No 24

(Catastrophism)
This word is relatively new in science and it stands for the theory that certain geological and biological phenomena were caused by catastrophes instead of continued and uniform processes; by catastrophes we mean, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and wind. We have all seen with our own eyes or on television the devastation that occurs whenever one of these natural calamities takes place. Whole villages are wiped out of existence in a matter of minutes. On the North American continent, the most devastating occurrence of one of these was the eruption of Mount St Helens on May 18 1980 in Washington state. A friend of mine just happened to be on vacation in that area when it occurred. He woke up the next morning with 6 inches of volcanic ash on his car; it was incredible. In a matter of hours, the eruption destroyed trees equivalent to the lumber required to build 450,000 houses. Millions of tons rock were displaced as if the mountain were a sand castle. Wildlife by the thousands was destroyed. This was a catastrophe of gargantuan proportion.

Also in North America, we find the Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona through which the Colorado River passes. For centuries, scientists said the canyon was formed over millions of years by the action of the Colorado River passing through it; since Mount St Helens, they now say differently. Why? Six months after the St Helens eruption, the Toutle River in the valley below the volcano formed a mini Grand Canyon with the same strata and the same zigzagging effect as in the real Grand Canyon. Why should Christians be interested in all this? Because it is more proof that the earth is young, that we did not evolve from animals, that God created everything in six literal days; basically, it gives proof that the Bible is true. In Psalm 104:31, 32 we read “The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.” God’s omnipotent power allows these natural calamities to occur.