http://www.ccel.org/ccel/berkhof/systematictheology.

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done little more than scratch the surface of the earth, and that in a
very limited number of places. As a result its conclusions are often
mere generalizations, based on insufficient data. Facts observed in
some places are contradicted by those found in others. (3) Even if it
had explored large areas in all parts of the globe, it could only
increase our knowledge of the present condition of the earth, but would
never be able to give us perfectly reliable information respecting its
past history. You cannot write the history of a nation on the basis of
the facts observed in its present constitution and life. (4) Geologists
once proceeded on the assumption that the strata of rocks were found in
the same order all over the globe; and that by estimating the length of
time required by the formation of each it could determine the age of
the earth. But (a) it was found that the order of the rocks differs in
various localities; (b) the experiments made to determine the time
required for the formation of the different strata, led to widely
different results; and (c) the uniformitarian theory of Lyell, that the
physical and chemical action of today are safe guides in estimating
those of all previous times, was found to be unreliable. [75] (5) When
the attempt to determine the age of the various strata or rocks by
their mineral and mechanical make-up failed, geologists began to make
the fossils the determining factor. Palaeontology became the really
important subject, and under the influence of the uniformitarian
principle of Lyell developed into one of the important proofs of
evolution. It is simply assumed that certain fossils are older than
others; and if the question is asked on what basis the assumption
rests, the answer is that they are found in the older rocks. This is
just plain reasoning in a circle. The age of the rocks is determined by
the fossils which they contain, and the age of the fossils by the rocks
in which they are found. But the fossils are not always found in the
same order; sometimes the order is reversed. (6) The order of the
fossils as now determined by geology does not correspond to the order
which the narrative of creation leads us to expect, so that even the
acceptance of the geological theory would not serve the purpose of
harmonizing Scripture and science.

6. THE DOCTRINE OF CREATION AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION. The question

naturally arises in our day, How does the theory of evolution affect
the doctrine of creation?

a. The theory of evolution cannot take the place of the doctrine of

creation. Some speak as if the hypothesis of evolution offered an
explanation of the origin of the world; but this is clearly a mistake,
for it does no such thing. Evolution is development, and all
development presupposes the prior existence of an entity or principle
or force, out of which something develops. The non-existent cannot
develop into existence. Matter and force could not have evolved out of
nothing. It has been customary for evolutionists to fall back on the
nebular hypothesis, in order to explain the origin of the solar system,
though in present day science this is supplanted by the planetesimal
hypothesis. But these only carry the problem one step farther back, and
fail to solve it. The evolutionist must either resort to the theory
that matter is eternal, or accept the doctrine of creation.

b.The theory of naturalistic evolution is not in harmony with the

narrative of creation. If evolution does not account for the origin of
the world, does it not at least give a rational account of the
development of things out of primordial matter, and thus explain the
origin of the present species of plants and animals (including man),
and also the various phenomena of life, such as sentiency,
intelligence, morality, and religion? Does it necessarily conflict with
the narrative of creation? Now it is perfectly evident that
naturalistic evolution certainly does conflict with the Biblical
account. The Bible teaches that plants and animals and man appeared on
the scene at the creative fiat of the Almighty; but according to the
evolutionary hypothesis they evolved out of the inorganic world by a

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