Uniformitarianism Theories and False Assumptions
by Owen Borville
November 1, 2018
Geology
The belief in millions of years is part of a doctrine or theory called uniformitarianism, which says that the same natural processes that occur on earth and the universe today have always operated in the past throughout history. In other words, "the present is the key to the past." According to the concept of uniformitarianism, there were no special or supernatural events or forces that occurred or operated in the past. Uniformitarianism describes past events based solely on current processes that are occurring today and does not recognize any supernatural events in the past. Modern uniformitarianism does recognize catastrophic events, such as local floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, but these are described with the assumption that these events are exceptions to the rule of the gradual cyclical processes that have occurred throughout earth history. Uniformitarianism cannot recognize an event such as the global flood described in the Book of Genesis because an event such as this is not occurring today and cannot be described by today's processes. Uniformitarianism also does not recognize the special creation or creation week described in first chapter of the Book of Genesis because it involves processes that are not occurring today. Instead, uniformitarianism seeks to find naturalistic explanations for the origin of the universe, the earth, and life on earth by processes that are occurring today. Uniformitarianism was first developed by Scottish naturalist James Hutton when he proposed that the geologic processes that we see on Earth today are the same gradual processes that occur naturally over the history of the earth. In other words, the concept of uniformitarianism introduced the idea that “the present is the key to the past” in describing the natural history of the earth. Hutton's work was described in his books including Theory of the Earth in 1788 and later refined by scientist John Playfair and popularized by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology in 1830.
Before the 18th century, most explanations of earth history involved the biblical description found in the Book of Genesis. However, European naturalists in the late 18th century began to question the accepted age of the earth and to propose longer ages for the earth in the millions of years. These naturalists falsely interpreted the deposition of sediment rock and fossils over long periods of time in the millions of years. Naturalists began to assign ages to fossils based on the assumed age of the sediment layers, which led to incorrect ages for the whole collection of the geologic record. The acceptance of long ages also opened the door for the acceptance of biological macro-evolution, where living things and individual species are believed to gradually change or " evolve" over millions of years into new species. Uniformitarianism led to the current modern interpretations of origins for the earth, life on earth, and even led to theories of the formation of the universe.
In contrast, the creationist model maintains that origins for the earth, life on earth, and the universe originate from the six-day creation week event described in the Book of Genesis. The catastrophic global flood described several chapters later in the Book of Genesis is the source of most of the landscape on earth and the fossil record, according to the creationist model. The acceptance of a catastrophic flood less than 5,000 years ago eliminates the need for millions of years of gradual processes and therefore eliminates the evidence for biological macro-evolution. With a time scale of 6,000 years, the creation week is placed at the beginning of this period.
by Owen Borville
November 1, 2018
Geology
The belief in millions of years is part of a doctrine or theory called uniformitarianism, which says that the same natural processes that occur on earth and the universe today have always operated in the past throughout history. In other words, "the present is the key to the past." According to the concept of uniformitarianism, there were no special or supernatural events or forces that occurred or operated in the past. Uniformitarianism describes past events based solely on current processes that are occurring today and does not recognize any supernatural events in the past. Modern uniformitarianism does recognize catastrophic events, such as local floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, but these are described with the assumption that these events are exceptions to the rule of the gradual cyclical processes that have occurred throughout earth history. Uniformitarianism cannot recognize an event such as the global flood described in the Book of Genesis because an event such as this is not occurring today and cannot be described by today's processes. Uniformitarianism also does not recognize the special creation or creation week described in first chapter of the Book of Genesis because it involves processes that are not occurring today. Instead, uniformitarianism seeks to find naturalistic explanations for the origin of the universe, the earth, and life on earth by processes that are occurring today. Uniformitarianism was first developed by Scottish naturalist James Hutton when he proposed that the geologic processes that we see on Earth today are the same gradual processes that occur naturally over the history of the earth. In other words, the concept of uniformitarianism introduced the idea that “the present is the key to the past” in describing the natural history of the earth. Hutton's work was described in his books including Theory of the Earth in 1788 and later refined by scientist John Playfair and popularized by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology in 1830.
Before the 18th century, most explanations of earth history involved the biblical description found in the Book of Genesis. However, European naturalists in the late 18th century began to question the accepted age of the earth and to propose longer ages for the earth in the millions of years. These naturalists falsely interpreted the deposition of sediment rock and fossils over long periods of time in the millions of years. Naturalists began to assign ages to fossils based on the assumed age of the sediment layers, which led to incorrect ages for the whole collection of the geologic record. The acceptance of long ages also opened the door for the acceptance of biological macro-evolution, where living things and individual species are believed to gradually change or " evolve" over millions of years into new species. Uniformitarianism led to the current modern interpretations of origins for the earth, life on earth, and even led to theories of the formation of the universe.
In contrast, the creationist model maintains that origins for the earth, life on earth, and the universe originate from the six-day creation week event described in the Book of Genesis. The catastrophic global flood described several chapters later in the Book of Genesis is the source of most of the landscape on earth and the fossil record, according to the creationist model. The acceptance of a catastrophic flood less than 5,000 years ago eliminates the need for millions of years of gradual processes and therefore eliminates the evidence for biological macro-evolution. With a time scale of 6,000 years, the creation week is placed at the beginning of this period.
Uniformitarianism and Its Problems
by Owen Borville
November 2, 2018
Geology
Uniformitarianism is the prevailing doctrine in mainstream science today that proposes that the present is the key to the past and that geology can only be explained by present or current geologic processes. Uniformitarianism cannot explain a process such as a global flood and other catastrophic processes because these are not happening today. However, creationists believe that if a global flood or similar process is not occurring today, that doesn’t mean that a global flood couldn’t have happened in the past or that these catastrophic events do not occur. The textbooks need to be rewritten to include and explain catastrophism. The problem with uniformitarianism is that at some point, there must have been a starting point that originated with processes that are not occurring today, or supernatural processes. Even if the origin of the universe is traced back to a "Big Bang" event, there still needs to be an explanation of how the event was initiated and what caused the event to occur. Even if life is traced back to the simplest cellular organism, there needs to be an explanation of how non-life became life. Everything seems to have an origin and the explanation of the origin seems to involve supernatural forces that are not occurring today or are not observed today. In other words, the origin of all things point toward a special creation by a supernatural force that cannot be explained by naturalistic processes occurring today.
by Owen Borville
November 2, 2018
Geology
Uniformitarianism is the prevailing doctrine in mainstream science today that proposes that the present is the key to the past and that geology can only be explained by present or current geologic processes. Uniformitarianism cannot explain a process such as a global flood and other catastrophic processes because these are not happening today. However, creationists believe that if a global flood or similar process is not occurring today, that doesn’t mean that a global flood couldn’t have happened in the past or that these catastrophic events do not occur. The textbooks need to be rewritten to include and explain catastrophism. The problem with uniformitarianism is that at some point, there must have been a starting point that originated with processes that are not occurring today, or supernatural processes. Even if the origin of the universe is traced back to a "Big Bang" event, there still needs to be an explanation of how the event was initiated and what caused the event to occur. Even if life is traced back to the simplest cellular organism, there needs to be an explanation of how non-life became life. Everything seems to have an origin and the explanation of the origin seems to involve supernatural forces that are not occurring today or are not observed today. In other words, the origin of all things point toward a special creation by a supernatural force that cannot be explained by naturalistic processes occurring today.
Faulty Assumptions Lead to the Rise of Uniformitarianism, Even by Church Theologians
by Owen Borville
November 2, 2018
Geology
Before the 18th century, most scientists and academians accepted the Biblical account for the origin of the universe and life on earth, including the creation week, the Genesis Flood 4,500 years ago, and the 6,000 year old earth. However, by the late 18th century British naturalists and even Christian theologians began to question the Biblical account and timescale. In 1785, British naturalist James Hutton proposed a doctrine for the origin of the earth and universe that countered the Biblical account. Hutton proposed a system of gradual repeating cycles of sediment deposition, uplift, tilting, and erosion that have operated throughout earth's history and concluded that the earth must be much older than the Biblical time scale. Hutton's work led to the modern doctrine of uniformitarianism. After Hutton published his work, John Playfair, a Scottish minister and scientist and Sir James Hall, a Scottish scientist, published books promoting Hutton's ideas of uniformitarianism. Playfair's book is credited with dramatically increasing the popularity of Hutton's ideas and the theory of uniformitarianism. After French naturalist George Cuvier's work in the 1790's, scientists proposed multiple mass extinction events on earth in contrast to the single deluge extinction of the Bible.
In the 1830's Scottish naturalist Charles Lyell published a multi-volume work, Principles of Geology, that built on the ideas of James Hutton and his theory of uniformitarianism. In a review of Lyell's book, English priest and scientist William Whewell coined the terms "uniformitarianism" and "catastrophism" as opposing theories. Hutton (1726-1797) was one of the first scientists to propose that the Earth is older than the traditional biblical age of 6,000 years. He proposed an older earth on the basis that the gradual uniform processes observed on earth needed more time than the biblical time frame. Hutton promoted the belief that there were repeated cycles of sediment deposition, tectonic uplift, tilting, and erosion. Scottish minister and scientist John Playfair helped promote Hutton’s ideas in a book he published in 1802 named Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth, which basically summarized the works of Hutton. Charles Lyell continued the work of Hutton and his belief in long-age geology with his well-known book, the Principles of Geology. Lyell’s work focused on the idea that the gradual geologic processes that occur on earth today are the same processes that have been working since the formation of the earth. Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) was a creationist and French naturalist who did much work in anatomy and paleontology. He is known as the “father of paleontology” and believed in catastrophic floods in addition to major extinction events in the world. Cuvier was an opponent of the theory of evolution but his ideas of multiple extinction events inspired the evolutionists to incorporate this into their timescale.
by Owen Borville
November 2, 2018
Geology
Before the 18th century, most scientists and academians accepted the Biblical account for the origin of the universe and life on earth, including the creation week, the Genesis Flood 4,500 years ago, and the 6,000 year old earth. However, by the late 18th century British naturalists and even Christian theologians began to question the Biblical account and timescale. In 1785, British naturalist James Hutton proposed a doctrine for the origin of the earth and universe that countered the Biblical account. Hutton proposed a system of gradual repeating cycles of sediment deposition, uplift, tilting, and erosion that have operated throughout earth's history and concluded that the earth must be much older than the Biblical time scale. Hutton's work led to the modern doctrine of uniformitarianism. After Hutton published his work, John Playfair, a Scottish minister and scientist and Sir James Hall, a Scottish scientist, published books promoting Hutton's ideas of uniformitarianism. Playfair's book is credited with dramatically increasing the popularity of Hutton's ideas and the theory of uniformitarianism. After French naturalist George Cuvier's work in the 1790's, scientists proposed multiple mass extinction events on earth in contrast to the single deluge extinction of the Bible.
In the 1830's Scottish naturalist Charles Lyell published a multi-volume work, Principles of Geology, that built on the ideas of James Hutton and his theory of uniformitarianism. In a review of Lyell's book, English priest and scientist William Whewell coined the terms "uniformitarianism" and "catastrophism" as opposing theories. Hutton (1726-1797) was one of the first scientists to propose that the Earth is older than the traditional biblical age of 6,000 years. He proposed an older earth on the basis that the gradual uniform processes observed on earth needed more time than the biblical time frame. Hutton promoted the belief that there were repeated cycles of sediment deposition, tectonic uplift, tilting, and erosion. Scottish minister and scientist John Playfair helped promote Hutton’s ideas in a book he published in 1802 named Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth, which basically summarized the works of Hutton. Charles Lyell continued the work of Hutton and his belief in long-age geology with his well-known book, the Principles of Geology. Lyell’s work focused on the idea that the gradual geologic processes that occur on earth today are the same processes that have been working since the formation of the earth. Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) was a creationist and French naturalist who did much work in anatomy and paleontology. He is known as the “father of paleontology” and believed in catastrophic floods in addition to major extinction events in the world. Cuvier was an opponent of the theory of evolution but his ideas of multiple extinction events inspired the evolutionists to incorporate this into their timescale.
