I took my family to the Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, TX, today. Dinosaur Valley is a state park designated around fossilized dinosaur footprints in the bed of the Paluxy River. These footprints were discovered in the early part of the 20th century, when flood waters subsided, breaking off a shelf of limestone, thus exposing the footprints. What paleontologists found is up for debate.
The official record states that a variety of dinosaur footprints were found. Some were removed and taken to the natural history museum at the University of Texas, while others were taken to some paleontology lab in New York. The rest of the footprints were left in tact, and later incorporated into a park for the enjoyment of the public.
Creationists have alleged that the footprints taken from the park contained more than just dinosaur footprints. They contained human footprints as well, thus proving that dinosaurs and humans coexisted, rendering the Biblical account of creation more credible and shooting some holes in the theory of evolution. Therefore, the government removed the human footprints so as to preserve the teaching of evolution (even though creationism was the more popular view in that day, as was being taught in the classrooms). There is much documentation of both sides of this argument.
So, we viewed the dinosaur footprints, and I also look for any signs in the rock that there was a human presence in that time. So far, no luck. (We've visited several times.)
Today, while walking along the banks of the Paluxy River, a couple approached us and asked about the human footprints. I told them that I hadn't found them and that they had likely been removed. It was a brief encounter, but very interesting that there are others with the same fascinations as me. A couple searching for human footprints in the bed of the Paluxy River are more than likely believers, and possibly creationists. Either way, I totally blew an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with other believers.
3 comments:
Kent Hoving is a creationist from Florida and is awesome at debating creation versus evolution, dinosaurs and other cool things like that. I have watched many of his videos and he uses science to prove scripture. I have been to the Paluxy River before but it was to view The Promise with our youth group, the Paluxy River runs through the set and is used in the show. I hope you and the family had a wonderful time...you deserve some down time with the family and you have to make that down time.
Ken Ham, Kent Hovind (I think they put him in jail over the taxes thing) and even Louie Giglio have some good creation science stuff. My favorite study Bible is the "New Defender's Bible". Henry Morris (founder of a creation science research center) wrote the footnotes, and I think he was an independent Baptist. Anyway, just thought you might be interested in reading or watching videos by these people. BTW, HIGHLY recommend that Bible for teenagers, b/c it shows science all through it proving scriptures and arguing evolution.
I've watched some of Kent Hovind's tapes (they were part of the Creation class at TBI when Bro. Darrell Owens taught the class). He makes some great points, and I see the possibility of the human footprints being removed from Glen Rose as a real possibility (Seriously, why would so many scientists and creationists keep the charge coming if it were false. That's out of character for our movement.)
There are still dinosaur footprints buried beneath the rock and beneath the water of the Paluxy River. Maybe it's worth making repeated trips as the river dries up due to this drought to see what we can find.
Bro. James, I appreciate the additional resources you have recommended. Ever since the mysterious dissappearance of Hovind from the national scene (which is rumored to be due to tax problems), I have struggled to find credible resources.
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