|
Nice Kitty
Industry Role:
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The good old USA!!!
Posts: 21,053
|
Succession Of Species
The evolutionist also appeals, in support of his theory, to the fact that the fossils preserved in the sedimentary rocks indicate that the various species did not come into existence all at once, but successively; and that (general-ly speaking) the simpler forms came first into existence, and the more complex later in point of time.
To this argument the obvious answer is that the fact of the successive appearance of the several species does not tend in the least to prove that the later were derived from the earlier by a process of evolution, or by any other process. The succession of the species can be explained by Creation, as well as by Evolution. In fact the record of Creation in Genesis 1, declares that vegetation first appeared on earth, then fishes, then birds, then land animals, and finally Man. The geological remains show the same order. Manifestly then the argument from succession of species lends no support whatever to the theory we are discussing.
But we can go further than this; for when the details of the geological records, as presented by the science of paleontology, are examined, it is found that they bear heavily against the theory. This is conceded by the very foremost evolutionists, insomuch that, to escape the force of the paleontological proofs, they are driven to the pitiful expedient of supposing that there have been millions of extinct species and transitional forms which have left no trace of their existence, and that if by any means the lost evidence could be recovered, it would prove their case.
The fact is that an enormous mass of evidence has been accumulated by means of geological researches. Here we have the footprints of the distant past, the records of the periods which would certainly be rich in the evidences of the evolutionary origin of the various species, if such were indeed the nature of their beginning. The evolutionist examines this great mass of facts and finds nothing which supports his theory, but much to the contrary. His only comment on the situation is that Nature has, with invidious discrimination, destroyed the great bulk of the evidence, including every trace of the operation of Evolution, and every one of the thousand billion variant forms which must have existed, and has preserved only such evidences, and those in great abundance, as oppose his theory.
It may be said of this explanation that it is even harder to understand and to accept than that which it purports to explain?the absence of all trace of a "law" which is said to have operated universally and from the very beginning of time. The great god, Evolution, is indeed as difficult to locate or find a trace of as the Olympian Zeus.
Imagine a litigant in court upon whom rests the burden of proof. He insists that the averments of his declaration are true, and demands a verdict in his favor; but he has no proofs to sustain his allegations. In fact all the evidence presented in court is against him. He demands, nevertheless, that judgment be rendered in his favor upon the supposition (a) that volumes of proofs, which once existed, have been destroyed, leaving no trace; and (b) that if those proofs could now be produced they would be found to be in his favor i Such is the absurd plight in which the theory of Evolution now finds itself, as matters stand at present.
As to this important feature of the discussion it is enough to say that, considering the great mass of fossilized remains which have been collected from every stratum, and from every part of the world, the presumption is that, if the records were complete, the parts now missing would confirm what we have.
Species Appeared Suddenly
The first fossil remains of organisms are found in the Primordial period. Le Conte says that in it are found "the representatives of all the great types of animals, except the vertebrates." Thus, according to the evidence (which, by Le Conte?s statement, is massive in quantity and clear in character), numerous highly organized creatures?about half the entire animal kingdom in fact?came suddenly and virtually simultaneously into existence.
Of their supposed progenitors, of whom, if Evolution be true, countless billions must have existed, not a trace survives in the earlier formations. This is the more impressive because those earlier formations are estimated to have occupied about half the entire period of geological time.
(In this discussion we are giving the evolutionist the advantage of supposing, for the purpose of the argument, that his theory of immense ages of geological time is correct. That theory is, in fact, quite destitute of supporting proof, and we wish it to be understood that we do not accept it as true.)
|