More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation

I walked into a small Baltimore book shop with $3 & left with this gem. I got half way through when I ordered the first two Books by Dr. ROSS 1993 & 1996. Very exciting understanding for those who believe science, history of religious interpretations & cosmology overlap. Changed my life.

I have read this book as part of the "Officer's Training Course" for Reasons to Believe (RTB). The book outlines four contrasting theories of creation, with the message that three of the models might be held by Christians who believe in the inerrant and infallible Bible, and also who might believe that God reveals himself through nature and the Bible. The book has an important chapter on legal cases, making the point that in the United States, only young-earth creationism has lost in court, and for failing to provide testable science. This point of testable science continues to be an important challenge for the Intelligent Design proponents (as described in a recent issue of Christianity Today). I do not personally agree with all points in this book, but I believe in its core ideas (and in the core philosophy of RTB). It is a monumental task for any group or organization to provide a publicly critiquable science model. The book itself should be out-of-date as RTB moves forward based on newer evidence. I have provided a detailed critical analysis for this book, presented to the RTB Atlanta group, and posted at [...] In my slide deck, I take a broader look at the key philosophical proposals made by Hugh Ross and his colleagues at RTB, namely on what basis do communities decide what is good science and what is good theology. RTB contrasts with "Intelligent Design" in explicitly promoting the Christian worldview. I will mention that I recently shared with an atheist that diversity (in science or theology models) is not the fatal blow to Christianity, since orthodox Christians find their unity in Jesus Christ (who claimed exclusive divinity, and communally shares that bond through the Holy Spirit).

Dr. Hugh Ross has been on the forefront of examining the scientific evidence for the various creation hypothesis both young and old as well as evolutionary theory for a long time. This presentation and defense of a modern testable creation model, constructed over a long time by a great many authentic and reputable scientists and researchers under the umbrella of the Reasons to Believe organization, has powerful explanatory and predictive power and is poised to go head-to-head with current evolutionary models. Regardless of your position, if you have a real interest in this subject, More Than A Theory should generate thoughtful discussion.

This is a ground breaking book. It's primary theme is that if God created the universe, and wants to be known, he has left hard evidence in creation to enable those who use their senses, reason, and intellect to discover. Truth is truth, whereever you find it. The Bible differes from other religious literature of this planet in that is claims to be facts nailed to events in history. And the Bible alone makes truth claims thousands of years before humans have developed the measuring instruments to determine their correspondence with reality. We have been living in exciting times because we have been flooded in recent years with discoveries in every branch of science that were anticipated in the Bible. This book's main theme is that, given the various theories of cosmology, religious and secular, there is evidence in the world around us that can establish which theory best fits the facts. Dr. Ross considers both secular theories (eternal universe, multiverse, big bang, evolution,naturalism) and religious theories (young earth creationism, intellitgent design, theistic evolution, framework theories, and old earth creationism) and provides a testable model for how to determine which theory best fits the facts. He also makes predictions about what discoveries in the future will confirm or disconfirm these theories. This book is not about opinions but about facts. It has been an unfortunate consequence of the information age that so much dis-information has been promulgated and so few people are able to discern the difference between unfounded opinion and established fact. Individuals seem to be enabmored with opinions (visit talk radio for example) and unconcerned with asking, "How do you know what you say is true?" For example, few seem to be willing to hold politicians to the truth. Say whatever you want, however untrue, and someone out there will believe it. This book calls us back to the truth. Some persons today claim that all truth is relative, there there is no absolute truth. Yet they assume there is absolute truth in making that claim. They are making a self-contradictory claim. They are really saying, "All truth is relative except this one." This book starts with the assumption that there is absolute truth and it is discoverable. Galileo Gallilei said, "I do not feel obligated to beliefve that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to furgo their use." This book is for seriously committed scientists as well as Christians who want to use their God-given gifts of sense, reason, and intellect to learn more about how we came to be, what went wrong, how can it be fixed, and where we are headed.

The basic premise of this important book by Hugh Ross is that a more constructive approach to present evidence for the Creator is to provide a testable model for creation, rather than try to poke holes in the evolutionary theory. Through providing a testable model for creation which is backed up by scientific research, a more convincing case can be made for Intelligent Design that will not alienate those who don't believe in ID; it will foster more constructive dialogue and present a convincing case for the hypothesis of a Creator. Ross presents the Reason to Believe (henceforth RTB) testable model for creation. Ross defines science as the "pursuit of systematized knowledge and understanding about the way the universe, with its governing laws and all it contains, operates" (p. 18) Ch. 1 Ross helps the reader understand what the RTB creation model is all about and the principles it abides by Ch. 2 Ross gives an overview of the different viewpoints: Evolutionist, Young-Earth creationist, Intelligent Design movement, Old-Earth creationist, Theistic Evolutionist, Framework Theorists, Progressive Creationist, and Concordists. Ch. 3 Ross discusses different strategies and approaches for discussing creation Ch. 4-5 Detailed description of the Objective Testing Method and the resources and standards on which it is based. Ch. 6 The Biblical Structure of the Creation Model -- based on 4 key points (Dual revelation, Creation purposes, Creation chronology, and Detectability of the divine) Ch. 7 Putting the RTB's Model for the Cosmos to the Test Ch. 8 Putting RTB's Model for Galaxies, Stars, and Planets to the Test Ch. 9 Putting RTB's Model for Life's Beginning and Extraterrestrial homes to the test Ch. 10 Putting RTB's Model for Life's History to the test Ch. 11 Putting RTB's Model for Advanced Life to the test Ch. 12 Putting RTB's Model for the Origin and History of Humanity to the test Ch. 13 Putting RTB's Model to the "Why?" Question Ch. 14 Putting New Atheist Cosmic Models to the Test Ch. 15 Putting RTB's model to the U.S. Constitution Test Ch. 16-17 Using Predictions to Test Models and Scoring the Models Appendix A The Scientific Method's Biblical Origins Appendix B Designed for Life Appendix C Predictive Tests for Four Creation/Evolution Models Summary: Ross believes that this RTB creation model can successfully pass the tests of explaining the origin of solar system, animal and human life, and present a sound hypothesis for God which would not contradict the Constitution. Moreover, this creation model not only gives a sound explanation for the origin of life but it is also consistent with scientific findings. I believe that this is one of Ross' most important works -- his approach will not only foster more constructive dialogue between theists and non-theists in the intellectual and scientific arena, but it will present a convincing and testable model to explain the creation hypothesis. Highly recommended!

More than a Theory is the latest in the series by Reasons to Believe scholars that develop a testable scientific intelligent design model. While the design movement has focused on showing how detecting design is scientific and showing the flaws in the various naturalistic theories or origins, they have focused little on creating their own model. This book spells out the predictions and basis for the design model and makes some comparisons to competing models. No longer can the True Believers of evolution claim design isn't science. If you have read Ross' book Creation As Science: A Testable Model Approach to End the Creation/evolution Wars, you will see a lot of similarities in this book. In many ways, this is an updated version of that book. While it focuses largely on the astronomy and physics end of the model, it reviews the biology points spelled out in more detail in Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man and Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off. The companion volume to More than a Theory is Ross' Why the Universe Is the Way It Is which addresses the "tough" questions that skeptics pose to Christians and design theorists.