We Need A Miracle

Why Would a Young Earth Creationist Promote a Better Appreciation of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (GR)?

The actual review is at the end of this article, which I precede with some explanatory remarks.

I survived my college introductory course in calculus, but I had the practical sense to later be steered toward the humanities and social sciences. I furnished too little inspiration and understanding to fully appreciate the rigors of dy, dx. My acceptance of the Genesis account of creation meant I had to reconcile six literal days of creation with the fact that light from Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to earth, would take 4.35 light years to arrive to earth. If God really “made the stars” (Genesis 1:16 NIV) on the fourth literal day of creation, how could Alpha Centauri be visible from earth so soon? I reasoned, if Adam was created with the mature form of an adult, then God could produce a universe with the mature appearance of light from the stars. I can now better understand an astronomer’s disdain for my reasoning.

Faith is not mindless. It believes God, while reconciling the world, as we understand it, to our faith. The reason we do not see more miracles is because we do not have much faith. The New Testament records, Jesus “did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58 NIV). Too often, we end up with more scientific objections than we have biblical solutions. At that rate, we could have subsequent generations believing less than we do. “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NIV).

What’s this got to do with an Amazon book review of “Starlight and Time”? I recently discovered the book by following links to Amazon. I was intrigued enough to download a copy. To my surprise, it caused me to set aside my favored Vapor Canopy Theory. Humphreys spent much time demonstrating the necessity of properly understanding the “waters” (Genesis 1:2) of Genesis 1. Water is the H2O that initially covered the earth. Above the “waters” is a “firmament” (KJV), “vault” (NIV), or “expanse” (NASB). “And God said, Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water” (Genesis 1:6 NIV). That “vault” was proposed by the Traditional Vapor Canopy proponents to be a mantle of water vapor or ice surrounding the earth sufficient to provide a deluge necessary for a worldwide, catastrophic Noahic flood. Humphreys identifies that “firmament” (KJV) or “expanse” (NASB) as Interstellar Space. The “waters which were under the firmament” (Genesis 1:7 KJV) are the previously mentioned waters that initially covered earth. And, the “waters which were above the firmament” (1:7 KJV) are waters existing above and beyond the edge of Interstellar Space. Remember, NASA scientists legitimately look for water in outer space.

https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/the-solar-system-and-beyond-is-awash-in-water

“7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day” (Genesis 1:7-8 NASB).

What is the significance of understanding the layout of waters “under the firmament [expanse, NASB]” and “above the firmament [expanse, NASB]” (Genesis 1:7 KJV)? This was the initial layout of creation, and it continues to describe our present universe, until “heaven and earth will pass away” (Luke 21:33 NIV). The starlight of the fourth day of creation must pass through the “firmament” (KJV), “vault” (NIV), or “expanse” (NASB), that is, starlight must pass through Interstellar Space to reach our eyes on earth. This comes as no surprise. But then, I began to re-evaluate my appreciation of the significance of starlight in the creation account of Genesis.

An excerpt from “Starlight and Time”:

“Six Real Earth-days. What this new cosmology shows is that gravitational time distortion in the early universe would have meant that while a few days were passing on earth, billions of years would have been available for light to travel to earth. It still means that God made the heavens and earth (i.e., the whole universe) in six ordinary days, only a few thousand years ago. But with the reality revealed by GR, we now know that we have to ask—six days as measured by which clock? In which frame of reference? The mathematics of this new theory shows that while God makes the universe in six days in the earth’s reference frame (‘Earth Standard Time,’ if you like), the light has ample time in the extra-terrestrial reference frame to travel the required distances.”

Humphreys, Russell. Starlight & Time (pp. 11-12). Master Books. Kindle Edition.

Further, it forced me to give proper credit to Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (GR), while reinforcing my belief in six literal days of creation and a young earth. I would never have predicted that outcome! 

Finally, here is the review of “Starlight and Time,” I posted at Amazon:

A Fascinating Read to Ponder How God Did It!

This relatively short book should fuel the thought process of anyone who desires to reconcile the statements of Genesis 1 with the evidence available to anyone viewing the images from our orbiting space telescopes. How could God create in six literal days, when the light from the farthest reaches of the visible universe would take incomprehensible light years to reach us? I’ve had the prejudice of a Canopy Theory explanation, but I can see I need more humility to maintain my faith in light of scientific evidence. I am pleased to say, “This book will increase your faith in the plain statements of God in Genesis, while giving you a greater reverence for how God could have accomplished the creation of the universe!” The author, Dr. D. Russell Humphreys, a retired nuclear physicist, has worked with Sandia’s Particle Beam Fusion Project, and still has interest in helping produce the world’s first lab-scale thermonuclear fusion. He has published papers in secular scientific journals, and has published creationist technical papers. I make no claim to peer review his efforts, but I commend anyone who uses their skills and expertise to justify God.