I’m delighted to tell you about a very important upcoming creation conference—and it isn’t being hosted by ICR. As you make summer plans, the 9th International Conference on Creationism (ICC) is worth your strong consideration. It will be hosted by Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, on July 16-19.1
The ICC happens every five years. That scarcity is good because it attracts top creation science researchers from around the world, although if you miss it, you’ll have a long wait until the next one. If you want something different from a lecture, there are usually geological field trips associated with the conference. I believe some have been led in the past by Drs. Tim Clarey, Andrew Snelling, Steve Austin, or Marcus Ross. When the schedule is posted, you’ll recognize the names of some longtime creationist researchers.1
The ICC’s size and scope have made it the foremost creation conference in the world. Its mission is to promote the development and dissemination of positive contributions to a young earth creationist model of origins, as well as to models of Earth history that recognize the reality of the global Flood described in Genesis. So, if you’re interested in learning how creation-based explanations provide better answers for natural phenomena questions, or in networking with other creationists, or even in seeking a collaborative partner to research an idea of your own, then attending the ICC will be time well spent.
ICR Research: Advancing Creation-Affirming Models
We plan to present our latest findings at the ICC. ICR’s biological team has been researching cavefish pigmentation in our new laboratory. Cavefish are not only blind but are also light pink due to reduced skin pigmentation. Evolutionists claim these changes are a “loss of function” due to random mutations. But ICR’s continuous environmental tracking model of adaptation2 hypothesizes that reduced pigmentation is an innate engineered response to make the fish more suitable for life in a cave.
Our preliminary findings show that skin pigments can be purposefully modulated within these fish to fit their environment. There don’t seem to be “broken” biological pathways, and we have observed no deadly struggles to survive. In fact, there’ve been no deaths. The paper ICR will present at the ICC not only challenges the evolutionary icon of “random mutation and natural selection” but showcases the Lord Jesus’ unsurpassed engineering genius to create fish that can thrive in caves.
Researchers from Truett McConnell University, The Master’s University, and I worked to craft an engineering-based model to explain how two independent organisms are able to work together. Evolutionists claim that “coevolution” explains the vast inter-cooperation observed between creatures in ecosystems. Our paper brings a fresh, rational description. We apply to biology the basic engineering principle that for two independent entities to work together, they must be connected by an interface system. Viewing creatures from an engineering perspective leads us to predict that the system the entities use to regulate exchanges will have features corresponding to the elements of a human-engineered interface. 
ICR physicist Dr. Jake Hebert will describe mechanisms that enable organisms to scale proportionately up and down in size due to longevity or as they are exposed to new environments. He’ll present a poster on his Ice Age research as it relates to the Milankovitch theory. ICR geneticist Dr. Jeff Tomkins and geologist Dr. Tim Clarey coauthored a paper that discusses the correlation of the fossil record with the timing of the Flood.
Dr. Clarey will present the latest findings from his extensive research on worldwide borehole analysis. A powerful fact has emerged that some of the same rock layers are found in the same relative order on every continent. This is clear geological evidence of a worldwide flood. He can also infer the timing of Flood events and volumes of deposited sediments.
Civility and Love Amid Diverse Views
ICR’s science staff vigorously advocates for positions that we deem are strongly supported by research and by giving the Bible’s words their normal contextual meaning. In addition, we believe that humility and love were key factors that powered the growth of the creation science movement.3 We try to emulate ICR’s early leaders such as Drs. Henry Morris, Duane Gish, and Gary Parker, who passionately supported their positions and yet fairly evaluated contrary views. Though ICR’s pioneers were often right, that fact never went to their heads. In this, they honored the Lord Jesus. Like them, we want to always let a gracious spirit be our most distinguishing characteristic.
The ICC can pose a challenge to creationists in how we respond when we hear others present ideas that are different—and sometimes radically divergent—from our own positions. At the ICC, the information and opinions span a wide range. Some content is so plainly consistent or inconsistent with biblical truth that it reinforces established positions. Other information is clearly on to something new that creationists might have missed for years. These are good things. When reacting to information that’s new or that we disagree with, we must humbly remember that we “see through a glass darkly” in many areas (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV), but we are still creationists and, foremost, Christians.
A few fundamental and distinctive beliefs unite creation scientists. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. It is inerrant; able to be reliably translated; clearly understandable to humanity; the highest authority; and the avenue to know Christ and His truth. Genesis is real history. We don’t believe that nature is the 67th book of the Bible—even though invisible things of Christ are clearly seen (understood intuitively and through the scientific method) from His workmanship in nature (Romans 1:20).
As such, the Bible provides the definitive framework guiding our scientific studies. We know that the Lord Jesus created the universe in six literal 24-hour days, distinct kinds of biological entities, and humans in God’s image only about 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. The whole world was inundated in a flood. The biblical framework from which creation scientists view natural history is radically different from the secular interpretive frameworks that espouse an ancient universe.
A Creationist Covenant
Humility and love are virtues in short supply in the academic arena. Creation scientists should keenly recognize this deficiency and resolve to be different. In our relationships with other creationists, we need to submit to these biblical admonitions: “These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17). “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10). “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another” (Colossians 3:12-13).
There are also serious warnings about how Christians should not treat “one another,” such as do not bite and devour, envy, provoke (Galatians 5:15, 26), or be puffed up with pride with one another (1 Corinthians 4:6). Thus, creationists should pledge to reject and desist from singling out fellow creationists and dispensing professional sorrow like haughty unbelieving scientists do.
We should specifically refuse to suppress opposing views with such underhanded tactics as ignoring contrary research or killing it through an abusive peer review process; ruining other scientists’ credibility or assassinating their characters by humiliating them in person, blogs, or sham “peer reviewed” papers; weaponizing our literature; engaging in name calling; publicly denouncing or anathematizing them; disrespecting them at meetings; or bringing on professional exile by shunning them at conferences.
From the many illustrations in Leslie Flynn’s book Great Church Fights, it’s plain that there will always be Christians firmly convinced that engaging in shameful behavior to damage other Christians they disagree with (in this case scientifically) is sanctioned by the Lord Jesus to save His church from embarrassment or theological ruin.4 ICR’s pioneers understood that how error is addressed is equally important to actually addressing it. I admire how these founders didn’t come across in a proud, ill-tempered, or dismissive way when they identified errors in the work of other creation scientists and evolutionists.
At ICR, we want to start with a clean slate. We regret and ask forgiveness for our August 2020 issue of Acts & Facts, in which we were condemnatory in our criticism of several fellow creation scientists, misrepresented some of their positions, and called them some names. The author also apologized for his words in a Letters to the Editor section of the Creation Research Society Quarterly. We are truly sorry for the hurt we inflicted and are grieved that others have subsequently picked up on the name calling in our article to aid in new denunciations. We will endeavor to not engage in those behaviors in the future.
Creationists are passionate people by nature. We have a zeal for biblical and scientific truth that is diametrically opposed to the world’s thinking. As creationists, let’s covenant together to reject the world’s methods in how we express disagreement.
This year’s ICC will bring together highly talented creation scientists and laypeople with important knowledge and critical skill sets. Let’s rejoice that Christ will use us to edify other Christians by providing them with answers to the challenges presented by the huge crowd of secular scientists and skeptics who menace His church today. Together, we will strengthen each other as we “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
References
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9th International Conference on Creationism. Hosted by Cedarville University July 16-19, 2023. For more information, visit InternationalConferenceonCreationism.com
- For more information about continuous environmental tracking, visit ICR.org/cet.
- Guliuzza, R. J. 2021. Unity Worthy of Our Creationist Heritage. Acts & Facts. 50 (1): 5-7.
- Flynn, L. B. 1976. Great Church Fights: What the Bible Says about Controversy and How to Resolve It. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
*Dr. Guliuzza is President of the Institute for Creation Research. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Minnesota, his Master of Public Health from Harvard University, and served in the U.S. Air Force as 28th Bomb Wing Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Guliuzza is also a registered Professional Engineer and holds a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute.
