In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood

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[ The Fountains of the Great Deep > The Origin of the Grand Canyon > Evaluation of Evidence vs. Proposals ]

Evaluation of Evidence vs. Proposals

Table 6 summarizes how well each of nine proposals explains the many strange features of the Grand Canyon. Each column corresponds to a proposal, and each row represents evidence requiring an explanation. A green circle means that, in my opinion, the column’s proposal reasonably explains that row’s diagnostic detail. Yellow and red circles indicate moderate and serious problems, respectively. Numbers in Table 6 refer to additional information below.

Readers should make their own judgments and independently assess each proposal’s plausibility. For example, if you feel that a detail or proposal has been omitted or misstated, modify the table. This approach focuses future discussions on areas of critical disagreement. It also helps keep all details and competing views in mind, encouraging balance and thoroughness. Sometimes a disagreement over one detail becomes moot when one recognizes other facts that oppose a proposal. Often, when a theory is presented, only the details supporting it and opposing competing views are mentioned. Table 6 contrasts the best-known published proposals with all the "Evidence Requiring an Explanation" beginning on page 220.

Table 6. Evidence vs. Proposals for the Origin of the Grand Canyon
		Proposals
		Brown (Hydroplate) 1989		Powell 1869		Gilbert 1875		Emmons 1897		Blackwelder 1934		McKee 1964		Hunt 1976		Lucchitta 1978		Meek/ Douglass 2000
Evidence to Be Explained	Layering		1		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Limestone		2		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Why Here?		3		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Why So Relatively Recent?		4		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Forces, Energy, and Mechanisms		3		20		28		37		45		54		63		72		81
	Marble Canyon		5		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Side Canyons		6		19		27		36		44		53		62		71		80
	Barbed Canyons		6		19		27		36		44		53		62		71		80
	Distant Cavern Connection		6		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Slot Canyons		8		19		27		36		44		53		62		71		80
	Missing Mesozoic Rock		9		22		31		38		46		57		64		74		83
	Perpendicular Faults		10		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Arching		10		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Inner Gorge		10		18		26g		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Missing River		11		21		29		39				55		65		75
	Missing Talus		12		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Colorado Plateau		8		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Kaibab Plateau		12				30						56				73		82
	Unusual Erosion		13		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Nankoweap Canyon		13		18		26		35		43		52		61		70		79
	Missing Dirt		14		21		29		39						65		75
	California’s Imperial Sand Dunes		14		21		29		39						65		75
	Fossils		1		23		32		40		47		58		66		76		84
	Tipped Layers below Unconformity		15		24		33		41		48		59		67		77		85
	Time or Intensity?		16		25		34		42		49		60		68		78		86
	Other		17								50–51				69				87–


Key:		The proposal explains this item.
		The proposal has moderate problems with this item.
		The proposal has serious problems with this item.
Numbers in this table refer to amplifying information on pages 232–241.