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Dinosaurs

The fossil record contains numerous large reptiles called dinosaurs. These creatures are believed to have gone extinct from the earth about 65 million years before the first humans lived. However, according to the Biblical account of earth's early history, God created all the land animals and humans on exactly the same day. The Bible also says there was a great devastating flood that covered the highest mountains by 20 feet, and was only survivable through divine intervention. The scientific community does not recognize this devastating global flood, and therefore if the Bible is true, the fossils and rock layers that blanket the world have been misinterpreted.

The fossiliferous layers of rock are assumed to have accumulated at a rate the animals alive today could have survived naturally, and are therefore believed to have accumulated through repeated local floods and gradual buildup over millions of years. According to this interpretation, animals such as the dinosaurs are believed to have lived on the earth for 200 million years. It is thought they went extinct long before humans evolved because they are not typically found in the same layers of strata. However, if indeed the fossil record is instead a history of Noah's flood, the animals died at different times, but separated by weeks perhaps instead of millions of years.

Many animals are alive today which remain unchanged from their appearance in the fossil record, and countless out of order fossils have been found worldwide. If the Biblical chronology is correct, organisms such as the dinosaurs and humans must have cohabited the world for more than 1500 years prior to the flood. Likewise, the dinosaurs were also among the animals spared from the flood along with all others, and lived on earth following the flood with humans for an indefinite period of time.

If the Bible is true, then most of the animals we find fossilized were buried during the great flood of Noah. It is clear that countless species became extinct as a result of this catastrophe, however pairs of each kind of animal were brought to the ark by God so they would be spared from the flood and repopulate the earth. As the specifics regarding their preservation were provided by God, it is logical that they would also survive the post-flood environment. Therefore, according to this theory, the dinosaurs that were on board the ark probably did not go extinct from natural difficulties, but have instead either perished at man's hand, or some may still be alive today.

Job 40:15-19 'Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with his sword.

Dinosaur

From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science

Dinosaur
Dinosaurs.jpg
Scientific Classification
Classification
Dino family tree.jpg
Families
Order Ornithischia (bird-hipped)
Suborder: Thyreophora (armored dinosaurs)
Infraorder: Ankylosauria
* Ankylosauridae
* Nodosauridae
* Scelidosauridae
Infraorder: Stegosauria
* Huayangosauridae
* Stegosauridae

Suborder Cerapoda:

Infraorder: Ceratopsia
* Ceratopsidae (horned dinosaurs)
* Chaoyangsauridae
* Psittacosauridae
* Neoceratopsia
Infraorder: Ornithopoda (bird-footed)
* Hypsilophodontidae
* Iguanodontidae
* Hadrosauridae (duck-billed dinosaurs)
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria
* Pachycephalosauridae
* Goyocephala [1]
Families
Order Saurischia (lizard-hipped)
Suborder Sauropodomorpha
Infraorder Sauropoda

Suborder Theropoda

Infraorder Prosauropoda

Dinosaurs are a diverse group of extinct reptiles best known for the varieties that reached enormous sizes. They included both carnivores (meat eaters), such as the monstrous Allosaurs that reached 40 ft in length, as well as herbivores (plant eaters) like Diplodocus that may have exceeded 115 ft. The name "dinosaur" means terrible lizard, which was coined in 1842 by the creationist paleontologist Richard Owen from the Greek words δεινός, deinos ("terrible") and σαῦρος, sauros ("lizard").

Dinosaurs are found in abundance in the fossil record due to the size and durability of their bones. Most creation scientist interpret the existence of such fossils to mean that the organisms were alive at the time of the global flood, which is described in the Biblical book of Genesis. Furthermore because the text says that all land animals were placed on Noah's ark, if correct the dinosaur was also included in their number, and became extinct very recently.

In contrast to the Biblical worldview, the naturalist interpretation of Earth's history holds that dinosaurs dominated the Earth for more than 100 million years, and went extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth.

Contents

Classification

Main Article: Dinosaur classification
Tyrannosaur hunting Triceratops

Dinosaurs are a group of ancient reptiles that had a set of particular skeletal features. The hips, hind legs, and ankles were specialized and allowed the legs to move directly under the body, rather than extending out from the side of the body as in modern lizards. This arrangement enabled dinosaurs to bring their knees and ankles directly below their hips and provided the necessary attachments for very strong leg muscles. Dinosaur skeletons were well designed for supporting a large body, for standing erect (upright), and for running. The front legs were adapted for grasping prey, for supporting weight, or for walking and running. The skulls of dinosaurs were designed for maximum strength, for minimum weight, and (in some cases) for grasping, holding, or tearing at prey. These skeletal features distinguish dinosaurs from other ancient reptiles such as Dimetrodon, the plesiosaurs, and pterosaurs. Fossil mammals, like mammoths and "saber-toothed tigers" (e.g., Smilodon), are also often incorrectly called dinosaurs.[2]

Dinosaurs are divided into two orders, the Saurischia and the Ornithischia, on the basis of their hip structure. Saurischia (from the Greek meaning "lizard-hip") include all the theropods (bipedal carnivores) and sauropods (long-necked herbivores). Ornithischia (from the Greek meaning "bird-hip") is the other dinosauria order, most of which were quadrupedal herbivores.

Creation POV

Main Article: Recent dinosaur
Main Article: Dragons

Young earth creationists believe that most fossil-bearing rock strata were formed during the Biblical global flood. It then logically follows that the fossilized animals such as dinosaurs lived recently and coexisted with mankind on Earth before the flood. It is furthermore presumed that dinosaurs, along with all other kinds of land animals, were taken aboard Noah's ark and reintroduced following the deluge. If this Biblical insight is true, these remarkable animals may have been familiar to many human civilizations and documented in history and legend.

Evidence to support this view includes:

  1. The Bible specifically states that a breeding pair of every kind of animal came to the ark.
  2. The fossil record is filled with the corpses of dinosaurs that were buried during the deluge.
  3. The abundant physical evidence of recent existence of dinosaurs.
Portion of the Nile Mosaic of Palestrina showing humans hunting dinosaurs. Circa 100 BC.

There is much evidence that dinosaurs lived very recently and were known to early humans. Countless paintings and carvings have been found illustrating first-hand knowledge of these creatures by various cultures around the world.[3][4][5] Dinosaur tracks have been found alongside what may be human tracks.[6] Dinosaur bones have also been found that are unfossilized with soft tissues still present indicating recent burial.

Tales of dragons may recount ancient sightings of dinosaurs. However, historical accounts of dinosaur-sized animals are being dismissed as mythological because these animals are assumed to have gone extinct millions of years ago. We use "Dinosaur" in reference to a group of large reptilian-like animals previously labeled "dragon". Perhaps dinosaurs survived the flood, but could not survive mankind.[7]

The World Book Encyclopedia states that: "The dragons of legend are strangely like actual creatures that have lived in the past. They are much like the great reptiles [dinosaurs] which inhabited the earth long before man is supposed to have appeared on earth. Dragons were generally evil and destructive. Every country had them in its mythology."[6]

Bible References

Main Article: Dinosaur in the Bible

There are graphic descriptions of animals in the Bible that may be dinosaurs. Behemoth is described as an immense land animal, which is believed by some to be a Sauropod.[8] Leviathan, on the other hand, is portrayed as a terrifying fire-breathing sea monster that some have suggested may be a Kronosaurus. However, more recently the the SuperCroc (Sarcosuchus) has been put forth as the most likely candidate for the Leviathan.[9]

Living

Main Article: Living dinosaur

Numerous people have reported seeing dinosaur-sized creatures in un-inhabited regions, such as the jungles of the Republic of the Congo, in central western Africa. While these reports remain unconfirmed, the possibility of their existence should not be ruled out.[10] Many also believe that plesiosaur‎‎‎‎ and pterosaur‎‎ may still be alive today in remote areas.

It should also be considered probable that many modern reptiles are distant relatives of larger varieties found in the fossil record. Although many dinosaurs are indeed extinct, it is certain that, if allowed to live as they did before the flood, modern reptiles might reach much larger sizes and closely resemble their ancestors found in fossil forms.

Extinction

Main Article: Dinosaur extinction

Dinosaurs are believed to have gone extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth. Although theories are numerous regarding the cause of the dinosaur extinction, the most prevalent called the "Great Impact Theory" states that a giant meteor or asteroid impact was responsible due to resulting climatic changes. Creationist scientists, however, reject this theory citing multiple problems.[11]

John Leo stated that one of the most frequent science headlines is "New Theory of Dinosaur Extinction". He further added that "No matter how you think the tiresome giant reptiles died off, it always turns out that they probably perished some other way." Creationists assert that evolutionists are frequently coming out with a new theories that are laden with false assumptions.[12]

Based on the Biblical book of Genesis account of history, creationists generally believe that dinosaurs survived the flood of Noah and coinhabited the Earth with mankind for some time.[13] If this is correct, the contribution of humans to dinosaur extinction should be considered. Humans have a natural instinct to kill any animal that possesses a threatening imposition, and reptiles of any significant size are typically killed when in the proximity of human habitats. Large reptiles the size of dinosaurs would certainly be perceived as a threat and slayed by humans that possessed hunting capabilities.[14]

Evolution

Main article: Feathered dinosaur
A feathered Deinonychus at the Royal Ontario Museum exhibit.

Evolutionists believe that birds are modern descendants of ancient reptiles. Many would in fact say that dinosaurs didn't really go extinct, they simply evolved into birds. Creationist scientists contend this assertion stating the theory lacks any credible scientific support.[15][16] The absence of supporting evidence is seemingly supported by the online World Book Encyclopedia which states: "No fossil of any such birdlike reptile has yet been found." [1]. Creationist scientists Dr. Jonathan Sarfati wrote regarding dinosaurs being descendants of bird the following:

“ The same logic applies to the dinosaur-bird debate. It is perfectly in order for creationists to cite Feduccia’s devastating criticism against the idea that birds evolved ‘ground up’ from running dinosaurs (the cursorial theory). But the dino-to-bird advocates counter with equally powerful arguments against Feduccia’s ‘trees-down’ (arboreal) theory. The evidence indicates that the critics are both right — birds did not evolve either from running dinos or from tree-living mini-crocodiles. In fact, birds did not evolve from non-birds at all!

[2]

 ”

Even Ernst Mayr, who some would hail as a father of modern evolution biology, stated the following regarding the origin of the feather in 1942: "It must be admitted, however, that it is a considerable strain on one’s credulity to assume that finely balanced systems such as certain sense organs (the eye of vertebrates, or the bird’s feather) could be improved by random mutations." [3]

The Scientific American makes a similar admission in their March 2003 issue [4][5]:

“ Of all the body coverings nature has designed, feathers are the most various and the most mysterious...The origin of feathers is a specific instance of the much more general question of the origin of evolutionary novelties--structures that have no clear antecedents in ancestral animals and no clear related structures (homologues) in contemporary relatives. Although evolutionary theory provides a robust explanation for the appearance of minor variations in the size and shape of creatures and their component parts, it does not yet give as much guidance for understanding the emergence of entirely new structures, including digits, limbs, eyes and feathers. ”

Most evolutionary scientists believe that dinosaurs evolved from a dinosaurmorph population who was quickly replaced by the more evolved “terrible lizards”. However, the evidence shows, assuming an old earth, that they coexisted for some 20 million years. This clearly blurs the evolutionary time scale and is consistent with Flood geology. (Irmis, Nesbit, Padian et al; 2007)

FAQs

  • Could dinosaurs really fit on Noah's ark?

The Biblical description of Noah's ark states that it was sizable enough to host even the largest known specimens of dinosaurs (450 ft long / 75 ft wide / 45 ft tall). However, it is logical that younger / smaller varieties would have been taken aboard the ark to preserve their kind from the flood. It is furthermore arguable that many of these "terrible lizards" were simply much older than modern varieties. Reptiles continuously grows as long as they live, whereas mammals and other terrestrial vertebrates grow no further following their adolescent period.

References

  1. ↑ Ornithischia by Wikispecies
  2. ↑ Are all fossil animals dinosaurs?by the U.S. Geological Survey.
  3. ↑Doheny Expedition: Main Report from Discoveries Relating to Prehistoric Man. The Doheny Scientific Expedition to the Hava Supai Canyon, Northern Arizona. 1924.
  4. ↑ The Hava Supai Dinosaur Carving by Wayne Jackson. Christian Courier, Accessed July 14, 2010.
  5. ↑ Man and Dinosaur Co-existence by OOPARTS & ANCIENT HIGH TECHNOLOGY
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 What about the Dinosaurs? by Dr. Walt Brown. In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, 8th Edition (2008)
  7. ↑ Dinosaurs and dragons: stamping on the legends by Russell Grigg. Creation 7(3):18–19. June 1985
  8. ↑ Could Behemoth have been a dinosaur? by Allan K. Steel. Journal of Creation 15(2):42–45. August 2001.
  9. ↑A new candidate for Leviathan? by Peter Booker. Journal of Creation. 19(2) 2005. 14-16.
  10. ↑ Are dinosaurs alive today? by Robert Doolan. Creation 15(4):12–15. September 1993.
  11. ↑ Did a meteor wipe out the dinosaurs? What about the iridium layer? by Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D. (2001)
  12. ↑ Dinosaur demise theory, version #451 by Michael Matthews, AiG-US. November, 15 2002.
  13. ↑ Get Answers: Dinosaurs by Answers in Genesis.
  14. ↑ Dinosaurs and dragons: stamping on the legends by Russell Grigg. Creation 14(3):10–14 June 1992
  15. ↑ Vertebrates: animals with backbones by Dr. Gary Parker. Creation: Facts of Life Chapter 3: The fossil evidence
  16. ↑ 100 years of airplanes—but these weren’t the first flying machines! by Andy McIntosh. Creation 26(1):44–48, December 2003

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