How Do Creationists Explain Dolphins?

[Dale]

Why did the Creator give us dolphins, those fishy looking mammals? Why would there be mammals who spend most of their time underwater?

There are six species of porpoise, thirty-two species of marine dolphin, and four species of river dolphin.

If I were the Creator, I would have used a much simpler scheme. Animals that live in salt water would breathe salt water. Animals that live in fresh water would breathe fresh water. Animals that live on land would breathe air.

I just don't see any reason the Creator would make porpoises, marine dolphins and whales to live in the ocean without being able to extract oxygen from seawater. The only answer that makes sense is that all these animals are the result of an evolutionary process. They are descended from land animals, from mammals who evolved on land.

 

[ArcticFox]

Dale,

Good question. If God's only aim were to create a utilitarian world, He may not have created dolphins.

However, God's main goal was to create a world that would bring glory to Himself. Dolphins are an example of the glory of God, because they are majestic creatures in the sense that they live most of their life in water, and yet return again to the air to breathe. This makes for a creature that leaps and bounds through the water AND through the air, and who doesn't enjoy watching dolphins every once and a while?

I think you picked a bad example, but I understand what you're getting at. Why make an animal that is not ideal for survival in its circumstances? Because God is out to make that which brings Him the most glory.

Also, let's not forget that sin has corrupted the world, all of it, and we aren't quite sure how far sin has reached into the animal kingdom in terms of physical changes.

I hope that was lucid!

 

[Chalnoth]

Except there are fish that leap out of the water, too.

 

[Tenka]

However, God's main goal was to create a world that would bring glory to Himself.

Your argument explains dolphins fine because they, from a human aesthetic perspective they are as you say 'majestic' but what about the glorious hagfish? an animal which to feed, bores it's way inside dead or dying fishes and ot defend itself from predators secretes large amounts of highly viscous slime.
As far from the dolphin as you can get this is an animal that is entirely 'ultilitarian' with a design that although primative is so well suited to it's niche it has hardly changed in millions of years.

P.S dolphins stink like rancid fish.

Because God is out to make that which brings Him the most glory.

I see this stated sometimes and it never makes any sense to me.
Why why why would God need glory, who gives it to him, what does he do with it? what would he do without it?

 

[BVZ]

Dale,

Good question. If God's only aim were to create a utilitarian world, He may not have created dolphins.

However, God's main goal was to create a world that would bring glory to Himself. Dolphins are an example of the glory of God, because they are majestic creatures in the sense that they live most of their life in water, and yet return again to the air to breathe. This makes for a creature that leaps and bounds through the water AND through the air, and who doesn't enjoy watching dolphins every once and a while?

I think you picked a bad example, but I understand what you're getting at. Why make an animal that is not ideal for survival in its circumstances? Because God is out to make that which brings Him the most glory.

Also, let's not forget that sin has corrupted the world, all of it, and we aren't quite sure how far sin has reached into the animal kingdom in terms of physical changes.

I hope that was lucid!

I is worth noting that evolution can be supported with this exact same argument.

God could have made evolution to glory himself.

What would be more glorious that putting a system in place that is self correcting, self improving and creates beauty, as well as the ability to observe it?

 

[Numenor]

I don't really see how an argument from aesthetics rather an argument from utility is any better an argument for God.

 

[JohnR7]

The only answer that makes sense is that all these animals are the result of an evolutionary process. They are descended from land animals, from mammals who evolved on land.

At one time science believes the whole earth was a snowball and the only life we had was in the water under the ice. So life would have had to climb up out of the water onto the land, and then climb back into the water again. Unless of course there were two creations, one in the water and one on the land.

 

[1Cor13v13]

We think so highly of our self. Pity. Salvation is simple and so is understanding His creation. I say what matters is where you are going to spend eternity.

 

[shernren]

Dale,

Good question. If God's only aim were to create a utilitarian world, He may not have created dolphins.

However, God's main goal was to create a world that would bring glory to Himself. Dolphins are an example of the glory of God, because they are majestic creatures in the sense that they live most of their life in water, and yet return again to the air to breathe. This makes for a creature that leaps and bounds through the water AND through the air, and who doesn't enjoy watching dolphins every once and a while?

I think you picked a bad example, but I understand what you're getting at. Why make an animal that is not ideal for survival in its circumstances? Because God is out to make that which brings Him the most glory.

Also, let's not forget that sin has corrupted the world, all of it, and we aren't quite sure how far sin has reached into the animal kingdom in terms of physical changes.

I hope that was lucid!

So, making an animal optimal for its surroundings is intelligent design,
and making an animal suboptimal for its surroundings is glorifying?

The second statement on its own is quite strange. Put together with the first, I think it's completely problematic.

 

[Opethian]

We think so highly of our self. Pity. Salvation is simple and so is understanding His creation. I say what matters is where you are going to spend eternity.

Yes indeed, thinking you are created in a deity's image, thinking all other religions except the one you believe in are wrong, and believing you have the possibility to spend eternity in an afterlife paradise, while others who are not as "good" as you deserve eternal torture, is a clear sign of antropocentrism and thinking highly of one self.

 

[JohnR7]

Yes indeed, thinking you are created in a deity's image

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Fallen man is not in the image of God, that is why we need to be born again and take on the new nature in Christ.

2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

This is why evolutionists get so confused. They only look at the old fallen nature and they do not look at the new nature we have in Christ.

They do not understand God's purpose and intention with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

 

[1Cor13v13]

Yes indeed, thinking you are created in a deity's image, thinking all other religions except the one you believe in are wrong, and believing you have the possibility to spend eternity in an afterlife paradise, while others who are not as "good" as you deserve eternal torture, is a clear sign of antropocentrism and thinking highly of one self.

We are the only animals on the planet that can start to comprehend eternity. I choose a God who would sacrifice His Son to save us and in whom came back from the dead and has power over death. Where is your hope?

 

[1Cor13v13]

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Fallen man is not in the image of God, that is why we need to be born again and take on the new nature in Christ.

2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

This is why evolutionists get so confused. They only look at the old fallen nature and they do not look at the new nature we have in Christ.

They do not understand God's purpose and intention with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Good point.

 

[Opethian]

We are the only animals on the planet that can start to comprehend eternity. I choose a God who would sacrifice His Son to save us and in whom came back from the dead and has power over death. Where is your hope?

I don't believe in fairytales anymore, sorry. Just because you want to believe in something because you desire an afterlife, miracles, and hope, doesn't make it true. It's called intellectual honesty.

 

[Opethian]

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Fallen man is not in the image of God, that is why we need to be born again and take on the new nature in Christ.

2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

This is why evolutionists get so confused. They only look at the old fallen nature and they do not look at the new nature we have in Christ.

They do not understand God's purpose and intention with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

So you don't count adam and eve as humans?

 

[1Cor13v13]

I don't believe in fairytales anymore, sorry. Just because you want to believe in something because you desire an afterlife, miracles, and hope, doesn't make it true. It's called intellectual honesty.

I'm praying for you and you can't stop me! Nah na nah na noo noo!

 

[Opethian]

I'm praying for you and you can't stop me! Nah na nah na noo noo!

 

[JohnR7]

So you don't count adam and eve as humans?

Of course I "count" them as human. We have the geneologys for Adam and Eve. They are real people that lived 6,000 years ago in what is call Eden. I believe all the people we read about in our Bible are real people. That is also what the scientific evidence indicates.

You would have to show me significant evidence to cause me to beleive otherwise. For example, I use to believe the world was around 12,000 years old. Now that I have studied the scientific evidence I see the world we live in is around 12,975 years old. But also I see that there was an old world that was here before this one began.

We are not sure why the world changed. But we know that there was global warming and there was the beginning of a new world at that time. I would not have known that if I had not found out from science. I live in a area that was covered by ice 12,000 years ago. So it is reasonable for me to believe that the world I live in began 12,000 years ago, when the ice began to melt.

If we dig down deep enough 12 to 15 feet, then we can see evidence of a world that was here before.

 

[Pats]

Why did the Creator give us dolphins, those fishy looking mammals? Why would there be mammals who spend most of their time underwater?

There are six species of porpoise, thirty-two species of marine dolphin, and four species of river dolphin.

If I were the Creator, I would have used a much simpler scheme. Animals that live in salt water would breathe salt water. Animals that live in fresh water would breathe fresh water. Animals that live on land would breathe air.

I just don't see any reason the Creator would make porpoises, marine dolphins and whales to live in the ocean without being able to extract oxygen from seawater. The only answer that makes sense is that all these animals are the result of an evolutionary process. They are descended from land animals, from mammals who evolved on land.

This arguement against creationism is not an improvement on arguements creationists themselves make..... I mean, "Why would God have ____," arguements are no different from "Goddidit" arguements, are they?

I think not.

 

[Opethian]

Of course I "count" them as human. We have the geneologys for Adam and Eve. They are real people that lived 6,000 years ago in what is call Eden. I believe all the people we read about in our Bible are real people. That is also what the scientific evidence indicates.

You would have to show me significant evidence to cause me to beleive otherwise. For example, I use to believe the world was around 12,000 years old. Now that I have studied the scientific evidence I see the world we live in is around 12,975 years old. But also I see that there was an old world that was here before this one began.

We are not sure why the world changed. But we know that there was global warming and there was the beginning of a new world at that time. I would not have known that if I had not found out from science. I live in a area that was covered by ice 12,000 years ago. So it is reasonable for me to believe that the world I live in began 12,000 years ago, when the ice began to melt.

If we dig down deep enough 12 to 15 feet, then we can see evidence of a world that was here before.

I wasn't talking about all that (although obviously I don't agree with that, it just has nothing to do with what I wanted to discuss), all I meant was that if adam and eve were humans, you do believe that we (humans) were created in god's image.