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___Have you ever noticed that the continents on a world map almost
seem like puzzle pieces that have been divided up? Can you guess why
that might be? Quite a few scientists believe that the earth's land masses
were at one time all joined together in one giant land mass called
"Pangaea." Many think that some sudden, violent event split the
continents apart a few thousand years ago.1
___To give you an idea when this may have happened, Noah's Flood is thought to have occurred around 2,350 B.C. Peleg was born about 100 years later. The Bible says of Peleg "in his time the earth was divided." Some believe this verse just refers to the division of the people at the Tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11 (see extra lesson below). Others believe that if the earth's surface really did split apart, that it occurred at this same time. Still others believe the earth began breaking up during the flood.2, 3, 4
___The earth's surface is cracked, sort of like an eggshell. The continents currently rest on about 20 different plates on the earth's surface. Many scientists believe the plates are still moving, but that now they are moving very slowly. The study of the movement of these plates is called plate tectonics. This slow movement itself is called continental drift. It is believed that this movement causes many of the earthquakes we experience today.5
Gen 1:9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.
Ps 60:2 You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
Gen 10:32 (KJV) These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Gen 11:9 That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
An Extra Lesson: Dividing People and Animals
1. The Tower of Babel/Isolation of the Gene Pool:
___When the Babylonians tried to build a huge temple to false gods, the Lord confused their language. This caused the people to split up into different language groups. Many philologists believe that all languages have one common origin. This fits in with the division of languages starting at that temple.6, 7 That building is appropriately called the Tower of Babel, since "Babel" means "confused." Interestingly, part of the ancient Tower of Babel may have been discovered in the area of Babylon.8
___The Babel division, and perhaps continental breakup, too, can help explain, in part, the development of the different races. Why? Due to isolation of the gene pool. When people break up into smaller groups and then marry exclusively within that group, there is a slightly smaller amount of genetic information available. Therefore, certain similar characteristics emerge.9
___For instance, let's say on average 1 in 10 people from a certain people group are born with 24 fingers and toes instead of 20. Let's say several of the 24-digit people moved to an island and only married within that group. The chances are greatly increased over the average of the original group that their children, grandchildren, etc., would have 24 digits. This sort of isolated gene-pool effect can be seen in the two-toed Vadoma tribe of Africa. An example in the animal kingdom is the polydactyl Hemingway Cats, which have a varying number of extra toes. [See more on isolation of the gene pool at Adam and Eve costume section.]
2. Land Bridges: Many scientists also believe that people and animals crossed land bridges, which occurred as a result of the Ice Age and which remained passable for centuries. An example is the Bering Strait area between Alaska and Russia, which was not always under water.10 Once the land bridges were submerged, this could have further contributed to isolation of the gene pool in people, as well as isolation of animal kinds.
3. Ships: There is considerable evidence that even very early on mankind may also have traveled between the continents on seagoing craft.11
4. Vegetation: Many creation scientists believe that for centuries after the Flood the earth was not as dry as it is now. This could mean that even areas that are barren desert today, were covered with vegetation then. This would have made it easier for animals to migrate. Additionally, some animals will die if the specific types of plants they eat aren't available or if the climate is not what they need. Therefore, some animals could have died out in certain areas simply because the conditions were not right for them.12
1 Robert W. Faid, A Scientific Approach to Biblical Mysteries/A Scientific Approach to More Biblical Mysteries (Carmel, NY: Guideposts, 1993) 39-43.
2 Dennis R. Petersen, Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation (South Lake Tahoe, CA: Creation Resource Foundation) 30, 177.
3 Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record (Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1976) 260-261, 282-285.
4 Lawrence O. Richards, It Couldn't Just Happen (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1987) 42-43.
5 Richards 40-42.
6 Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Volume I (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1972, 1979) 69.
7 Faid 49-54
8 Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark, The Bible Has The Answer (El Cajon, CA, Creation-Life Publishers, Inc., 1992) 70.
9 Henry M. Morris with Henry M. Morris III, Many Infallible Proofs: Practical and Useful Evidences for the Christian Faith (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1996) 318-322
10 Ken Ham, et al., The Answers Book (El Cajon, CA: Master Books, 1992) 198-200.
11 Morris, The Genesis Record 261.
12 Ham 201-206.
___To give you an idea when this may have happened, Noah's Flood is thought to have occurred around 2,350 B.C. Peleg was born about 100 years later. The Bible says of Peleg "in his time the earth was divided." Some believe this verse just refers to the division of the people at the Tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11 (see extra lesson below). Others believe that if the earth's surface really did split apart, that it occurred at this same time. Still others believe the earth began breaking up during the flood.2, 3, 4
___The earth's surface is cracked, sort of like an eggshell. The continents currently rest on about 20 different plates on the earth's surface. Many scientists believe the plates are still moving, but that now they are moving very slowly. The study of the movement of these plates is called plate tectonics. This slow movement itself is called continental drift. It is believed that this movement causes many of the earthquakes we experience today.5
Gen 1:9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.
Ps 60:2 You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
Gen 10:32 (KJV) These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Gen 11:9 That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
An Extra Lesson: Dividing People and Animals
1. The Tower of Babel/Isolation of the Gene Pool:
___When the Babylonians tried to build a huge temple to false gods, the Lord confused their language. This caused the people to split up into different language groups. Many philologists believe that all languages have one common origin. This fits in with the division of languages starting at that temple.6, 7 That building is appropriately called the Tower of Babel, since "Babel" means "confused." Interestingly, part of the ancient Tower of Babel may have been discovered in the area of Babylon.8
___The Babel division, and perhaps continental breakup, too, can help explain, in part, the development of the different races. Why? Due to isolation of the gene pool. When people break up into smaller groups and then marry exclusively within that group, there is a slightly smaller amount of genetic information available. Therefore, certain similar characteristics emerge.9
___For instance, let's say on average 1 in 10 people from a certain people group are born with 24 fingers and toes instead of 20. Let's say several of the 24-digit people moved to an island and only married within that group. The chances are greatly increased over the average of the original group that their children, grandchildren, etc., would have 24 digits. This sort of isolated gene-pool effect can be seen in the two-toed Vadoma tribe of Africa. An example in the animal kingdom is the polydactyl Hemingway Cats, which have a varying number of extra toes. [See more on isolation of the gene pool at Adam and Eve costume section.]
2. Land Bridges: Many scientists also believe that people and animals crossed land bridges, which occurred as a result of the Ice Age and which remained passable for centuries. An example is the Bering Strait area between Alaska and Russia, which was not always under water.10 Once the land bridges were submerged, this could have further contributed to isolation of the gene pool in people, as well as isolation of animal kinds.
3. Ships: There is considerable evidence that even very early on mankind may also have traveled between the continents on seagoing craft.11
4. Vegetation: Many creation scientists believe that for centuries after the Flood the earth was not as dry as it is now. This could mean that even areas that are barren desert today, were covered with vegetation then. This would have made it easier for animals to migrate. Additionally, some animals will die if the specific types of plants they eat aren't available or if the climate is not what they need. Therefore, some animals could have died out in certain areas simply because the conditions were not right for them.12
1 Robert W. Faid, A Scientific Approach to Biblical Mysteries/A Scientific Approach to More Biblical Mysteries (Carmel, NY: Guideposts, 1993) 39-43.
2 Dennis R. Petersen, Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation (South Lake Tahoe, CA: Creation Resource Foundation) 30, 177.
3 Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record (Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1976) 260-261, 282-285.
4 Lawrence O. Richards, It Couldn't Just Happen (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1987) 42-43.
5 Richards 40-42.
6 Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Volume I (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1972, 1979) 69.
7 Faid 49-54
8 Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark, The Bible Has The Answer (El Cajon, CA, Creation-Life Publishers, Inc., 1992) 70.
9 Henry M. Morris with Henry M. Morris III, Many Infallible Proofs: Practical and Useful Evidences for the Christian Faith (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1996) 318-322
10 Ken Ham, et al., The Answers Book (El Cajon, CA: Master Books, 1992) 198-200.
11 Morris, The Genesis Record 261.
12 Ham 201-206.
Two sons were born to Eber: One
was named Peleg, because in his
time the earth was divided . . .
Gen 10:25
Gen 10:25
Costume Versettes
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Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used pending permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used pending permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.