Every summer, creation scientists gather at two important conferences to share the latest in their research, connect with colleagues, and sharpen one another. The Genesis Fund has made a tradition of sending young scientists to these events, and this year was no exception. Here are reports from three attendees the Genesis Fund supported this summer.
The CRS Annual Conference — Pensacola, Florida
The Creation Research Society held its annual conference this summer at Pensacola Christian College. The Genesis Fund supported several attendees, two of whom have shared their experience below.
One scientist we supported — a university biology professor who traveled from Honduras — arrived early enough to attend a special opening evening conference called Reclaiming Science: Rediscovering the Worldview that Builds a Nation. In his words:
“Attending the CRS annual conference was a great experience. It was a space to strengthen my convictions about creation, interact with other independent creationists and those belonging to creationist ministries. It was a great opportunity to solidify my knowledge on specific current topics, such as the differences between dinosaurs and birds, the Theory of Biological Design (TOBD), weaknesses of C14 dating when using dendrochronology, the errors that can occur in searches for biological topics among different artificial intelligences, evidence of longevity in dinosaurs, and the Continuous Environmental Tracking model, among others. I am very grateful to God for allowing me to attend the CRS annual conference. I will serve God with greater conviction and determination because of it.”
Archaeologist Abigail Van Huss attended the CRS conference for the first time. As someone on the fringes of creation research, she was pleasantly surprised to find how much of the content touched on her own field. On the second day, an entire room was dedicated to archaeological and chronological studies. She writes:
“A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending my very first Creation Research Society conference. As an archaeologist, I am on the fringes of creation research, but I saw a number of people I knew, and I was surprised at the number of lectures that bordered on the archaeological. I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, and hearing about the latest in creation research. My favorite sessions were Chariot Wheels in the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba? A Comparative Analysis of the Evidence, by Nate Loper, and Who Is Job? Placing Job and his four friends in a historical context, by Joel Tay.”
The Origins Conference — Santa Clarita, California
The Origins conference is the annual joint meeting of the Creation Biology Society, Creation Geology Society, and Creation Theology Society — the cutting edge of peer-reviewed creation research. Caleb Lepore, a young creationist scholar, attended this year and sent us this report:
“Being a creationist scholar is not for the faint of heart. Creationists who are open about their identity live largely as exiles from mainstream academia. Those who work within the system are often forced to hide their views to avoid exposure. That is why conferences like Origins matter. They are a time for creationist scholars to build relationships with one another and share their ideas. They give the creation science community a sense of coherence beyond mere online discussions and debates. They are the fuel that keeps new developments in creationist thought going and creationist scholars inspired to keep doing what they do.
At this year’s conference, we saw updates from the field of baraminology (the study of created kinds), exciting new work on blind cave fish adaptations by Institute for Creation Research scientists, and an outstanding proposal for how to harmonize radioisotope dates with the biblical chronology. We enjoyed meals, late-night conversations, and even a board game with conference speakers and attendees. On the last day, we ventured to Vasquez Rocks for a brief geological excursion. This group of jagged rock formations has served as a filming location for countless movies and TV shows. Its uplifted layers of sandstone are testament to the dynamic processes that shaped the earth in the early post-Flood period.
The day we went to Vasquez Rocks, southern California was experiencing a massive heat wave, with stifling triple-digit temperatures. At the end of our field trip, we were all very eager to get back into the refuge of our air-conditioned cars. In a way, that experience of escaping the heat is symbolic for what meetings like Origins are: an oasis in the wilderness for weary travelers. Creationist scholars who may otherwise be isolated or forced to work undercover the remainder of the year are refreshed by a few days of rest, fellowship, and sharing of ideas.
If you value the work that young-age creationist scholars do, prayerfully consider helping make conferences like these possible in the future by donating to the Nehemiah Foundation.”
Why Conferences Matter
Creation science does not happen in a vacuum. It requires community — scientists who know each other, trust each other, and push each other’s thinking. For many of these young researchers, these conferences are the one time each year they can be fully open about their convictions in a professional setting. The Genesis Fund is proud to make that possible.
If you would like to support our work sending the next generation of creation scientists to conferences like these, you can donate here.
Thomas Purifoy Nehemiah Foundation
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)