CAN THE BIBLE INFORM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?

Leonard Brand, Ph.D. (Paleontology) gave a presentation titled, "CAN THE BIBLE INFORM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?"​

About our speaker:  Leonard Brand is Professor of Biology and Paleontology in the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, at Loma Linda University. He received his PhD at Cornell University in 1970 and has been on the LLU faculty since then. He teaches courses in paleontology, vertebrate biology, and philosophy of science. His research focuses on the processes of fossilization and the geological factors that influence preservation of fossils. He has published over 35 scientific research papers and numerous articles in church publications. He has published three books, which have been translated into one or more other languages. He has received a Zapara Award for Distinguished Teaching, a best student paper award at national meetings, and a Distinguished Service Award from LLU. His strongest long-term interest has been developing a Bible-centered approach to the integration of faith and science.
​The new 3rd edition of the textbook, "Faith, Reason, and Earth History: A Paradigm of Earth and Biological Origin by Intelligent Design," by Drs. Leonard Brand and Arthur Chadwick is available for FREE at https://www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/faith-reason-earth-history. Hard copies are available from Amazon.com, or from www.universitypress.andrews.edu.

Dr. Brand's first example of how the Bible can inform research dealt with the origin of track ways in Coconino Sandstones of the Grand Canyon. Conventional wisdom declares the Coconino Sandstones were laid down as sand dunes in a dry, desert environment, millions of years ago.  But, the Bible's account of Earth history suggests a chronology of only thousands, not millions or billions of year.  This constraint makes the Genesis Flood the best candidate for both the laying down of sediment deposits and the channeling of the Grand Canyon.  This perspective drives questions that never occur in the conventional paradigm. These include, "Can animals leave such finally detailed track ways in desert sand dunes as are found in Coconino Sandstones?" Experiments demonstrate they cannot.  However, experiments also demonstrate that amphibians walking on underwater sand waves can and do leave precisely the kind of finely detailed track ways found in the Coconino.

The Bible informs research in places where other worldviews do not even think to look, and thereby inspires scientific discovery.

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