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More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation (Reasons to Believe)

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RTB is to be commended for putting forth a testable creation model. A model that makes specific predictions, solicits public critique, and stimulates respectful, scientific dialogue represents a huge step forward in the creation/evolution debate. At the very least, RTB's model has attracted some bright scientific minds, generated thoughtful discourse between the disparate camps, and put its public reputation on the line.

However, I would like to offer a critique regarding one of the later chapters, in which RTB provides a statistical breakdown of the different camps' predictive accuracy. Briefly, RTB earns 68 partially or completely fulfilled predictions while not accumulating a single partially or completely falsified prediction. The young earth and theistic evolution models generate a more mixed bag, with the strict naturalism model earning poor marks across the board.

To those who may be skeptical of RTB's predictive model, a 68-0 score card likely arouses suspicion. Immediately, whether intended or not, a more skeptical reader could justifiably feel as if the "deck is stacked". One could argue that even a legitimate scientific model should yield a few inconsistencies, unanswered questions, or unresolved dilemmas subject to future testing.

So, how was RTB's predictive accuracy assessed? Did it enlist an independent panel of scientists and theologians, from across the spectrum, to score various aspects of its model? Were fair-minded young earth creationists, atheistic evolutionists, and theistic evolutionists given a seat at the table to participate in the scorekeeping? Or, was the 68-0 score a product of the RTB scholar team, other old earth creationist scientists, and theologians predisposed to an old earth creationist interpretation?

RTB has raised the bar in developing a testable creation model, and it is to be praised for putting its model on the line for skeptical scientists and university students across the nation. However, if its claims of impeccable predictive accuracy are to be viewed with the utmost gravity, it should clarify the methodology used to generate its scorekeeping results. If these scores were a result of a transparent, independent panel, then this should be clarified for the public. On the other hand, if these scores were self-generated, then RTB should address this deficiency head-on and adopt a more open, objective, and independently minded approach in this particular arena.

More than a Theory is the latest in the series by Reasons to Believe scholars that develop a testable scientific intelligent design model. While the design movement has focused on showing how detecting design is scientific and showing the flaws in the various naturalistic theories or origins, they have focused little on creating their own model.

This book spells out the predictions and basis for the design model and makes some comparisons to competing models. No longer can the True Believers of evolution claim design isn't science. If you have read Ross' book Creation As Science: A Testable Model Approach to End the Creation/evolution Wars, you will see a lot of similarities in this book. In many ways, this is an updated version of that book. While it focuses largely on the astronomy and physics end of the model, it reviews the biology points spelled out in more detail in Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man and Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off. The companion volume to More than a Theory is Ross' Why the Universe Is the Way It Is which addresses the "tough" questions that skeptics pose to Christians and design theorists.

The basic premise of this important book by Hugh Ross is that a more constructive approach to present evidence for the Creator is to provide a testable model for creation, rather than try to poke holes in the evolutionary theory. Through providing a testable model for creation which is backed up by scientific research, a more convincing case can be made for Intelligent Design that will not alienate those who don't believe in ID; it will foster more constructive dialogue and present a convincing case for the hypothesis of a Creator.

Ross presents the Reason to Believe (henceforth RTB) testable model for creation. Ross defines science as the "pursuit of systematized knowledge and understanding about the way the universe, with its governing laws and all it contains, operates" (p. 18)

Ch. 1 Ross helps the reader understand what the RTB creation model is all about and the principles it abides by

Ch. 2 Ross gives an overview of the different viewpoints: Evolutionist, Young-Earth creationist, Intelligent Design movement, Old-Earth creationist, Theistic Evolutionist, Framework Theorists, Progressive Creationist, and Concordists.

Ch. 3 Ross discusses different strategies and approaches for discussing creation

Ch. 4-5 Detailed description of the Objective Testing Method and the resources and standards on which it is based.

Ch. 6 The Biblical Structure of the Creation Model -- based on 4 key points (Dual revelation, Creation purposes, Creation chronology, and Detectability of the divine)

Ch. 7 Putting the RTB's Model for the Cosmos to the Test

Ch. 8 Putting RTB's Model for Galaxies, Stars, and Planets to the Test

Ch. 9 Putting RTB's Model for Life's Beginning and Extraterrestrial homes to the test

Ch. 10 Putting RTB's Model for Life's History to the test

Ch. 11 Putting RTB's Model for Advanced Life to the test

Ch. 12 Putting RTB's Model for the Origin and History of Humanity to the test

Ch. 13 Putting RTB's Model to the "Why?" Question

Ch. 14 Putting New Atheist Cosmic Models to the Test

Ch. 15 Putting RTB's model to the U.S. Constitution Test

Ch. 16-17 Using Predictions to Test Models and Scoring the Models

Appendix A The Scientific Method's Biblical Origins
Appendix B Designed for Life
Appendix C Predictive Tests for Four Creation/Evolution Models


Summary: Ross believes that this RTB creation model can successfully pass the tests of explaining the origin of solar system, animal and human life, and present a sound hypothesis for God which would not contradict the Constitution. Moreover, this creation model not only gives a sound explanation for the origin of life but it is also consistent with scientific findings.

I believe that this is one of Ross' most important works -- his approach will not only foster more constructive dialogue between theists and non-theists in the intellectual and scientific arena, but it will present a convincing and testable model to explain the creation hypothesis. Highly recommended!

This book provides a clear, concrete, and comprehensive scientific model to examine the validity of a specific creation model. Namely, the Reasons To Believe (RTB) model developed by Dr. Hugh Ross and his team of reasearchers. While many people have been able to identify problems with evolution for years, no one has offered a genuine testable, scientific model in its place until now.

In 1961, Princeton physicist Robert Dicke discovered that the existence of life in the universe requires several physical constants to be extremely fine-tuned. This is called the anthropic principle and more recent discoveries have increased the number of variables that had to be precisely correct in order for life as we know it to come into being. The Intelligent Design movement provided a better explanation than evolution for this set of facts, but it offered no comprehensive, testable theory to replace evolution. As a result, there hasn't been an alternative to evolution for scientists to test - until now.

The RTB model presented in this book compares the current scientific data on eight different areas of science to see how well it matches with the RTB model and the three other most popular theories for explaining the universe; namely evolution, theistic evolution, and young earth creation.

Chapters on these issues form the heart of the book and are entitled, "Putting RTB's model for the Cosmos to the test", "Putting RTB's model for Galaxies, Stars & Planets to the test", "Putting RTB's model for Life's beginning & Extraterrestrial homes to the test", "Putting RTB's model for Life's history to the test", "Putting RTB's model for advanced life to the test", "Putting RTB's model for the origin & history of humanity to the test", "Putting RTB's model to the 'Why' question test."

There is also a chapter focussing on predictions the different models make regarding issues that will probably be resolved within the next 5 - 10 years. Dr. Ross' willingness to present this clear and comprehensive model shows a significant step forward from previous "God of the Gaps" models and deserves a serious response from evolutionists who can no longer pretend there are no other plausible explanations for how life as we know it came into being. I would urge everyone concernd about this matter to read this valuable book.

Dr. Hugh Ross has been on the forefront of examining the scientific evidence for the various creation hypothesis both young and old as well as evolutionary theory for a long time. This presentation and defense of a modern testable creation model, constructed over a long time by a great many authentic and reputable scientists and researchers under the umbrella of the Reasons to Believe organization, has powerful explanatory and predictive power and is poised to go head-to-head with current evolutionary models. Regardless of your position, if you have a real interest in this subject, More Than A Theory should generate thoughtful discussion.

I first heard of Dr. Hugh Ross on Perry Marshall's web site "Cosmic Fingerprints". His speech in 1995,"New Scienticic Discoveries on the Existense of God" was fascinating! He referred to discoveries from the Cosmic Explorer Sattelite and Hubble Telescope. I wondered what additional discoveries had occured in the ensuing 13 years. Googling Ross, I found His website and that he has written many books since then. I first read, "Why the Universe is the way it is", and now, "More Than a Theory". He took a multidisiplinary approach and as a result of this book invites other creation models plus His to be tested. What he says may not all be true, but He sure is willing to show the data where he draws his conclusions. Notice that his main detractors are Athiests and New Creationists plus just a few scientists, and were primarily in the early 2000's. Not being a scientist, I respect his willingness and efforts to put his approach for comparison to others. I believe his approach until or if he's proved wrong. It will be interesting to see who disagrees with Him and why.

This book presents in the fullest detail the RTB creation model lead by Dr. Ross. While other parts of the model are explained more fully in other books by Dr. Ross and his associate Dr. Rana, this book does and excellent job of laying out the basics and presenting the various models on human origins and beginnings as well as some of the controversies surrounding the subject. In all, I found the book to be well presented ( I will leave conclusions on the data to that of the reader )and to be presented fairly, without resorting to mud slinging about other models and views. Everything in the book is written in a way that even non-science types should be able to follow along without difficulty. I highly recommend for those who follow RTB or those that are gathering data on various models and perspective on questions concerning the origins of life and future predictions.

This is a serious book for serious people who know modern science and still care about Scripture. Further, it blows away the myth than people who take the Bible literally, must believe that the earth is no older than 10,000 years.

I have read this book as part of the "Officer's Training Course" for Reasons to Believe (RTB). The book outlines four contrasting theories of creation, with the message that three of the models might be held by Christians who believe in the inerrant and infallible Bible, and also who might believe that God reveals himself through nature and the Bible. The book has an important chapter on legal cases, making the point that in the United States, only young-earth creationism has lost in court, and for failing to provide testable science. This point of testable science continues to be an important challenge for the Intelligent Design proponents (as described in a recent issue of Christianity Today).

I do not personally agree with all points in this book, but I believe in its core ideas (and in the core philosophy of RTB). It is a monumental task for any group or organization to provide a publicly critiquable science model. The book itself should be out-of-date as RTB moves forward based on newer evidence. I have provided a detailed critical analysis for this book, presented to the RTB Atlanta group, and posted at [...]

In my slide deck, I take a broader look at the key philosophical proposals made by Hugh Ross and his colleagues at RTB, namely on what basis do communities decide what is good science and what is good theology. RTB contrasts with "Intelligent Design" in explicitly promoting the Christian worldview. I will mention that I recently shared with an atheist that diversity (in science or theology models) is not the fatal blow to Christianity, since orthodox Christians find their unity in Jesus Christ (who claimed exclusive divinity, and communally shares that bond through the Holy Spirit).

This book by Hugh Ross is the answer to most of the questions held by Creationists who are compelled to understand the physical reality of that event and what has happened in the Universe since the Big Bang. The wide scope of Ross's theory is logically presented in a convincing timeline explaining the ever-more fine tuned physical nature of the world we live in. But to say the book is about the physics of the tangible world would not inform the prospective reader. Ross explains how the Designer made humanity, and all other living things on Earth, in the only way possible; by the intervention of the Creator who, by purposeful physical developments that made life inevitably possible. Humbling.

More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation