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The Young Earth: The Real History of the Earth: Past, Present, Future
Dr. John Morris, a seasoned creation science speaker and geology professor, presents compelling evidence for a young Earth in this accessible book. It delves into geological evidence, fossils, dating methods, and evolutionary assumptions. Additionally, it includes a CD with PowerPoint presentations for group sharing. This hardback book has 144 pages and measures 8 3/8" x 10 3/8".
- GenresScienceCreation Science
144 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2005
28 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
John D. Morris
38 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
John D. Morris was an American young earth creationist and the son of the "father of creation science", Henry M. Morris. He received a Doctorate in Geological Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1980 and briefly served on the university's faculty. In 1984, he joined the Institute for Creation Research (ICR); after his father's death in 1990, John Morris became the president of ICR.
John D. Morris was an American young earth creationist and the son of the "father of creation science", Henry M. Morris. He received a Doctorate in Geological Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1980 and briefly served on the university's faculty. In 1984, he joined the Institute for Creation Research (ICR); after his father's death in 1990, John Morris became the president of ICR.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 19, 2024
I'm sorry, but I just can't.
So…youngest son dated a home-schooled girl for a while, and when they broke up, this book somehow ended up here at our place, (she had apparently—and thank Darwin, unsuccessfully—tried to "educate" him). And since I sincerely do like to learn about all sides of an issue, I finally decided to slowly work my way through this—and it is a slog—but here at the halfway point I finally just decided that life's too short.
DISCLAIMER: While I am indeed a Christian (at least by my own more traditional definition) I realize that I am very much the uninvited and unwelcome guest at this party; and so apologies in advance to more "true believers" here, but I really did come with the best of intentions. To his credit, Morris does a good job pointing up the weaknesses and gaps in the theory of evolution as it currently stands. But I just couldn't get behind any of the Bible-based, so-called "young Earth science" presented here. Morris basically works from the belief that anything prior to recorded/written history is speculation (i.e., imagination), and so anything that presumably "happened" prior to 5-6,000 years ago—"the unobserved past"—is up for grabs, so why not go with a literal biblical interpretation?
Morris admits that "science is useful in observing and collecting data—e.g., fossils, racial differences, geologic deposits, etc.—but then errs in not interpreting that data from a Biblical perspective." A professional geologist himself, Morris says that "we love science, but we also love the Lord and his Word. We encourage Christians to 'go back to Genesis' to see the true history recorded there and then interpret the scientific data relating to the unobserved past in submission to Scripture." And from there on, all science (at least in my understanding of the term) takes a back seat to the Bible. I mean, for a scientist to state that "all of us need encouragement to think correctly—to think in terms of biblical fundamentals!" seems like a blatant example of putting the cart before the dinosaur.
I could go on forever here, but we frankly all have better things to do, so will just add a few quotes that struck me as particularly Lewis Carroll-ish:
I remember reading some time ago—and wish I could remember where—something to the effect that "no scientific theory stands on more solid evidentiary ground than the age of the universe, the solar system and the planet Earth. It is backed up by physics, astronomy, cosmology, geology, paleontology, astrophysics, nuclear physics, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, evolution, biology, chemistry, genetics, etc." But on the other hand, if biblical math can prove that there was a "maximum of 2,402 years between creation and the Flood" (which strikes me as oddly specific—although the Flood is hugely important here, as it explains everything from dinosaur extinction and the placement of fossils to the near instantaneous carving of the Grand Canyon), then who am I, a mere mortal—albeit formed fully and independently in the image of God on the sixth day of a literal seven day creation—to argue?
(This edition also includes a CD "PowerPoint presentation that illustrates such key concepts as salt levels in the ocean, the age of the atmosphere, the accumulation of ocean sediments, and much more...," but at least for now, I just don't have the energy.)
So…youngest son dated a home-schooled girl for a while, and when they broke up, this book somehow ended up here at our place, (she had apparently—and thank Darwin, unsuccessfully—tried to "educate" him). And since I sincerely do like to learn about all sides of an issue, I finally decided to slowly work my way through this—and it is a slog—but here at the halfway point I finally just decided that life's too short.
DISCLAIMER: While I am indeed a Christian (at least by my own more traditional definition) I realize that I am very much the uninvited and unwelcome guest at this party; and so apologies in advance to more "true believers" here, but I really did come with the best of intentions. To his credit, Morris does a good job pointing up the weaknesses and gaps in the theory of evolution as it currently stands. But I just couldn't get behind any of the Bible-based, so-called "young Earth science" presented here. Morris basically works from the belief that anything prior to recorded/written history is speculation (i.e., imagination), and so anything that presumably "happened" prior to 5-6,000 years ago—"the unobserved past"—is up for grabs, so why not go with a literal biblical interpretation?
Morris admits that "science is useful in observing and collecting data—e.g., fossils, racial differences, geologic deposits, etc.—but then errs in not interpreting that data from a Biblical perspective." A professional geologist himself, Morris says that "we love science, but we also love the Lord and his Word. We encourage Christians to 'go back to Genesis' to see the true history recorded there and then interpret the scientific data relating to the unobserved past in submission to Scripture." And from there on, all science (at least in my understanding of the term) takes a back seat to the Bible. I mean, for a scientist to state that "all of us need encouragement to think correctly—to think in terms of biblical fundamentals!" seems like a blatant example of putting the cart before the dinosaur.
I could go on forever here, but we frankly all have better things to do, so will just add a few quotes that struck me as particularly Lewis Carroll-ish:
"There are no proven scientific evidences that the earth is old, but there are scores of circumstantial evidences that the earth is young. The only way that we can know for certain the age of the earth is for God (who was there) to tell us. And this he has done!"And my personal favorite, which starts off on some fairly solid "scientific method" ground before taking a hard left into "whaaa??" territory:
"Science operates in the present and in a very real sense is limited to the present. Scientific theories must involve, among other things, the observation of processes and data that exist and occur in the present. But who has ever seen the long ago past? Rocks and fossils exist in the present. We collect them, catalog them, and perform experiments on them all in the present! The scientific method is an enterprise of the present. (Of course, observations and records dating from within human history are acceptable, to the extent that the observers are deemed reliable)."
"We evaluate theoretical predictions by looking for internal consistencies. Is the model consistent within itself? Does the model need secondary modifications in order to be consistent? Furthermore, does it fit all the data? Are there facts that just do not seem to fit at all? Finally on a more basic and intuitive level, does the model in question work when applied to science and life? Does it make good common sense? Does it require imaginary components? Can I live with its implications? Does it satisfy my personal need for purpose and hope? Does it lead to a suitable and pragmatic philosophy of life?" (My emphasis)I will admit that at times, this was actually a lot of fun to read (as is most fantasy). But what finally turned me away was the endless denigration of "my" understanding of science and history with the constant references to "his" claims of true history and real events, and use of such snarky asides as "this hypothetical (read imaginary) idea"…as with so many zealots, it is this certainty that ultimately becomes, well, scary.
I remember reading some time ago—and wish I could remember where—something to the effect that "no scientific theory stands on more solid evidentiary ground than the age of the universe, the solar system and the planet Earth. It is backed up by physics, astronomy, cosmology, geology, paleontology, astrophysics, nuclear physics, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, evolution, biology, chemistry, genetics, etc." But on the other hand, if biblical math can prove that there was a "maximum of 2,402 years between creation and the Flood" (which strikes me as oddly specific—although the Flood is hugely important here, as it explains everything from dinosaur extinction and the placement of fossils to the near instantaneous carving of the Grand Canyon), then who am I, a mere mortal—albeit formed fully and independently in the image of God on the sixth day of a literal seven day creation—to argue?
(This edition also includes a CD "PowerPoint presentation that illustrates such key concepts as salt levels in the ocean, the age of the atmosphere, the accumulation of ocean sediments, and much more...," but at least for now, I just don't have the energy.)
April 9, 2012
Geologist John D. Morris writes from a Bible-as-highest-authority point of view. He looks at how scientific evidence may line up with a literal interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis.
November 23, 2025
A NON-TECHNICAL PRESENTATION OF DATA SUPPORTING A “YOUNG EARTH”
John D. Morris (1946-2023) was the President of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) from 1996-2020. He wrote in the Introduction to this 1994 book, “This book represents an outgrowth of my ‘Back to Genesis’ lecture on ‘The Age of the Earth.’ … there seemed to be a need for a book which focused on both the data supporting a young earth and the way data are interpreted… This book does not pretend to be a complete technical treatment on the age of the earth. It hopefully provides a good lay understanding of the general subject… My desire is that all readers will not only learn new information, presented in a non-threatening format, but a new and helpful way to think about the information as well.” (Pg. 9)
He explains, “the Christian/creationist accepts by faith God’s record of creation … if the events in Scripture really happened, we have a chance to reconstruct the specifics of a particular fossil deposit correctly, while those who deny history have no chance at all. They are forever doomed to tell and retell an inferior reconstruction that offends our logic and makes a farce of the present… The Christian should stand in submission to Scripture in every area of life, including science and reconstruction of the past. We must interpret scientific data within the framework given there.” (Pg. 20)
He asserts, “In [Ex 20:8-11], God instructs US to work six days and rest one day because HE worked six days and rested one day… And ‘for’ in verse 11 is usually translated ‘because.’ It too refers back to a REAL historical event. Thus, the days of our REAL work week are equated in duration to the REAL days of creation… Furthermore, when the plural form of ‘yom’ [day] is used, ‘yamim,’ as it is over 700 times in the Old Testament, including Exodus 20:11, it ALWAYS means a literal, solar day. How could God, the Author of Scripture, say it any more plainly? He did it all in six solar days! The passage in Exodus also clears up another mystery. ‘If God is omnipotent… Why did He take six days?’ …. The answer is, to provide a pattern for our work week.” (Pg. 29)
He points out, “Whatever the popular view among secular scientists, some Christians, especially those trained in science, feel they must adopt it, because after all, how could science be wrong?... Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. To the Bible-believing Christian, science must be compatible with Scripture, and so the two are combined somehow… this combination takes the form of theistic evolution, progressive creation, the gap theory, the day-age theory, or the framework hypothesis…. How much better to recognize that Scripture is truth, and that incomplete scientific data must be interpreted within a Scriptural framework. With Scripture as our presuppositional stance, we can do BETTER science, guided by the witness of the Holy Spirit within us… Even then there is no guarantee we will arrive at a full understanding, but at least it keeps the Christian from being held hostage by the changing ‘scientific’ opinion of the day… We shouldn’t be looking to science to ‘prove’ the Bible---the Bible doesn’t need our help… the Bible will interpret itself. We just need to believe it. But if it’s true, the evidence must fit! And that’s the contention of this book.” (Pg. 34)
Of the matter of “distant starlight,” he comments, “if God is capable of creating a star, He is also able to create light… this issue remains a real problem to many Christians, who are willing to accept the creation of a fruit-bearing fruit tree, but cannot conceive of the creation of stars with light already here. But it should be no problem is we understand the nature of God and His creative power. This is not deceptive… but the inevitable result of the creation of a functionally mature creation… we dare not make the error of limiting God to that which we see occurring today… We can study the RESULTS of creation, but we can’t study the actual event of the processes used.” (Pg. 42)
He acknowledges, “the carbon-14 technique DOES have some application in the most recent few thousand years. If the standard assumptions are valid, i.e., that the rate of carbon-14 decay is constant, that there have been no additions or deletions of parent or daughter materials in a specimen, and that the amount of the daughter material present at the start is known, then the method can perhaps tell us something about the dates of HISTORICAL artifacts.” (Pg. 64-65)
He notes, “fossil trees… helps us date the entire sequence and tie at least some of the layers together. If the trees grew in the place in which they are now found… then after the peat had accumulated and the whole area eventually slowly submerged... Consider an exposed tree trunk extending thirty feet up from the bottom of an ocean… Could it remain upright for millions of years, while the mud slowly accumulated around it? Obviously not. Some polystrate trees even intersect more than one coal layer!... Polystrate trees which extend through more than one layer… in effect ‘tie the layers together’ into a short period of time. This period of time can’t be explicitly determined from the data, but it is WHOLLY INCOMPATIBLE with the long-range model normally taught.” (Pg. 100-101)
He states, “the establishment of death as the penalty for sin made it possible for the penalty to be paid by someone else, someone who did not deserve the penalty… But what if evolution and the old earth are true? What if the fossils were deposited long before Adam lived? What if the dinosaurs had become extinct before sin entered creation? Obviously, if death was here before Adam’s sin, then creation had ALREADY been spoiled, and death is NOT the penalty for sin. But if death is NOT the penalty for sin, what possible good would have been accomplished by Christ’s death? You see how the two concepts are incompatible?... The old-earth concepts UNDERMINES Christ’s work of redemption.” (Pg. 132-133)
This book will be of keen interest to those looking for a well-illustrated summary of the “Young Earth” position, and evidence supporting it.
John D. Morris (1946-2023) was the President of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) from 1996-2020. He wrote in the Introduction to this 1994 book, “This book represents an outgrowth of my ‘Back to Genesis’ lecture on ‘The Age of the Earth.’ … there seemed to be a need for a book which focused on both the data supporting a young earth and the way data are interpreted… This book does not pretend to be a complete technical treatment on the age of the earth. It hopefully provides a good lay understanding of the general subject… My desire is that all readers will not only learn new information, presented in a non-threatening format, but a new and helpful way to think about the information as well.” (Pg. 9)
He explains, “the Christian/creationist accepts by faith God’s record of creation … if the events in Scripture really happened, we have a chance to reconstruct the specifics of a particular fossil deposit correctly, while those who deny history have no chance at all. They are forever doomed to tell and retell an inferior reconstruction that offends our logic and makes a farce of the present… The Christian should stand in submission to Scripture in every area of life, including science and reconstruction of the past. We must interpret scientific data within the framework given there.” (Pg. 20)
He asserts, “In [Ex 20:8-11], God instructs US to work six days and rest one day because HE worked six days and rested one day… And ‘for’ in verse 11 is usually translated ‘because.’ It too refers back to a REAL historical event. Thus, the days of our REAL work week are equated in duration to the REAL days of creation… Furthermore, when the plural form of ‘yom’ [day] is used, ‘yamim,’ as it is over 700 times in the Old Testament, including Exodus 20:11, it ALWAYS means a literal, solar day. How could God, the Author of Scripture, say it any more plainly? He did it all in six solar days! The passage in Exodus also clears up another mystery. ‘If God is omnipotent… Why did He take six days?’ …. The answer is, to provide a pattern for our work week.” (Pg. 29)
He points out, “Whatever the popular view among secular scientists, some Christians, especially those trained in science, feel they must adopt it, because after all, how could science be wrong?... Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. To the Bible-believing Christian, science must be compatible with Scripture, and so the two are combined somehow… this combination takes the form of theistic evolution, progressive creation, the gap theory, the day-age theory, or the framework hypothesis…. How much better to recognize that Scripture is truth, and that incomplete scientific data must be interpreted within a Scriptural framework. With Scripture as our presuppositional stance, we can do BETTER science, guided by the witness of the Holy Spirit within us… Even then there is no guarantee we will arrive at a full understanding, but at least it keeps the Christian from being held hostage by the changing ‘scientific’ opinion of the day… We shouldn’t be looking to science to ‘prove’ the Bible---the Bible doesn’t need our help… the Bible will interpret itself. We just need to believe it. But if it’s true, the evidence must fit! And that’s the contention of this book.” (Pg. 34)
Of the matter of “distant starlight,” he comments, “if God is capable of creating a star, He is also able to create light… this issue remains a real problem to many Christians, who are willing to accept the creation of a fruit-bearing fruit tree, but cannot conceive of the creation of stars with light already here. But it should be no problem is we understand the nature of God and His creative power. This is not deceptive… but the inevitable result of the creation of a functionally mature creation… we dare not make the error of limiting God to that which we see occurring today… We can study the RESULTS of creation, but we can’t study the actual event of the processes used.” (Pg. 42)
He acknowledges, “the carbon-14 technique DOES have some application in the most recent few thousand years. If the standard assumptions are valid, i.e., that the rate of carbon-14 decay is constant, that there have been no additions or deletions of parent or daughter materials in a specimen, and that the amount of the daughter material present at the start is known, then the method can perhaps tell us something about the dates of HISTORICAL artifacts.” (Pg. 64-65)
He notes, “fossil trees… helps us date the entire sequence and tie at least some of the layers together. If the trees grew in the place in which they are now found… then after the peat had accumulated and the whole area eventually slowly submerged... Consider an exposed tree trunk extending thirty feet up from the bottom of an ocean… Could it remain upright for millions of years, while the mud slowly accumulated around it? Obviously not. Some polystrate trees even intersect more than one coal layer!... Polystrate trees which extend through more than one layer… in effect ‘tie the layers together’ into a short period of time. This period of time can’t be explicitly determined from the data, but it is WHOLLY INCOMPATIBLE with the long-range model normally taught.” (Pg. 100-101)
He states, “the establishment of death as the penalty for sin made it possible for the penalty to be paid by someone else, someone who did not deserve the penalty… But what if evolution and the old earth are true? What if the fossils were deposited long before Adam lived? What if the dinosaurs had become extinct before sin entered creation? Obviously, if death was here before Adam’s sin, then creation had ALREADY been spoiled, and death is NOT the penalty for sin. But if death is NOT the penalty for sin, what possible good would have been accomplished by Christ’s death? You see how the two concepts are incompatible?... The old-earth concepts UNDERMINES Christ’s work of redemption.” (Pg. 132-133)
This book will be of keen interest to those looking for a well-illustrated summary of the “Young Earth” position, and evidence supporting it.
February 17, 2026
Loved this book. The author lays out the case for a young earth creation in a very succinct and logical manner.
February 8, 2025
I have been very interested in learning the science behind creation lately. I am amazed at all the evidence supporting creation, while proving evolution false, that is revealed in this book.
December 15, 2016
The subject of Creation Science is fascinating & this book is a good introduction. I'm finding I never tire of books, magazines ('Creation Magazine' put out by creation.com; 'Answers In Genesis' by answers genesis.org; 'Acts & Facts' by ice.org), Creation scientists' lectures & DVDs on this matter. Once one has been given information not biased toward the self-destructing 'theory of evolution', but in fact, supporting God's written Word, knowledge does indeed increase. The possibility of chance and/or random occurrences creating the complexities found in every living system, as well as the universe, is unfathomable in reality. I remember studying Physiology in high school & as the human body was presented system by system, while integrating as a whole, proof was given in my mind, of a Creator. Being born again at age 29, and holding now a Biblical worldview, I was drawn to studying Biblical Creationism to better give an informed witness, but more so to understand the complexities of God's work.
The two Laws of Thermodynamics actually support the supernatural creation of all things, with each category of life appearing suddenly, as opposed to millions or billions of years. The 1st Law being that conservation of the matter/energy of the universe can neither be created nor can it be destroyed. Only God can create matter. It can be changed from one form into another, but limited in it's variability by genetic stasis. The adaptation & variations within created kinds are compatible, however, macro-evolution (evolutionary descent from a common ancestor) has never been scientifically observed. In contradiction to evolution's theory that all systems increase in order over time, the 2nd Law of thermodynamics holds that every process, living & otherwise, deteriorates with the passage of time.
God's Word states that creation took place not more than 12,000 years ago and that a worldwide flood restructured the entire world's surface during the Great Flood of Noah's time. 'The Genesis Flood' written by Henry M. Morris & John C. Whitcomb, is an excellent source of information supporting the Genesis Flood account (Bible scholars derive 1,656 years between the creation & the Flood). Catastrophic changes occurred during the deluge of waters springing up from the fountains of the deep, along with unending rain for 40 days & nights (Genesis 7:11-12). Prior to the Flood, the earth's topography was much different, mountains were less pronounced & the oceans shallower. It is believed that the continents separated after the formation of mountain chains & fault systems, as well as sediment deposits (mud to rock). As the ocean basins deepened & widened, water was displaced from land masses. The Great Ice Age followed which consisted of volcanic eruptions and intense storm patterns that most probably lasted for several hundred years until the earth could restabilize. There are common creation legends, as well as common Great Flood legends in multiple cultures around the world. The details have changed, but all recount the judgment of God upon a wicked people with only 8 righteous souls being saved by a boat. The 'evolutionary theory' makes the assumption of uniformity throughout the unobserved past in earth history.
Carbon 14 dating is only applicable to organic materials, not rocks (including fossils which are in sedimentary rock). So the 'proof' of millions/billions of years is insupportable in dating fossils & geologic systems. Other dating methods, using uniformitarian assumptions, do not support the time required to give credibility to an 'old earth' theory.
Please do not judge this book by my poorly explained summary of a fraction of it's highlights. It is readable & exciting to those with limited scientific understanding as well as sophisticated enough for those with a scientific background.
The two Laws of Thermodynamics actually support the supernatural creation of all things, with each category of life appearing suddenly, as opposed to millions or billions of years. The 1st Law being that conservation of the matter/energy of the universe can neither be created nor can it be destroyed. Only God can create matter. It can be changed from one form into another, but limited in it's variability by genetic stasis. The adaptation & variations within created kinds are compatible, however, macro-evolution (evolutionary descent from a common ancestor) has never been scientifically observed. In contradiction to evolution's theory that all systems increase in order over time, the 2nd Law of thermodynamics holds that every process, living & otherwise, deteriorates with the passage of time.
God's Word states that creation took place not more than 12,000 years ago and that a worldwide flood restructured the entire world's surface during the Great Flood of Noah's time. 'The Genesis Flood' written by Henry M. Morris & John C. Whitcomb, is an excellent source of information supporting the Genesis Flood account (Bible scholars derive 1,656 years between the creation & the Flood). Catastrophic changes occurred during the deluge of waters springing up from the fountains of the deep, along with unending rain for 40 days & nights (Genesis 7:11-12). Prior to the Flood, the earth's topography was much different, mountains were less pronounced & the oceans shallower. It is believed that the continents separated after the formation of mountain chains & fault systems, as well as sediment deposits (mud to rock). As the ocean basins deepened & widened, water was displaced from land masses. The Great Ice Age followed which consisted of volcanic eruptions and intense storm patterns that most probably lasted for several hundred years until the earth could restabilize. There are common creation legends, as well as common Great Flood legends in multiple cultures around the world. The details have changed, but all recount the judgment of God upon a wicked people with only 8 righteous souls being saved by a boat. The 'evolutionary theory' makes the assumption of uniformity throughout the unobserved past in earth history.
Carbon 14 dating is only applicable to organic materials, not rocks (including fossils which are in sedimentary rock). So the 'proof' of millions/billions of years is insupportable in dating fossils & geologic systems. Other dating methods, using uniformitarian assumptions, do not support the time required to give credibility to an 'old earth' theory.
Please do not judge this book by my poorly explained summary of a fraction of it's highlights. It is readable & exciting to those with limited scientific understanding as well as sophisticated enough for those with a scientific background.
January 23, 2013
Excellent. So full of valuable information and knowledge which every aspiring Creationist should know. Also, if you are just interested in knowing the origins of the earth and universe in general...this book is for you. The logic is so plain and simple and sticks in your head. I personally enjoy rereading this book over and over and never will tire of reading it.
January 17, 2015
Great! Demonstrates using limiting factors how this Earth cannot be millions or billions of years old, but only thousands! Writing a report on this book won me two college credits with CSE (Dr. Kent Hovind Ph.D.).
September 2, 2025
Geology basics from a Creation viewpoint
November 24, 2012
A great classic!
February 26, 2013
Great intro to Creation Science as well as critical thinking. Highly recommended.
May 27, 2024
I used his peeling potatoes example all the time to explain the flaws in dating the earth.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews