Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth [Paperback]

Mark S. Whorton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Young Earth vs.Old Earth. The debate has gone on for centuries, with most modern Christians disputing the scientific claim of an ancient earth. But is an old earth truly inconsistent with Scripture? Dr. Mark Whorton seeks to give biblically based answers and challenge the modern thinking that to be an evangelical Christian is to believe in a young earth.

Using evidence as diverse as the bombardier beetle and St. Augustine, Dr. Whorton, a Christian apologist and genuine rocket scientist, provides a compelling answer to one of the most difficult and heated issues for modern Christians.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Mark Whorton holds a PhD in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has worked for the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center for the past 15 years. As an internationally recognized expert in the control of space structures and the Principal Investigator for an International Space Station experiment, Dr. Whorton has received many professional honors; NASA Administrator's Fellow, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and selected for Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities (1987). An experienced published author, educator, and speaker in Christian apologetics, he has been active leading the formation of local chapters for the Reasons to Believe Ministry and has developed and taught Bible study courses in classical and modern apologetics. Dr. Whorton's education and experience brings credibility and insight to this unique book addressing the theology and science of creation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Authentic Media (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932805230
• ISBN-13: 978-1932805239
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,085,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A necessary response to dogmatic Young Earth Creationism, November 14, 2005

By 

Jonathan Fisher (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth (Paperback)

Mark Whorton started with a personnel example of how hurtful and offensive "Young Earth Creationism" (YEC) dogmatism can be and then provides example after example why this dogmatic view is inconsistent with Scripture.

Dr. Whorton shows that one of the YEC's dominate tenets, mainly that God created a prefect universe that remained "prefect" until the fall of Adam, is both systematically inconsistent and Biblically not required. Dr. Whorton then provided a better alternative and more consistent reading of scripture that does not contradict our understanding of the creation, neither Biblical nor scientific.

I recommend "Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth" to anyone interested in the Biblical Creation debate. NOTE: The scope of the book, in my opinion, is set for the advanced student, layman, or scholar.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Young Earth and Christian Worldviews Clash, November 28, 2005

By 

Richard L. Deem "Rich Deem" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth (Paperback)

Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth by Mark S. Whorton, Ph.D. is a book written for Christians that examines creation paradigms on the basis of what the Bible says. Many Christians assume that the young earth "perfect paradise" paradigm is based upon what the Bible says. In reality, the "perfect paradise" paradigm fails in its lack of biblical support and also in its underlying assumptions that it forces upon a "Christian" worldview. Under the "perfect paradise" paradigm, God is relegated to the position of a poor designer, whose plans for the perfect creation are ruined by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. God is forced to come up with "plan B," in which He vindictively creates weeds, disease, carnivorous animals, and death to get back at humanity for their sin. Young earth creationists inadvertently buy into the atheistic worldview that suffering could not have been the original intent of God, stating that the earth was created "for our pleasure."

In contrast, old earth creationists believe that the universe was created with a perfect purpose, in which human beings are to choose good from evil and bring glory to God in doing so. The "perfect purpose" paradigm states that God created the universe as a temporary place, in which evil and suffering fulfill the will of God toward a higher goal than just to give us pleasure or a nice place to live. We, the followers of Jesus Christ, manifest the abundant grace of God, even in our sufferings, witnessing for the gospel to our fellow human beings and also the angels.

Dr. Whorton's book goes beyond the superficial doctrines espoused by the young earth "perfect paradise" paradigm to examine underlying assumptions and extrabiblical teachings of the movement. Peril in Paradise examines verses cited as support for the perfect paradise paradigm in context to determine their actual meaning. In addition, the book compares the perfect paradise paradigm to the perfect purpose paradigm proposed by old earth creationists. Since the book sticks to the scriptures almost exclusively, it cannot be claimed that old earth creationists ignore the scriptures in preference to "fallible science."

Whorton's book is, by far, the best critical examination of young earth creationism from a biblical viewpoint. It is highly recommended for Christians who fall on either side of the debate.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Over Due Refutation of Troubling YEC Theology, December 6, 2005

By 

OtherWorlds&Wisdom (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth (Paperback)

This is an important book, maybe the most important in the creation-date debate. A full-book treatment on the young-earth creationist (YEC) "no Death before Adam" argument was necessary and long overdue. The "no Death before Adam" argument is their fallback, and most important, position. Mark calls this their "Perfect Paradise Paradigm," others call it their "Death Tautology." It has been so effective because it appeals to emotion, but as Mark shows, even a simple attempt at engaging one's mind when reading the Bible shows the Perfect Paradise Paradigm to wrong on every level. From accusing God of messing up in Eden, to equating animals with man in such a way that ties salvation in with the mix, most don't know the bizarre lengths YECs will go in rewriting biblical scholarship to support their preconceived conclusions. A must read by all OECs and YECs.