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The origins of mankind is an extremely controversial issue within today’s
society. Scientists have a host of different theories pertaining to man’s
inhabitance of earth.
Many disagreements arise between scientists who have
different beliefs pertaining to where and how mankind arose. One such argument
is the conflict involving the theory of evolution versus the theory of creation.
After extensive scientific research, it is apparent that the theory of evolution
is correct.
Evolution is the theory that life arose by natural processes at an
early stage of the earth’s history and that complex organisms developed from
simpler organisms by a process of slow change (Coren 209). It’s the idea that
new species arise from older species after thousands of years of gradual
chemical, environmental, and genetic change (Coren 142).
Evolution can also be
described as the complex processes by which living organisms originated on earth
and have been diversified and modified through sustained changes in form and
function (“Evolution”).
Scientists, looking for an explanation to the origin of
man and other organisms created this evolutionism theory, which also presented
answers to the many asked questions dealing with similarities between species.
Unlike the theory of creation, which states that the complexity of life and
different species can only be explained in terms of a supernatural creator or
god who placed life on earth, the theory of evolution has a plethora of evidence
proving it to be true (“Creation”).
There are several different types of
observations that support the theory of organic evolution as an explanation for
the similarities and the differences among species. One such observation is in
the geologic record. The geologic record is the rock scheme found within the
earth’s outer crust. By means of radioactive dating, the ages of rocks in many
places on earth have been determined.
It’s a timetable of the earth’s geologic
history. This combined with the fossil record, another observation supporting
the evolutionary hypothesis, has produced an apparent sequence of life forms
from most simple to most complex during the history of the planet.
Fossils are
any remains or traces of a once-living organism, which are formed by
preservation, petrifaction, or sedimentation. Organisms can be preserved and
protected against decay by being trapped in amber, tar, or frozen in ice. The
hard parts of an organism, such as shells or bones, can be preserved when the
flesh of an organism has decayed away. In other cases, materials of a dead
organism may be gradually washed away and replaced by minerals from the water
causing the organism to petrify, or harden.
Imprints, molds, or casts left by an
organism after it is enclosed in sedimentary rock and decomposed are also
fossils, as well as footprints and tracks. The fossil record is the timetable of
fossils found in within the earth’s geologic record. Since the upper layers of
sedimentary rocks are assumed to have been laid down over lower layers, the
upper layers are younger than those deeper into the earth.
Therefore, fossils
found within the upper layers are also younger than those found within the lower
layers. This combination of geologic and fossil records shows the progression of
species as time also progressed (Coren 142).
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