╨╧рб▒с>■  `b■   _                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴s ┐Є:jbjb└ └ "МкkкkЄ6      ]╪╪╪╪╪╪╪ььььь °\ь*````````╘╓╓╓╓╓╓,AЇ5И╪``````╪╪```````╪`╪`╘ьь╪╪╪╪`╘`t`╘╪╪╘T .or╢ьь`╘CIM Outline #42 DINOSAUR QUESTIONS I. Introduction A. The Problem 1. Dinosaurs are an enigma to both believer and non- believer. New discoveries only seem to initiate seem to initiate new debates and raise new questions. Currently, the debate among paleontologists centers around two main questions: What caused their sudden extinction? And were they cold or warm-blooded? The prevailing view to the first question is that an extra-terrestrial object (a comet) hit the earth and radically altered the climate. The view gaining ascendancy to the second question is that dinosaurs were warm-blooded like birds as opposed to being cold-blooded like reptiles. 2. Because of the popularity and intense interest of people of all ages, dinosaurs have become a major vehicle for popularizing the theory of evolution. The release of popular science fiction films with dinosaur themes in 1993, heightens interest in these strange beasts of the past. 3. Much of what is being taught about dinosaurs and evolution in the educational systems, museums, national parks, and in the media, is troubling to Evangelical Christians. Some of the most difficult questions we are asked by our children are those about dinosaurs in relation to the Biblical view of Creation and the Flood. B. Background The first dinosaur fossil was discovered in Sussex, England, in 1825, by Anne Mantell. The word "dinosaur" means "terrible lizard", a word coined by paleontologist, Sir Richard Owen in 1841. There are literally thousands of species of dinosaurs with a tremendous disparity in size. The largest ever found was 50-60 feet in height and over 140 feet in length (Seismosaurus). It weighted more than 50 elephants! One flying dinosaur had a wingspan equal to an F15 fighter plane (50 ft.)! The smallest was the size of a chicken. Dinosaur fossils are found on every continent including near both poles. The scientific establishment maintains that dinosaurs evolved into being about 230,000,000 years ago, and ruled the earth during the Mesozoic Era, a period of over 165,000,000 years. Their sudden extinction occurred about 65,000,000 years ago. (Note: the Mesozoic Era was divided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods) C. The Christian Approach What should a Christian do when the tried and tested interpretations of the Scripture stand in contradiction to the findings of the scientific establishment? The Christian assumes that the Bible is truth, i.e. God's Word. He also assumes that since God is the Creator of the natural realm that ultimately, when all the facts are known, that there will be no contradiction between the natural world and special revelation. If the scientific establishment advances an interpretation of data from the natural world which becomes the "accepted" or popular view, and which view is at the same time in direct contradiction to Biblical revelation, the believer must not succumb to the temptation to force a harmonization with the Biblical truth in such a way that the normal laws of interpretation are violated. Rather, the Christian should humbly acknowledge the contradiction, and at the same time, make certain that his own interpretation of Scripture has been derived by proper treatment of the text, and is in general conformity to accepted orthodoxy. If the interpretation stands, then the scientific data must be honestly re-evaluated. If the data still cannot be harmonized, the Christian must be prepared to suspend judgement, perhaps for an extended period of time. Concerning the dinosaurs, there are definitely contradictions between what the Bible says compared to the popular interpretations of science. The Christian must say: "Yes, there are contradictions, but are all the facts known?" The Church and its leaders must encourage believers to pursue these questions with all diligence. II. Major Questions A. How did they become extinct? There are probably 50 theories attempting to explain the extinction of the dinosaurs (e.g. small mammals ate their eggs, their brains were too small, they were too big, radiation from an exploding supernova, disease, change in food supply, etc.). The prevailing view is that the extinction was sudden due to some natural catastrophe which quickly altered the climate. Christians have been saying this for some time, and can certainly agree with this current opinion. Why not a world-wide catastrophic flood (Gen. 6-8) accompanied by volcanism which brought on a great ice-age? Since some of these beasts were big eaters they died from a lack of adequate vegetation. Prior to the Flood, the climate system then supported a very verdant, tropical- like earth. Creationists speculate that a pre- flood atmospheric pressure of several times what it is today could account for the huge size of plant and animal life as well as the long ages of pre-flood men. Scientists are puzzled as to how animals of such great size could live; how their blood could have circulated to sustain life and to be able to move. Higher atmospheric pressure and higher oxygen content may be the answer. The problem is, when did this catastrophe occur? Creationists, who take the Bible seriously, believe this catastrophic flood took place thousands of years ago, not millions. (We think there is good evidence for about 3000 B.C. See "The Date of Noah's Flood" in Archaeology and Biblical Research. Winter, 1993.) B. Are Dinosaurs really extinct? For the most part yes. But the extinction may not have been so long ago, and some animals still exist that could be classified as "terrible lizards." Is not a 30 ft. long crocodile a terrible lizard? On the remote island of Komodo exists a nearly extinct monitor lizard known for its reputation as a maneater (see National Geographic, Dec. '68). Deep in the heart of tropical Africa the native people tell of seeing a creature resembling a giant Brachiosaurus in contemporary times. In 1977, a Japanese fishing vessel off the coast of New Zealand hooked a rotting carcass of an animal that resembled a giant dinosaur. It was studied by their scientists and even commemorated in a postage stamp. American scientists refused to participate in the studies and labeled it a basking shark. Many creation scientists believe that some dinosaurs survived long after the Flood and even into the Middle Ages. This would account for the dragon stories and many encounters of strange dinosaur-like beasts with men. One documented case took place in 1572 in Bologna, Italy. A peasant slew an animal whose description fits that of a Tanystropheus. The ancient history of China is replete with such stories. (For more of this evidence see: Mythical Monsters, by Charles Gould.) C. Are Dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? While we cannot answer with certainty, we believe it is highly probable. In Genesis 1:21, it says "So God created the great creatures of the sea..." (NIV). Many translations have whales. The hebrew word is tannim and is translated dragon or leviathan in 20 or more passages. This sea-dragon is described by God in Job 41:1-34 as a fearsome, fire-breathing monster whose scaly hide cannot be penetrated with a sword or spear. In Job 40:15- 24, a giant land dragon is described as having a tail like a cedar tree. Sometimes commentaries and marginal notes indicate that what is being described is probably a hippopotamus or an elephant. Don't believe it! Have you ever seen the tail of an elephant or a hippopotamus? Read it for yourself. What about the fire-breathing part of Job 41:18. "His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from his nostrils... ." Granted this is poetry, however, we do not believe this is purely imaginary. God is describing some existing beast to portray His own greatness. Why should we have a problem with a beast that breathes fire? What about a beetle that causes an explosion (the Bombardier Beetle) an eel that generates electricity, a bug with a light bulb on its end? Some of the skulls of dinosaurs are particularly puzzling. Not only are the shapes peculiar, but they have extra orifices for reasons unknown. Being able to breathe fire and smoke is not all that incredible. D. Were They meat-eaters? There seems to be proof that some of them were carnivorous. However, if we choose to believe that the Bible is true, we would have to assert that their meat-eating days must have come after the Fall since death did not come until then. The most fearsome-looking of all the dinosaurs may have been a vegetarian! The teeth of Tyrannosaurus Rex are too loosely anchored to tear flesh, and may just as well have served to tear up the pithy interiors of giant pre-flood plants and trees. E. Were they on the Ark? The Bible says Noah was to take pairs of all air- breathing animals. This must have included dinosaurs. The capacity of the Ark was 500-600 railroad boxcars and room was not a problem. Whether or not a pair of each specie was aboard is debatable. There are thousands of species, however, there are basically only 20 or so different kinds of Dinosaurs. There is a lot of built-in genetic diversity. For example, two thousand years ago there were only two kinds of dogs. Also, Capt. Noah probably did not admit the largest specimens. Not all dinosaurs were huge. F. Why did they grow so big? Their largeness may have had something to do with the pre-flood atmosphere. Note also that reptiles (if they were reptiles!) never cease growing. Some of those giants could have been hundreds of years old. G. Did man and dinosaurs co-exist? Again, if you take the Bible at its word it would seem that you have to answer in the affirmative. We have sea-monsters being created on the 5th day and land animals on the 6th day before man. Job, who may have written the oldest book in the Bible, seems to have been an eyewitness. Is there any other evidence? While it may not be definitive, there does seem to be evidence that man and dinosaurs were contemporaries. There is the possibility that human footprints and dinosaur footprints have been found in the same layer of strata at at least three different locations in the U.S. Since myths are often based on truth the dragon stories may be rooted in actual events of men encountering "terrible lizards." H. What about the dates? This is probably one of the more controversial debates and it must be the subject of entire outline of its own. There are plenty of questions that need to be asked about the assumptions that go into the projection of the long ages, and likewise, there are facts that seem to indicate a rather young earth. III. Conclusion While much about dinosaurs is a mystery, we are confident that Biblical revelation can ultimately account for any new data that might be discovered. Dinosaurs, like all other objects in God's Creation, exalt and bring glory to Him. V. Books for further Study Most of the books mentioned below are for young readers. Taylor, Paul S. THE GREAT DINOSAUR MYSTERY. Morris, John, and Ham, Ken. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE DINOSAURS? Whitcomb, John C. THE WORLD THAT PERISHED. Petersen, Dennis R. UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF CREATION. Gish, Duane T. DINOSAURS: THOSE TERRIBLE LIZARDS. Unfred, David. DINOSAURS AND THE BIBLE. Christian Information Ministries is a non-profit ministry and is dependent on gifts from God's people in order to operate. If you receive a benefit from our materials would you consider giving a tax-deductible gift to CIM. We suggest $25. a year minimum. Send to: Christian Information Ministries 2050 N. 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Savidge%Mac HD:WebSTAR"!:cim:briefing:dino.doc @А╪C5дЄ6P@GРTimes New Roman5РАSymbol3Р Arial3РTimes?Р Courier New"0И╨hщъLжщъLжЄN-`Lе└┤┤А0г7]  CIM Outline #42David M. SavidgeDavid M. Savidge■  рЕЯЄ∙OhлС+'│┘0tИРи┤╨▄ь  0 < HT\dl'CIM Outline #42IM David M. SavidgerdaviNormal.David M. 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