Frank Lewis Marsh
Encyclopedia
Frank Lewis Marsh was an American
biologist, educator and creationist author. In 1963 he was one of the ten founding members of the Creation Research Society
along with well-known creationists such as Henry M. Morris
and Duane Gish
. His papers are kept at Andrews University
, from which Marsh gained a B.A. in 1927 and a B.S in 1929 at what was then Emmanuel Missionary College.
, whose protégé he became. While teaching at an Seventh-day Adventist
school in the Chicago
area Marsh studied advanced biology at the University of Chicago
and in 1935 obtained an M.S. in zoology from Northwestern University
. He joined the faculty of Union College
in Lincoln, Nebraska
, later completing a PhD in botany at the University of Nebraska in 1940.
In his book Fundamental Biology (self-published, 1941) Marsh described himself as a "fundamentalist scientist". He argued that modern human races are degenerate forms of first created man and warned that the living world is the scene of a cosmic struggle between the Creator and Satan
. Marsh claimed that Satan is a "master geneticist" and speculated that almagamation and hybridization are his ways of destroying the original harmony and perfection among living things. Marsh viewed the black skin of Negro
es as one the "abnormalities" engineered in this diabolical way.
In Fundamental Biology Marsh coined the term baramin
for the Genesis "kind", although in Evolution, Creation and Science (1944) Marsh asserted that mankind is the only sure example of a baramin. In the same work Marsh claimed that both creation and evolution
are testable and falsifiable; that special creation
requires less faith to believe in than organic evolution and that a global flood
produced most or all of the geological record.
In Evolution or Special Creation? (1947) Marsh argued for the scientific accuracy of the Bible and concluded: "surely the time is ripe for a return to the fundamentals of true science, the science of creationism
". From the publication of this work onward Marsh avoided mentioning Ellen G. White
, co-founder of Seventh-day Adventism, as he believed such references would repel non-Adventist readers.
In his book Variation and Fixity in Nature (1976) Marsh insisted that all of the evidence for evolution is only evidence for microevolution
. He also developed the hypothesis that baramins are defined by ability to hybidize and claimed that the most basic and well-demonstrated of biological principles is that of limitation of variation. Marsh concluded finally that "The Bible knows nothing about organic evolution. It regards the origin of man by special creation as a historical fact... In view of the subjectivity of the evidence upon which a decision on the matter of origins must be made, creationism and evolutionism should be respected as alternate viewpoints".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biologist, educator and creationist author. In 1963 he was one of the ten founding members of the Creation Research Society
Creation Research Society
The Creation Research Society is a Christian research group that engages in creation science. The organization has produced various publications, including a journal and a creation-based biology textbook...
along with well-known creationists such as Henry M. Morris
Henry M. Morris
Henry Madison Morris was an American young earth creationist and Christian apologist. He was one of the founders of the Creation Research Society and the Institute for Creation Research...
and Duane Gish
Duane Gish
Duane Tolbert Gish is an American biochemist and a prominent member of the creationist movement. Gish is a former vice-president of the Institute for Creation Research and the author of numerous publications on the subject of creation science. Gish has been called "creationism's T.H...
. His papers are kept at Andrews University
Andrews University
Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
, from which Marsh gained a B.A. in 1927 and a B.S in 1929 at what was then Emmanuel Missionary College.
Biography
In his youth, Marsh desired to become a physician, but lacked the financial means so became first a nurse, then a teacher instead. He studied geology at Emmanuel Missionary College under George McCready PriceGeorge McCready Price
George McCready Price was a Canadian creationist. He produced several anti-evolution and creationist works, particularly on the subject of flood geology...
, whose protégé he became. While teaching at an Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
school in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area Marsh studied advanced biology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and in 1935 obtained an M.S. in zoology from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He joined the faculty of Union College
Union College (Nebraska)
Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska is a four-year coeducational college owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Midwest. It opened in 1891.T.R.M...
in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, later completing a PhD in botany at the University of Nebraska in 1940.
In his book Fundamental Biology (self-published, 1941) Marsh described himself as a "fundamentalist scientist". He argued that modern human races are degenerate forms of first created man and warned that the living world is the scene of a cosmic struggle between the Creator and Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
. Marsh claimed that Satan is a "master geneticist" and speculated that almagamation and hybridization are his ways of destroying the original harmony and perfection among living things. Marsh viewed the black skin of Negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
es as one the "abnormalities" engineered in this diabolical way.
In Fundamental Biology Marsh coined the term baramin
Baraminology
Baraminology is a creationist taxonomic system that classifies animals into groups called "created kinds" or "baramins" according to the account of creation in the book of Genesis and other parts of the Bible. It claims that kinds cannot interbreed and have no evolutionary relationship to one another...
for the Genesis "kind", although in Evolution, Creation and Science (1944) Marsh asserted that mankind is the only sure example of a baramin. In the same work Marsh claimed that both creation and evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
are testable and falsifiable; that special creation
Special creation
In Creationism, special creation is a theological doctrine which states that the universe and all life in it originated by unconditional fiat or divine decree....
requires less faith to believe in than organic evolution and that a global flood
Flood geology
Flood geology is the interpretation of the geological history of the Earth in terms of the global flood described in Genesis 6–9. Similar views played a part in the early development of the science of geology, even after the Biblical chronology had been rejected by geologists in favour of an...
produced most or all of the geological record.
In Evolution or Special Creation? (1947) Marsh argued for the scientific accuracy of the Bible and concluded: "surely the time is ripe for a return to the fundamentals of true science, the science of creationism
Creation science
Creation Science or scientific creationism is a branch of creationism that attempts to provide scientific support for the Genesis creation narrative in the Book of Genesis and disprove generally accepted scientific facts, theories and scientific paradigms about the history of the Earth, cosmology...
". From the publication of this work onward Marsh avoided mentioning Ellen G. White
Ellen G. White
Ellen Gould White was a prolific author and an American Christian pioneer. She, along with other Sabbatarian Adventist leaders, such as Joseph Bates and her husband James White, would form what is now known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Ellen White reported to her fellow believers her...
, co-founder of Seventh-day Adventism, as he believed such references would repel non-Adventist readers.
In his book Variation and Fixity in Nature (1976) Marsh insisted that all of the evidence for evolution is only evidence for microevolution
Microevolution
Microevolution is the changes in allele frequencies that occur over time within a population. This change is due to four different processes: mutation, selection , gene flow, and genetic drift....
. He also developed the hypothesis that baramins are defined by ability to hybidize and claimed that the most basic and well-demonstrated of biological principles is that of limitation of variation. Marsh concluded finally that "The Bible knows nothing about organic evolution. It regards the origin of man by special creation as a historical fact... In view of the subjectivity of the evidence upon which a decision on the matter of origins must be made, creationism and evolutionism should be respected as alternate viewpoints".
See also
- Creation biology
- Creation-evolution controversyCreation-evolution controversyThe creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
- Flood geologyFlood geologyFlood geology is the interpretation of the geological history of the Earth in terms of the global flood described in Genesis 6–9. Similar views played a part in the early development of the science of geology, even after the Biblical chronology had been rejected by geologists in favour of an...
- Pre-AdamitePre-AdamitePre-Adamite hypothesis or Preadamism is the religious belief that humans existed before Adam, the first human being named in the Bible. This belief has a long history, probably having its origins in early pagan responses to Abrahamic claims regarding the origins of the human race.Advocates of this...
- Young Earth creationismYoung Earth creationismYoung Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...