ABSTRACTS
“Lucy” and the
Pygmy Human Hypothesis
Christopher Rupe
There are two primary views within the creation community with respect to the taxonomic identity of “Lucy” and her kind, Au. afarensis. The first view posits Lucy and her species were an extinct quadrupedal ape. Adherents of this view (Quadrupedal Ape Hypothesis) focus on the ape-like features of specimens assigned to the Australopithecus genus and reinterpret features which suggest human-like obligate bipedality. Meanwhile, there is a growing number of creationists who recognize bipedal morphologies in the partial skeleton of Lucy and the broader Australopithecus genus. Proponents of this second view (Bipedal Ape Hypothesis) argue Lucy’s kind had an ape-like cranium yet walked upright in a manner similar to modern humans. In this paper, several reputed “Australopithecus-like” traits are examined and compared to features found in small-bodied adult human paleontological specimens such as the Flores “Hobbit” and H. naledi. Features commonly interpreted as indicators of arboreal propensities are found in these small-bodied adult humans. Since these same traits occur in humans, they cannot be considered diagnostic of Australopithecus taxa. This paper further identifies features in Lucy’s skeleton that are entirely consistent with H. sapiens. These findings call into question the taxonomic assignment of numerous human-looking fossils attributed to Australopithecus. These lines of evidence support a new hypothesis, that Lucy was a genetically isolated small-bodied human, drawn from a pygmy population that lived in the Hadar region of East Africa, during the post-Flood African Humid Period (Pygmy Human Hypothesis).
A Diluvial Interpretation of the Appalachian Provinces:
Geology and Geomorphology
Michael J. Oard,
John K. Reed,
and Peter Klevberg
The physiographic provinces and general geology of the Appalachians and associated provinces are described. The Coastal Plain Province starts at the Fall Line and forms an increasingly thick wedge of sediment that continues offshore to thick margin sediments. It was deposited by paleocurrents flowing eastward. The Piedmont Province is an erosion surface with monadnocks and metamorphosed, except for sediments in the numerous rift valleys. It is thought to have formed from accreted exotic terranes from the east. West of the Piedmont are the Blue Ridge Mountains, the elevated, metamorphosed core of the Appalachians. The Valley and Ridge and the Appalachian Plateau Provinces are described with sediments of the Appalachian Basin that thicken southeast over 13,600 m. Overlying the eastern Piedmont is the Coastal Plain sediment wedge, extending offshore. Some are exposed; others lie under Coastal Plain sediments. The region is extremely complex. Uniformitarian theories center on orogenesis and plate tectonic cycles over hundreds of millions of years. Though intensively studied, problems and puzzles exist. We note several and offer a Biblical explanation for some major features. During the Flooding Stage, the Blue Ridge and Piedmont were thrust northwest as one massive unit. At the same time, large cratonic basins and rifts were developing to the west. The Retreating Stage saw great erosion of the Appalachians and Piedmont. Waning east-directed currents deposited the Coastal Plain sediment wedge and formed water and wind gaps late in the Genesis Flood.
Central Configurations and Creation
Marvin Grimm
Dark matter was originally introduced to explain galaxy rotation curves. Later, it was also invoked to explain the behavior of galactic clusters and to explain and model gravitational lensing. It is part and parcel of the currently accepted mainstream cosmological model of the evolution of cosmic structure in general, the “Lambda Cold Dark Matter” (ΛCDM) model. Creationists have been encouraged to accept dark matter because it offers evidence of design and stability in the universe, two characteristics that are expected from a Creator Who pronounced His cosmos as good, and even very good. In this paper, we present central configurations that offer a mathematically rigorous explanation of rotation curves without recourse to dark matter. We also look at a refutation of this explanation, an analysis of the refutation, and a possible application to creation cosmology.
Unshaken Foundations:
Reclaiming Earth’s History Through Scripture, Science,
and the Coherence of Faith—
Theological Foundations of Young-Earth Creationism
Jonathan K. Corrado
This first paper in a series exploring young-Earth creationism (YEC) examines its theological foundations and Biblical rationale, laying the groundwork for a broader, interdisciplinary analysis. Grounded in a literal interpretation of Genesis, it focuses on key scriptural evidence, including genealogies and Earth’s chronology, that support an Earth age of approximately 6,000 years. This work also addresses theological challenges posed by old-Earth interpretations and highlights their implications for fundamental doctrines, such as the coherence of Christ’s redemptive work. By reaffirming the authority of Scripture, this study establishes the Biblical cornerstone for subsequent explorations into scientific and philosophical dimensions of YEC.