Galileo vs. Darwin - the Psalms vs. Genesis

Introduction

Often times, supporters of evolutionism will call to our remembrance the trial of Galileo. To the evolutionist this is an illustration of the more contemporary debate between creation and evolutionism. But there are two key differences between these two controversies.

Galileo vs. Darwin

One key difference is that Galileo made use of observational science to show that the solar system is heliocentric instead of geocentric. His finding was not interpretive, it was based on observable facts.

In contrast, Charles Darwin's work was interpretive. His view of origins is based on deductive reasoning, not science. 

Darwin wrote: "No other work of mine was begun in so deductive a spirit as this; for the whole theory was thought out on the west coast of South America, before I had seen a true coral reef." 

Operational science is characterized by inductive observation, not deductive reasoning.

Darwin also wrote "In fact, the a priori reasoning is so entirely satisfactory to me that if the facts won't fit, why so much the worse for the facts, in my feeling."

Darwin never observed humans evolving from molecules. He imagined that scenario before hand. And than he, and others since him, interpreted the data within that preconceived framework.

The evolutionary worldview is not science. It is not an observed fact. It involves the use of patently naturalistic, atheistic assumptions about the past to interpret scientific data in the present.

The Psalms vs. Genesis

Another key difference is that those who controverted Galileo relied on a verse from the book of Psalms to argue their case.

Psalm 104:5 reads: "You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever."

However, the book of Psalms is admittedly a collection of poetic literature. And the cited verse is not meant to describe the earth as being fixed in space. It is meant to describe the earth as being a generally stable place for its inhabitants to live.

In contrast, we who controvert Darwin point to scientific data, interpreted within the framework of the book of Genesis.

Genesis is very clearly written to be understood as a literal historical narrative. It belongs to a completely different class of literature from the Psalms. 

The genealogical passages in Genesis clearly place the named persons and related events in the context of human history. And the genealogies of Jesus, recorded in Matthew and Luke, further connect the history of Genesis to New Testament history.

So not only do we consider Genesis by itself, but also its relation to the rest of Scripture. This includes the gospel of salvation by grace, through faith in the death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

To interpret the narrative of Genesis as non-literal is to completely disregard the context of the Scriptures as a whole. If Genesis were not a literal historical narrative, then the literal life, death, and resurrection Jesus the Messiah would have been completely unnecessary.

Pagan Flood Stories and Genesis

Nearly all ancient cultures from all over the globe recount stories of a great flood that wiped out all but a few humans from the face of the earth. These variations on the same story are exactly what one should expect when one considers that the event actually happened, just as the Scriptures tell. In the generations after Noah's family exited the Ark, subsequent families branched out, being descendants of Noah's three sons; Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These families branched out and grew into nations. This process of re-population is accurately recorded by Moses in a passage of genealogies in Genesis chapter ten, which is often referred to as the Table of Nations.  

As this re-population took place, there soon arose groups of people who turned away from the God who created humanity. They replaced Him in their hearts and minds with gods whom they created in their own images; and in images of birds, reptiles, and beasts, etc. (see Romans 1:21-23). These pagans thencasually distorted  the events that happened, passing down their stories through the generations.

But those who were faithful to God, particularly those descended from Shem (Semites), faithfully preserved the truth of what really happened, details about how it happened, and perhaps most importantly why it happened.

Not only is this so, but when God spoke to Moses, He directed Moses in accurately recording the history of the world, from the time that it was supernaturally created by God in six literal days ("yom", in the Hebrew language, refers to a literal 24 hour day) to his own time, as he lead Israel out of Egypt by the power of God who was with him to reveal Truth and do mighty works for His people.

The Genesis account of the Flood is the most realistic version because it is the true version, faithfully preserved by the sons of Shem, and accurately written down by Moses under the direction of God Himself.

It provides realistic details, including a 450 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, and 45 ft. high Ark. This Ark was capable of housing two of every "kind " (not species) of land animal and winged creature of the air. It also housed Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives to survive the Flood that covered all the earth; the Flood that is responsible for the formation of many geological features that we observe today.