Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth

I have been a born-again believer since 1974, taught science at a private Christian school, and now work in medical research studying mitochondrial respiration and inflammation pathways. Cut to the chase -- I was a devout Young-Earth Creationism (YEC) for about a decade until the whole paradigm started to crumble under the weight of scientific REALITY. The Bible, the Word never faltered but the YEC ship was sinking fast. Worse yet, when trying to discuss Old-Earth Creationism (OEC) evidences with YEC friends they turned a deaf ear and essentially refused to consider clear evidence from many fields of science. I took a 20-year hiatus from the whole mess. That was then, this is now. I cannot more highly recommend the fine work Dr Whorton has put into approaching YEC arguments and clearly freeing the spirit and the mind of believers to at last walk in the freedom of the OEC paradigm. Whorton shows that being an OEC adherent doesn't demand one leave their faith in the Redeemer/Creator. Neither must an OEC visionary drop their God-given, open-minded intelligence at the doorstep of YEC's psuedo-science theories and their tradition-staled theology of homocentrism. Creation was not about a Paradise for Man to frolic in that God just whipped together in 144 hours -- no way! God's timeless and eternal Purpose has been snowballing for billions of years and the Garden of Eden was just a small part, the stage for Man to dance well or not -- and all in all will be in the culmination -- the Glory of God and when He looked over all Time and Creation he saw it was indeed "very good". I predict YEC has a current viable lifespan of about 40 years or at least until the Creator, the Ancient of Days, Yeshua the Lord returns . . .

There has been, and still is, a raging controversy over creation and evolution. Most of the fighting takes place between scientists who believe in a natural origin of the universe, life, and life's species, and, on the other hand, Bible believers who think that the Bible requires belief in a recent (about 6,000 years ago) creation by God's miraculous power. Whorton, a scientist and a Bible student also, believes that both sides have part of the truth, but that this controversy can, to a large extent, be settled by a better understanding of the Bible and of scientific findings. I believe his primary contribution to this debate is his distinguishing two different views people have had of the Bible's creation accounts. The recent-creation view holds that the initial creation was perfect until Adam sinned in the garden of Eden. There was no human death, and no animal death (at least for higher animals). Death came after man sinned. Therefore, all the fossils and other evidences of animal death must have come in the last several thousand years, after humans were created, perhaps mostly in the flood of Noah. Whorton calls this the "Perfect Paradise Paradigm." Whorton offers a different view of the Bible's teaching. God created the universe, Earth, animals, and humans in a condition that allowed illness, death, and other "evils." He did this because he had a bigger plan in mind. As a sovereign God, with an eternal plan designed to glorify himself and to bring chosen humans into everlasting righteousness and glory, this universe was a staging ground for a better future--"the new heavens and new earth" spoken about in the Bible. The existence of animal death before the fall helped to prepare the earth for humans and for advanced civilization, including modern industry and technology. Also, since Adam's fall into sin was foreknown by God (and even a part of his plan), this universe was designed to be temporary. When God finished the creation, he said it was "very good." This does not mean "perfect as it is." Rather, it means "perfect for the purpose I have made it." Whorton calls this the "Perfect Purpose Paradigm." This book should be especially helpful for Christians who struggle with the idea of death before the fall. Also, it is helpful for those who think the Bible is hopelessly out of date and unscientific.

Dr. Whorton's book is excellent for readers regardless of their faith. It advocates a view of Creation that logically demonstrates an ancient Creator with a perfect purpose reconciled with Man's ever-increasing scientific knowledge. Dr. Whorton is able to accomplish this by reexamining the Bible to demonstrate instances where translation and interpretation by former scholars may have closed off alternative theories.

This is an important book, maybe the most important in the creation-date debate. A full-book treatment on the young-earth creationist (YEC) "no Death before Adam" argument was necessary and long overdue. The "no Death before Adam" argument is their fallback, and most important, position. Mark calls this their "Perfect Paradise Paradigm," others call it their "Death Tautology." It has been so effective because it appeals to emotion, but as Mark shows, even a simple attempt at engaging one's mind when reading the Bible shows the Perfect Paradise Paradigm to wrong on every level. From accusing God of messing up in Eden, to equating animals with man in such a way that ties salvation in with the mix, most don't know the bizarre lengths YECs will go in rewriting biblical scholarship to support their preconceived conclusions. A must read by all OECs and YECs.

Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth by Mark S. Whorton, Ph.D. is a book written for Christians that examines creation paradigms on the basis of what the Bible says. Many Christians assume that the young earth "perfect paradise" paradigm is based upon what the Bible says. In reality, the "perfect paradise" paradigm fails in its lack of biblical support and also in its underlying assumptions that it forces upon a "Christian" worldview. Under the "perfect paradise" paradigm, God is relegated to the position of a poor designer, whose plans for the perfect creation are ruined by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. God is forced to come up with "plan B," in which He vindictively creates weeds, disease, carnivorous animals, and death to get back at humanity for their sin. Young earth creationists inadvertently buy into the atheistic worldview that suffering could not have been the original intent of God, stating that the earth was created "for our pleasure." In contrast, old earth creationists believe that the universe was created with a perfect purpose, in which human beings are to choose good from evil and bring glory to God in doing so. The "perfect purpose" paradigm states that God created the universe as a temporary place, in which evil and suffering fulfill the will of God toward a higher goal than just to give us pleasure or a nice place to live. We, the followers of Jesus Christ, manifest the abundant grace of God, even in our sufferings, witnessing for the gospel to our fellow human beings and also the angels. Dr. Whorton's book goes beyond the superficial doctrines espoused by the young earth "perfect paradise" paradigm to examine underlying assumptions and extrabiblical teachings of the movement. Peril in Paradise examines verses cited as support for the perfect paradise paradigm in context to determine their actual meaning. In addition, the book compares the perfect paradise paradigm to the perfect purpose paradigm proposed by old earth creationists. Since the book sticks to the scriptures almost exclusively, it cannot be claimed that old earth creationists ignore the scriptures in preference to "fallible science." Whorton's book is, by far, the best critical examination of young earth creationism from a biblical viewpoint. It is highly recommended for Christians who fall on either side of the debate.