice that although the layers of the earth were dated using index fossils, the index fossils were dated by guessing their age based on the theory of evolution. This is not science nor a valid application of the scientific method. Suggesting a hypothetical age for a fossil (based on a theory) and then telling everyone it is an established fact is not the way to apply the scientific method. If you quiz paleontologists about this, many will assure you that their techniques are indeed scientific. They will tell you they accurately date the fossil using the date of the rock layer in which they found it.
Did you notice what just happened? They assigned a date to the fossil, then dated the layer of earth which contained that fossil. Then they turned around and told you they knew the age of the fossil, because they knew the date of that layer of earth. This is called "circular reasoning."
You may be wondering about radiometric (radioactive) dating. However, you should know that scientists established the geologic time scale and assigned the ages of the fossils in those rock layers before radioactive dating was invented. In essence, the discussion of radioactive dating is a sophisticated way to divert people’s attention from the fact that there is no evidence to support the theory of evolution.
What the Bible says
The worldwide flood described in the Bible would also place different fossils in the layers of the Earth’s surface. A worldwide flood would kill all the animals (except for some that normally live in water) and most of the vegetation. Without land to break up the tides, all water movement would become very turbulent, mixing the different sizes and species together with trees and other vegetation. Whatever happened to sink to the bottom first would be covered first with the earth and silt stirred up during the flood. Those plants and animals that sank later would be buried in the higher layers.
To be fair, finding fossils in different layers of earth does not prove the Bible’s creation model either. For that reason, we give both models a "tie" on this issue.
Many fossils have been discovered that span many geologic layers.
In 1976, the complete fossil skeleton of a baleen whale was uncovered in Lompoc, California, crossing many geological layers (apparently "millions of years" of strata). This is an isolated incident, but the fossil discoveries in the next paragraph are very common.
Many animals appeared suddenly at the start of the "Cambrian Period," even though only a few multicellular fossils appear in "earlier" rock layers.
At a certain level (rocks corresponding to the "Pre Cambrian Era") the geologic layers contain almost no fossils. The few that exist are those from cellular and multicellular creatures such as algae or bacteria. Suddenly, in the next higher layer (corresponding to the "Cambrian Period") many sophisticated, fully formed fossils appear. These varied creatures include Trilobites, brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves, crinoids, graptolites, sponges, and segmented worms. This sudden appearance of so many fully developed life forms can not be explained using the theory of evolution and the slow-working microevolution model. Too many different creatures appear fully developed, too suddenly.
In contrast with the theory of evolution, the Bible’s creation account can explain why so many fully developed creatures came into existence so suddenly—God created them. Further, a world wide flood can easily explain a geologic layer filled with complex fossil remains resting on top of a relatively "empty" geologic layer—these creatures were killed during the flood. If you do not understand how something that lives under water can be killed by a flood, remember "the springs of the great deep" that opened up at the beginning of the flood. If these "springs" resembled today’s hydrothermal vents, they could easily "cook" all the marine life in the vicinity, which would then become the first casualties, being buried in the ocean floor sediment before the other plants and animals. This would also explain why the fossils of these life forms are typically found in the lowest strata.
to be continue....
