System of evolution can be compared to a six-legged spider

March 15, 2005

Spectrum/Pastor Ron Hammon

More than 30 years ago, a young mother's curiosity was aroused by the sound of two small boys giggling and laughing down the hall. Upon investigation, she found my brother and me in the den huddled over a hapless daddy long legs spider, pulling it apart one leg at a time.

Though many years have come and gone, I still remember that time, and the few simple lessons it taught me.

First, it taught me that a spider can lose a leg and still run. In fact, it seemed to run faster after losing the first one, as though it were trying to run away!

Second, there comes a critical point after losing too many legs that a spider cannot run at all. Now, I cannot remember what this number is, but it seems to me that by the time a spider is down to only one leg, the best it can do is run in circles.

There has been much said about the theory of evolution being a "system" of organized rules and principles regarding the origins of life and our universe. It has even been validated on the authority of the Nobel prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who asserts for us that evolution is scientific theory.

Let me say that I agree evolution is a system, but of what kind? Let us take a moment to examine it. If we were to compare the system of evolution to a spider, it would have six legs. I know spiders have eight, but for the sake of argument, imagine one with six.

Each leg of our spider here represents one part of the system of evolution. These parts are chemical evolution, the origin of higher elements from hydrogen; cosmic evolution, the origin of time, space, and matter (the Big Bang); stellar and planetary evolution, the origin of stars and planets; organic evolution, the origin of life from inorganic matter; macro-evolution, the origin of the major kinds, and micro-evolution, variations within kinds.

The major flaw of this system is that not everyone has arachnophobia. This spider is feared by those who think it can turn and bite them at will. But as in the case of the daddy long legs more than 30 years ago, to those who just don't know any better, the spider is helpless to get away.

And though creationists are generally regarded as childish religionists by evolutionists, though many hold advanced degrees in many scientific fields, like children they have been dismembering this spider for many years now, and it only has one leg left.

In fact, evolution's greatest feat was to convince mankind that because one leg functioned, they all did. Ever hear the term "bait and switch?" Now, which leg is left? Can you guess? If you guessed cosmic evolution (the Big Bang theory), you are wrong; no evidence yet to support this. What about macro-evolution? You know, that man came from monkeys? Actually, this means that all the major kinds came from a common ancestor, but no, anthropologists are still looking for the missing links.

Neither is it chemical, stellar and planetary, nor organic evolution. The only leg left is called micro-evolution, and as pointed out by Mrs. Holly Hoff of Juneau, there are no dogs changing into cats. Though there be many breeds of dog, they are all the same "kind" - dogs. The same is true for the human race. We are all the same "kind," even though we differ in height, weight and skin color along with a host of other physical characteristics. (Unless, of course, you believe some "races" are more human than others.)

At his point it is important to bear in mind that this spider cannot hurt you, which is why we hear all the rhetoric about the definition of a theory and its system, but no one has yet to step up to scientific scrutiny and claim the $250,000 reward that is still available.

Furthermore, it is duly noted that the best this spider can do now is to run in circles. From time to time this can be observed, such as in the dating of fossils by the geologic column, and the dating of the column by the fossils. Circular reasoning at its best!

In closing, allow me to again proffer that the reason evolutionists reject their Creator and worship this spider is because the moment they admit they have a Creator, they must also admit that they are inferior to him. But this would be weak! "To think that I, a brilliant scientist, need a savior; Christianity is just a crutch for the weak!" But excuse me? Looks to me like this spider needs five!

Pastor Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla.