IN A FEW WORDS

Origins 14(1):3-4 (1987).

Brief summaries of the main conclusions of the leading presentations are given below for those who may find the complete articles too long or technical.

ORIGIN OF LIFE: A LOOK AT LATE 20TH-CENTURY THINKING

    The origin of life on Earth has been an enigma for mankind since written records have been kept. In the closing years of the twentieth century, there are two mutually exclusive theories in currency. Life either evolved spontaneously on Earth during a primordial period, or living organisms were brought into existence by a Creator.
    The naturalistic explanations for life's origins outline sweeping scenarios which result in the abiotic appearance of proteins and nucleic acids. Assuming that such a case has been explained, a leap is made from macromolecules to the living cell.
    The presence of macromolecules is not equivalent to the existence of life. This may be seen by collecting macromolecules from once-living matter and waiting to see whether life will begin.
    Living cells must have informational macromolecules present in a steady-state, non-equilibrium system. Moreover, the information content of proteins and nucleic acids is truly meaningful only in the context of the living cell.
    Evolutionary explanations of how proteins and nucleic acids may arise in a pre-biotic environment have insurmountable difficulties. A growing recognition of these difficulties is reflected in the resurgence of "panspermia" as an explanation for life on Earth.
    No naturalistic scenarios are available or even possible to account for the information content of biomolecules and for the non-equilibrium steady state of key chemical reactions found within all living cells. These considerations force one to conclude that the very existence of life suggests the existence of a Creator.

OF DINOSAURS AND MEN

    The riverbed of the Paluxy of central Texas has been a source of extensive discussion between evolutionists and creationists, and likewise among creationists. The interest stems from reports that both human and dinosaur tracks occur in the same Cretaceous limestones. This would mean that men and dinosaurs lived at the same time — a point that would support the creation model and severely challenge the evolutionary time scale which places the development of man about 100 million years after the dinosaurs.
    Dr. Chadwick, who has been closely associated with the Paluxy River question over the years, recounts the history of major developments. While some creationists were producing films and writing articles supporting the humanness of the tracks, Dr. Berney Neufeld (ORIGINS 2:64-76, 1975) raised serious questions regarding their authenticity. Some investigators unknowingly "reinvented the wheel" and repeated studies of the area, while others continued to claim authenticity of the tracks. Repudiation by some leading creationists has not dampened the spirit of those who still believe that authentic human tracks exist in the riverbed of the Paluxy.