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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!flinn
From: flinn@seismo.UUCP (E. A. Flinn)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Creationists & Kangaroos - (nf)
Message-ID: <680@seismo.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 15:50:44 EST
Article-I.D.: seismo.680
Posted: Mon Mar 12 15:50:44 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Mar-84 19:25:35 EST
References: <6074@uiucdcs.UUCP>, <2433@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Organization: Center for Seismic Studies, Arlington, VA
Lines: 33


  >>By the way, is there anything incompatible between the theory of
  >>continental drift and creationism? (That is, do creationists deny
  >>the possibility of continental drift, or do they not accept the
  >>allowability of enough geologic time for continental drift to occur?)

"Continental drift" is more properly called "plate tectonics," since it
is the plates, rather than the continents, that move (the continental
crust rides along on the plates).  Plate tectonics is as well
established as any scientific theory, e.g., that the Earth orbits the
Sun (or the theory of evolution, for that matter):  the evidence that
the plates have moved and are moving is overwhelming.  Almost every
earth scientist in the world now believe that all geological and
geophysical phenomenon are explainable in terms of plate tectonics, or
at least are consistent with it  - the exception is the Soviet Union,
where V. V. Beloussov, the Chairman of the Soviet Geophysical
Committee, has personally squelched interest in geodynamics (but that's
another story that I'll tell if anyone is interested).  The rare
observational data which does not fit the present rather crude model is
being vigorously studied, and is being used to refine the model.

There is very convincing evidence that the present cycle of plate
motion begain about 250 million years ago, and that this cycle was
preceded by other cycles all the way back into the Precambrian.  If
this conflicts with creationist notions, so much the worse for the
creationists.

Incidentally, plate tectonics also beautifully explains the available 
paleontological data on dispersal of species.