Buzsaw writes:
Here is a faily good explanation of why the Biblical record implies a pre-flood canopy atmosphere as depicted in the Genesis account.
Okay now, we're talking about the writings of a Dr. Jobe Martin, who teaches Bible study to his dentistry students at Baylor College (date uncertain). I must struggle to resist "argument from incredulity", despite being puzzled why this person's chosen profession qualifies him to make stuff up about geology, biology and climatology, and pass it off as proof of anything. So, let's move on to something of substance in his assertions...
He claims, on the basis of clear evidence in the text of Genesis, that none of the dinosaurs were predators. This is despite the wide differences in dentition and oral cavity configuration that these creatures display in the fossil record. Of all people, a teacher of dentistry (even as a subject on the side, next to bible study) ought to understand that different tooth shapes and jaw structures give clear indications (indeed, positive correlations) as to differences in diet.
Have you ever seen a dog or cat try to eat leafy greens or fruit? They do in fact try to eat greens from time to time -- I don't know why, but I assume there's some explanation for it -- but my point is that they are not at all good at it, because their teeth and mouths
weren't designed for don't work at all well with that sort of input. The same would apply to t-rex and similar species whose jaws are well-tuned to ripping and tearing flesh from other animals.
We would also have to wonder, given
Dr. Martin's notions the biblical evidence pinpointed by Dr. Martin, why we have found clear cases of scarring and fragments from t-rex teeth in the skeletal remains of other dinosaurs. Well, I suppose that if Cain can slay Abel and get away with it, what's the big deal if a bunch of triceratops get eaten by t-rexes, in clear contradiction of what God tells us?
Update: oh wait, I get it now -- one of the reasons God opted for the flood action was because the t-rexes were eating the triceratops. Let's face it, there really wasn't very much detail about His overall rationale. He just didn't feel compelled to mention this detail in the book, maybe because everyone at the time already knew from personal experience... there surely would have been a lot of gossip going around about all the trouble those t-rexes had been causing, and good riddance! Small wonder that Noah didn't make room for them on the ark: they were way past "unclean". Your position remains irrefutable, Buz. Good show.
Still, given how omniscient He is, how could he choose to give t-rex those teeth, and not expect trouble? I think He just wanted to play around with lots of water (it is fascinating stuff), and here was a way to factor that into the overall plan. Everything is planned, of course -- even the mistakes!
Edited by Otto Tellick, : (as indicated in last paragraph)
Edited by Otto Tellick, : added two final paragraphs, as noted -- which means that the first revision is no longer in the "last paragraph"
Edited by Otto Tellick, : repaired the unintended and inappropriate use of "design" terminology
autotelic adj. (of an entity or event) having within itself the purpose of its existence or happening.