ANTRHOPOLOGY
Anthropology-origins
Anthropology is the academic study of humanity, which deals with the characteristics of the human experience ranging from the origins to the social and cultural organization of societies of human experience. The term "anthropology" comes from the Greek word anthrōpos, “man”, and -logia, "discourse" or "study."
Outline -
Origin of man
Man as a unique creation of God
Man’s material nature
Man’s immaterial nature
Origin Outline-
Fallacy of evolution
Fact of creation
Earth/man as the center of divine activity
The date of man’s origin
Origin of man - Two views...Evolution and Creation
Evolution: Definition-A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new species.
The Flaws of Evolution: The “missing link” is still missing...No design from randomness...Contradiction with scientific laws: Biogenesis, Second Law of thermodynamics...Statistical improbabilities...Young earth clocks...Not conforming to the scientific method
Why is Evolution Popular?: “The evolutionary origin of man relieves man of responsibility to a personal Creator outside of himself.” Ryrie, Survey of Bible Doctrine, 101
Theistic Evolution:
Evolution Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
Naturalistic creation Miraculous creation
Gen 1-11 is myth Gen 1-11 is history
No creator/creation distinction Ex-Nihilo creation (out of nothing came something)
Light before the earth Earth before the light
Took billions of years Took 6 days
Luminaries before the earth Earth before the luminaries
Hot to cold Cold (Gen 1:2) to hot (2 Pet 3:10)
Land before ocean Ocean before land (1:9)
Present is key to past God worked suddenly in the past
Early rain on the earth No rain until later (Gen 2:5)
Initial microscopic animals Initial complex animals
Plant life before atmosphere Atmosphere before plant life
Sun before plant life Plant life before the sun
Continuity among all life Each only produces after its own kind
Sea life before land life Land life before sea life
Reptiles, dinosaurs before birds Birds before reptiles and dinosaurs
Fish before birds and trees Trees before fish and fish with birds
Early animals were meat eaters Early animals were plant eaters (Gen 1:29)
Females before males Males before females
Evolution continues Creation is complete
Suffering is natural Suffering is unnatural (Gen 1:31, 2:16 / Rev. 21:4)
Death before Adam Death after Adam (Rom 5:12)
Man is an evolved animal Man created higher than the animals
Man exists long after history Man existed at beginning (Matt 19:4)
Man evolved from the animals Man created from the dust (Gen 2:7)
Fossils before man Fossils after man
Man related to animals Man not related to animals (Gen 5;11)
Man’s genealogy is ancient Man’s genealogy is recent
Early man meat eaters Early man plant eaters (Gen 1:29; 9:3)
Marriage is an evolved custom Marriage was instituted by God (Gen. 2:18 – 25)
Man developed units of time God implemented units of time (Gen. 1:14)
Seven day week developed God implemented the seven day week
People did not reach 100 People reached 900 years of age (Gen. 5:25 – 6)
Early man was primitive Early man was advanced (Gen 4, 6, 11)
Language evolved slowly Man created with speaking ability
Things are improving Things are deteriorating
Thorns evolved with plants Adam’s sin cause the thorns (Gen. 3:18)
Animalistic nature causes evil Sin nature causes evil (Mark 7:20 – 23)
Suffering precedes man Suffering follows man
Man is improving Man is failing
Facts of Creation:
Otherwise a denial of Scripture and Christ
Genesis 1 says 17x that God created
Ex-Nihilo
Old Testament - Genesis 1:26; 2:7; Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 8:3-6; 33:6, 9
New Testament - Matthew 19:4; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:12, 14; 1st Corinthians 11:8-9; 15:22, 45; 2nd Corinthians 11:3; Jude 14; Revelations 4:11
Refutation of Man’s Philosophies (Gen 1:1):
Atheism - God created
Pantheism (in nature) - God is transcendent over creation
Polytheism - One God created
Materialism - (God created matter) matter began
Dualism (rival) - God alone created (Ezekiel 28:13)
Humanism (man is center) - God rather than man created
Evolution - God created
Creation:
Days of Genesis 1
Gap theory
Genealogies of Genesis 5; 11
Revelatory days
Solar non consecutive days
Day age theory
*Solar and consecutive days*
Days of Revelation? - Asah = “to show” (Gen 24:12) in Exodus 20:11...Asah (Gen 1:26) and bara (Gen 1:27)
Ordinary and Consecutive Days? - Numerical ordinal modifier used 359 times outside of Genesis 1-2...“Evening and morning” used 38 times outside of Genesis 1-2...Exodus 20:8-11...Adam’s age (5:5)
"From a superficial reading of Genesis 1, the impression would seem to be that the entire creative process took place in six twenty-four-hour days. This seems to run counter to modern scientific research, which indicates that planet earth was created several billion years ago." Gleason Archer, Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1994.
10 Ways of Communicating Ages in Genesis 1:
Outline -
Origin of man
Man as a unique creation of God
Man’s material nature
Man’s immaterial nature
Origin Outline-
Fallacy of evolution
Fact of creation
Earth/man as the center of divine activity
The date of man’s origin
Origin of man - Two views...Evolution and Creation
Evolution: Definition-A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new species.
The Flaws of Evolution: The “missing link” is still missing...No design from randomness...Contradiction with scientific laws: Biogenesis, Second Law of thermodynamics...Statistical improbabilities...Young earth clocks...Not conforming to the scientific method
Why is Evolution Popular?: “The evolutionary origin of man relieves man of responsibility to a personal Creator outside of himself.” Ryrie, Survey of Bible Doctrine, 101
Theistic Evolution:
Evolution Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
Naturalistic creation Miraculous creation
Gen 1-11 is myth Gen 1-11 is history
No creator/creation distinction Ex-Nihilo creation (out of nothing came something)
Light before the earth Earth before the light
Took billions of years Took 6 days
Luminaries before the earth Earth before the luminaries
Hot to cold Cold (Gen 1:2) to hot (2 Pet 3:10)
Land before ocean Ocean before land (1:9)
Present is key to past God worked suddenly in the past
Early rain on the earth No rain until later (Gen 2:5)
Initial microscopic animals Initial complex animals
Plant life before atmosphere Atmosphere before plant life
Sun before plant life Plant life before the sun
Continuity among all life Each only produces after its own kind
Sea life before land life Land life before sea life
Reptiles, dinosaurs before birds Birds before reptiles and dinosaurs
Fish before birds and trees Trees before fish and fish with birds
Early animals were meat eaters Early animals were plant eaters (Gen 1:29)
Females before males Males before females
Evolution continues Creation is complete
Suffering is natural Suffering is unnatural (Gen 1:31, 2:16 / Rev. 21:4)
Death before Adam Death after Adam (Rom 5:12)
Man is an evolved animal Man created higher than the animals
Man exists long after history Man existed at beginning (Matt 19:4)
Man evolved from the animals Man created from the dust (Gen 2:7)
Fossils before man Fossils after man
Man related to animals Man not related to animals (Gen 5;11)
Man’s genealogy is ancient Man’s genealogy is recent
Early man meat eaters Early man plant eaters (Gen 1:29; 9:3)
Marriage is an evolved custom Marriage was instituted by God (Gen. 2:18 – 25)
Man developed units of time God implemented units of time (Gen. 1:14)
Seven day week developed God implemented the seven day week
People did not reach 100 People reached 900 years of age (Gen. 5:25 – 6)
Early man was primitive Early man was advanced (Gen 4, 6, 11)
Language evolved slowly Man created with speaking ability
Things are improving Things are deteriorating
Thorns evolved with plants Adam’s sin cause the thorns (Gen. 3:18)
Animalistic nature causes evil Sin nature causes evil (Mark 7:20 – 23)
Suffering precedes man Suffering follows man
Man is improving Man is failing
Facts of Creation:
Otherwise a denial of Scripture and Christ
Genesis 1 says 17x that God created
Ex-Nihilo
Old Testament - Genesis 1:26; 2:7; Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 8:3-6; 33:6, 9
New Testament - Matthew 19:4; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:12, 14; 1st Corinthians 11:8-9; 15:22, 45; 2nd Corinthians 11:3; Jude 14; Revelations 4:11
Refutation of Man’s Philosophies (Gen 1:1):
Atheism - God created
Pantheism (in nature) - God is transcendent over creation
Polytheism - One God created
Materialism - (God created matter) matter began
Dualism (rival) - God alone created (Ezekiel 28:13)
Humanism (man is center) - God rather than man created
Evolution - God created
Creation:
Days of Genesis 1
Gap theory
Genealogies of Genesis 5; 11
Revelatory days
Solar non consecutive days
Day age theory
*Solar and consecutive days*
Days of Revelation? - Asah = “to show” (Gen 24:12) in Exodus 20:11...Asah (Gen 1:26) and bara (Gen 1:27)
Ordinary and Consecutive Days? - Numerical ordinal modifier used 359 times outside of Genesis 1-2...“Evening and morning” used 38 times outside of Genesis 1-2...Exodus 20:8-11...Adam’s age (5:5)
"From a superficial reading of Genesis 1, the impression would seem to be that the entire creative process took place in six twenty-four-hour days. This seems to run counter to modern scientific research, which indicates that planet earth was created several billion years ago." Gleason Archer, Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1994.
10 Ways of Communicating Ages in Genesis 1:
yāmîm - with “evening and morning” = many days of evening and morning
dōr - generation, period `ad - ancient, forever qedem - of old, ancient time netsach - always, everlasting, forever |
tamîd - continually, forever
`orek - with yom = length of days zemān - season, time `et - time mô `ēd - time, season |
Anthropology: Man’s Uniqueness; Material and Immaterial Nature
Man versus Animals:
Similarities to the animals
Nephesh (Genesis 1:20-21, 24, 30)
Psuche (Revelations 8:9; 16:3)
Breath of life (Genesis 6:17; 7:15, 22)
Dissimilarities to the animals
Object of God’s life-giving breath (Gen 2:7)
Image bearer of God (Gen 1:26; 5:1)
Man in God's Image:
Male and female are both image bearers (Genesis 1:26-27)
Not deity
Effaced but not erased due to the fall (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9; 1st Corinthians 11:7)
Sharers of God’s personal image
Potential sharers of God’s moral image (Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10)
Similarities to the animals
Nephesh (Genesis 1:20-21, 24, 30)
Psuche (Revelations 8:9; 16:3)
Breath of life (Genesis 6:17; 7:15, 22)
Dissimilarities to the animals
Object of God’s life-giving breath (Gen 2:7)
Image bearer of God (Gen 1:26; 5:1)
Man in God's Image:
Male and female are both image bearers (Genesis 1:26-27)
Not deity
Effaced but not erased due to the fall (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9; 1st Corinthians 11:7)
Sharers of God’s personal image
Potential sharers of God’s moral image (Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10)
Man's Unique Features:
Little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:4-6)
Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14)
Descended from one man (Acts 17:26)
No pre-Adamic race (Romans 5:12; 8:20-22)
No basis for racism (Genesis 1:27-28)
Man's Material Nature:
No Dualism (Genesis 1:31)
Physical body not inherently evil (Romans 12:1-2; 1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
Designations for the body
Future of the body
Man's Immaterial Nature:
Dichotomy
Parts...Body...Soul/Spirit (synonymous)
Biblical support...Soul/spirit used interchangeably - John 12:27; 13:21...Whole man referred to as body/soul or body/spirit-Matthew 10:28; 1st Corinthains 5:3...Man relates to God via the soul - Luke 1:46...Other parts? - Mark 12:30...Differing parts of the material
Little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:4-6)
Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14)
Descended from one man (Acts 17:26)
No pre-Adamic race (Romans 5:12; 8:20-22)
No basis for racism (Genesis 1:27-28)
Man's Material Nature:
No Dualism (Genesis 1:31)
Physical body not inherently evil (Romans 12:1-2; 1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
Designations for the body
Future of the body
Man's Immaterial Nature:
Dichotomy
Parts...Body...Soul/Spirit (synonymous)
Biblical support...Soul/spirit used interchangeably - John 12:27; 13:21...Whole man referred to as body/soul or body/spirit-Matthew 10:28; 1st Corinthains 5:3...Man relates to God via the soul - Luke 1:46...Other parts? - Mark 12:30...Differing parts of the material
The Anthropic Nature
I.What is the “Anthropic Principle”?
The anthropic principle (Gr. Anthropos, “human being”) states that the universe was fitted from the very first moment of its existence for the emergence of life in general and human life in particular. For if there were even the slightest variation at the moment of the big bang, making conditions different, even to a small degree, no life of any kind would exist. In order for life to be present today an incredibly restrictive set of demands must have been present in the early universe-and they were.
II. Supporting Evidence
Not only does the scientific evidence point to a beginning of the cosmos, but it points to a very sophisticated tuning of the universe from the very beginning that makes human life possible. Thus, for life to be present today an incredibly restrictive set of demands must have been present in the early universe. Consider the following...
1. Oxygen comprises 21% of the atmosphere. If it were 25%, fires would erupt, if 15%, humans would suffocate.
2. If the gravitational force were altered by 1 part in 1040 (that’s 10 followed by 40 zeroes), the sun would not exist, and the moon would crash into the earth or sheer off into space. Even a slight increase in the force of gravity would result in all the stars being much more massive than our sun, with the effect that the sun would burn too rapidly and erratically to sustain life.
3. If the centrifugal force of planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.
4. If the universe was expanding at a rate one millionth more slowly than it is, the temperature on earth would be 10,000 degrees C.
5. The average distance between stars in our galaxy of 100 billion stars is 30 trillion miles. If that distance was altered slightly, orbits would become erratic, and there would be extreme temperature variations on earth. (Traveling at space shuttle speed, seventeen thousand miles an hour or five miles a second, it would take 201,450 years to travel 30 trillion miles).
6. Any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 299,792,458 miles a second). Even a slight variation in the speed of light would alter the other constants and preclude the possibility of life on earth.
7. If Jupiter was not in its current orbit, we would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter’s gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that would otherwise strike earth.
8. If the thickness of the earth’s crust was greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. If it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life untenable.
9. If the rotation of the earth took longer than 24 hours, temperature differences would be too great between night and day. If the rotation period was shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
10. Surface temperature differences would be too great if the axial tilt of the earth were altered slightly.
11. If the atmospheric discharge (lightning) rater were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less, there would be too little nitrogen fixing in the soul.
12. If there were more seismic activity, much life would be lost. If there was less, nutrients on the ocean floors and in river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. Even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it.
III.Comments
1. Robert Dicke states, “that in fact it may be necessary for the universe to have the enormous size and complexity which modern astronomy has revealed, in order for the earth to be a possible habitation for living beings” [J. D. Barrow, The Anthropic Cosmological Principle (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986), 247].
2. “Likewise, the mass, the entropy level of the universe, the stability of the proton, and innumerable other things must be just right to make life possible” Norman Geisler, Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999), 27].
3. “The anthropic principle…seems to say that science itself has proven, as a hard fact, that this universe was made, was designed, for man to live in. It’s a very theistic result” [Robert Jastrow, “A Scientist Caught between Two Faiths: Interview with Robert Jastrow,” CT, 6 August 1982, 17].
4. Astronomer Alan Sandage states: “the world is too complicated in all of its parts to be due to chance alone. I am convinced that the existence of life with all its order in each of its organisms is simply too well put together. Each part of a living thing depends on all its parts to function. How does each part know? How is each part specified at conception. The more one learns of biochemistry the more unbelievable it becomes unless there is some kind of organizing principle-an architect for believers…” [“A Scientist Reflects on Religious Belief,” Truth (1985)].
IV.Conclusion
The “Anthropic Principle” is an updated Teleological Argument for God’s existence based upon the most recent astronomical evidence for His existence.
The anthropic principle (Gr. Anthropos, “human being”) states that the universe was fitted from the very first moment of its existence for the emergence of life in general and human life in particular. For if there were even the slightest variation at the moment of the big bang, making conditions different, even to a small degree, no life of any kind would exist. In order for life to be present today an incredibly restrictive set of demands must have been present in the early universe-and they were.
II. Supporting Evidence
Not only does the scientific evidence point to a beginning of the cosmos, but it points to a very sophisticated tuning of the universe from the very beginning that makes human life possible. Thus, for life to be present today an incredibly restrictive set of demands must have been present in the early universe. Consider the following...
1. Oxygen comprises 21% of the atmosphere. If it were 25%, fires would erupt, if 15%, humans would suffocate.
2. If the gravitational force were altered by 1 part in 1040 (that’s 10 followed by 40 zeroes), the sun would not exist, and the moon would crash into the earth or sheer off into space. Even a slight increase in the force of gravity would result in all the stars being much more massive than our sun, with the effect that the sun would burn too rapidly and erratically to sustain life.
3. If the centrifugal force of planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.
4. If the universe was expanding at a rate one millionth more slowly than it is, the temperature on earth would be 10,000 degrees C.
5. The average distance between stars in our galaxy of 100 billion stars is 30 trillion miles. If that distance was altered slightly, orbits would become erratic, and there would be extreme temperature variations on earth. (Traveling at space shuttle speed, seventeen thousand miles an hour or five miles a second, it would take 201,450 years to travel 30 trillion miles).
6. Any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 299,792,458 miles a second). Even a slight variation in the speed of light would alter the other constants and preclude the possibility of life on earth.
7. If Jupiter was not in its current orbit, we would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter’s gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that would otherwise strike earth.
8. If the thickness of the earth’s crust was greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. If it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life untenable.
9. If the rotation of the earth took longer than 24 hours, temperature differences would be too great between night and day. If the rotation period was shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
10. Surface temperature differences would be too great if the axial tilt of the earth were altered slightly.
11. If the atmospheric discharge (lightning) rater were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less, there would be too little nitrogen fixing in the soul.
12. If there were more seismic activity, much life would be lost. If there was less, nutrients on the ocean floors and in river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. Even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it.
III.Comments
1. Robert Dicke states, “that in fact it may be necessary for the universe to have the enormous size and complexity which modern astronomy has revealed, in order for the earth to be a possible habitation for living beings” [J. D. Barrow, The Anthropic Cosmological Principle (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986), 247].
2. “Likewise, the mass, the entropy level of the universe, the stability of the proton, and innumerable other things must be just right to make life possible” Norman Geisler, Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999), 27].
3. “The anthropic principle…seems to say that science itself has proven, as a hard fact, that this universe was made, was designed, for man to live in. It’s a very theistic result” [Robert Jastrow, “A Scientist Caught between Two Faiths: Interview with Robert Jastrow,” CT, 6 August 1982, 17].
4. Astronomer Alan Sandage states: “the world is too complicated in all of its parts to be due to chance alone. I am convinced that the existence of life with all its order in each of its organisms is simply too well put together. Each part of a living thing depends on all its parts to function. How does each part know? How is each part specified at conception. The more one learns of biochemistry the more unbelievable it becomes unless there is some kind of organizing principle-an architect for believers…” [“A Scientist Reflects on Religious Belief,” Truth (1985)].
IV.Conclusion
The “Anthropic Principle” is an updated Teleological Argument for God’s existence based upon the most recent astronomical evidence for His existence.