Geology

Geology- is the study of the Earth's physical nature and properties. The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin believed that scientists would find fossils showing transitions from one kind of animal to another. Darwin assumed that strata (layers of sedimentary rock) are thick, continuous, and old with the oldest records in the lowest layers and the youngest in the uppermost layers. Life forms would be preserved in those layers having the same age as the life forms; hence, similar histories of strata in different locations, species emergence, transition forms, and extinction records could be correlated. [4.]

Evolutionists say we should see species that were geographically isolated in new environments. Darwin thought these changes could have brought about new kinds of plants and animals by the “natural selection” of those that could survive. Key animals and plants unable to reproduce in new environments would die out. If this were true, we ought to find remains or traces of the continuously changing life forms, called ”transitional life forms” by Darwin, over time in the fossil record. [4.]

All creationists believe that God was the first cause in the earth’s geological formation and development. Young-earth creationists challenge the findings and sometimes the methods of geology. They indicate that the Hebrew word yom is most often translated as “day”. They attribute many present-day geological features (such as rapid formation of coal seams) to the flood of Noah in Genesis 6-9. Dr. Henry and John Morris, foremost advocates of the young-earth position are the founders of the Institute for Creation Research. They label its beliefs in flood geology and six 24-hour days creation as “creation science” or “scientific creationism” although some creationists did not believe that either evolution or creation was a science that could be proved. [4.]

Geologists have a special liking for the Grand Canyon in part because it's an almost perfect natural laboratory for basic geology. Within the confines of Grand Canyon National Park, you can find examples of a wide variety of geologic phenomena: sedimentary strata, metamorphic strata, lava flows, granite intrusions, angled strata, disconformities, unconformities, fossils - they're all there. Whether you're an amateur who's never lifted a rock before, or a professional with fifty years of experience, the Grand Canyon speaks to you in terms you can understand and always, always offers the chance to learn something new. The whole Grand Canyon is an immense symbol of the depth and vastness of geologic time. [9.]

Young-Earth Creationists are drawn to the Grand Canyon by that same vastness, and by their need to deny it. A Grand Canyon that is millions of years old is a clear refutation of young-Earth Creationism. So these creationists are forced to try to explain the Canyon in terms of their "Flood" geology: that the layers of rock were laid down by the Flood, and the Canyon itself was created during the run-off phase of the Flood. [9.]

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