471 Scripture & Science 11: Scientific Objections to Evolution (Will Barlow)

Since it's inception, evolutionary theory has remained controversial for many. Although one might think only uneducated laypeople find the idea unpalatable, quite a sizeable minority of scientists too struggle to come to terms with Darwinism. In today's episode, Will Barlow explores a number of major scientific objections to evolution, including the Cambrian explosion, mutations as an insufficient mechanism, irreducible complexity, and the fossil record itself. Additionally, he briefly explores the issue of abiogenesis--the presumed starting point for any evolutionary development.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdx6kuhRqQY&feature=emb_imp_woyt

See below for notes.

—— Links ——

• We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
• See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
• Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
• Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
• Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
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• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

—— Notes ——

Scientific Objections to Evolution

• Evidence problems (open scientific questions)• Methodological problems• Evolution or design?

Evidence Problems

The theory of evolution has several major open problems that are yet to be solved:

• The Cambrian Explosion• Mutations

The Cambrian Explosion

Much of the fossil record could be viewed in a light to support evolution, but the Cambrian Explosion poses a big problem:

• The theory of evolution requires slow changes over a long time• Cambrian explosion was a big change in a short period of time

Simply put, what is the Cambrian explosion?

• Evolution would predict species would diverge and lead to new genera, families, orders, classes, and then phyla• Most animal phyla (and many major classes within them) appear fully formed in the Cambrian period

“According to modern paleontologists James Valentine, Stanley Awramik, Philip Signor, and Peter Sadler, the appearance of the major animal phyla near the beginning of the Cambrian is ‘the single most spectacular phenomenon evident in the fossil record.’”— Jonathan Wells, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Inte