Leonard R. Brand
Encyclopedia
Leonard Brand is a Seventh-day Adventist young earth creationist, biologist
, paleontologist
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
campus.
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
and Angel Island
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
of California chipmunk
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
's Coconino Sandstone
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding evolution
and sociobiology
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
, paleontologist
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
campus.
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
and Angel Island
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
of California chipmunk
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
's Coconino Sandstone
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding evolution
and sociobiology
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
, paleontologist
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
campus.
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
and Angel Island
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
of California chipmunk
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
's Coconino Sandstone
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding evolution
and sociobiology
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has recognized Brand as a thought leader in matters of science and origins since the early 1970s. He has served on the SDA church's science council from 1976 to 2003. He oversaw the development of the church's earth sciences program at Loma Linda University. He has taught science methodology in regional church conference and has explained creationist concepts to students in public colleges.
In the area of doctrinal apologetics, Brand has published a book in response to the major critics of church founder Ellen G. White
.
In 1978, church leaders approved Loma Linda University's Department of Biology masters program in earth history. As head of the department, Brand explained the rationale for the program,
In 2005, Don S. McMahon, an Australian medical specialist, and Leonard Brand co-authored the book, The prophet and her critics. It was published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association
. The core issue treated in their book is Ellen White's writings on health. In the first four chapters, Brand reports on the earlier research of Ron Numbers on health (1976), Jon Butler on prophetic fulfilment (1979) and Walter Rea on literary relationships (1982). He proposes that these earlier research studies should be examined for their use of logic, interpretation of data, and whether they had good research designs.
Numbers reports,
He severely criticises both of McMahon's books:
Thesis
Books
Journals
Presentations (California State Board of Education hearing re: including creation as a theory of origins along with evolution.)
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, paleontologist
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
Trace fossil
Trace fossils, also called ichnofossils , are geological records of biological activity. Trace fossils may be impressions made on the substrate by an organism: for example, burrows, borings , urolites , footprints and feeding marks, and root cavities...
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association...
campus.
Scientific research
Brand began his scientific career in the study of small mammals. In 1968, Brand and Raymond Ryckman studied the systematicsSystematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
Cactus Mouse
The Cactus Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found in Mexico and the United States....
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo Mouse
The San Lorenzo Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is known only from the islands of San Lorenzo Norte, San Lorenzo Sur, and Salsipuedes off the east coast of Baja California. The species is threatened by predation by feral and domestic cats,...
and Angel Island
Angel Island Mouse
The Angel Island mouse or La Guarda deermouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is historically known only from the island of Ángel de la Guarda, and nearby islets. The species is believed to be extirpated from the three smaller islands, and may be...
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
Animal communication
Animal communication is any behavior on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. The study of animal communication, is sometimes called Zoosemiotics has played an important part in the...
of California chipmunk
California Chipmunk
The California chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is found in Baja California, Mexico and in southern California in the United States....
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
Taphonomy
Taphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and how they become fossilized . The term taphonomy was introduced to paleontology in 1940 by Russian scientist Ivan Efremov to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the...
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
Diatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
Ichnology
Ichnology is the branch of geology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as burrows and footprints. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces...
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
's Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone is a geologic formation named after its exposure in Coconino County, Arizona. This formation spreads across the Colorado Plateau province of the United States, including northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, Nevada, and Utah....
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding 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...
and sociobiology
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
- tracks demonstrating various running gaits impossible under water, at various angles to the slope;
- tracks made by many forms of invertebrates which would not leave prolific underwater tracks, including some which could only be made on completely dry sand; and
- raindrop impressions.
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Creationism
On November 9, 1972, the California State Board of Education held hearings to examine creation science. Leonard Brand, along with Loma Linda University colleague Ariel Roth, made presentations. Brand contended that creationist views are misunderstood in that creationists also believe in evolution of species within the major groups of plants and animals. The evidence for this is very good, he said. They "have no argument with experimental evidence." In conclusion, he stated that students in California schools should be allowed to hear both theories and to make up their own minds.Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
Creation-evolution controversy
The creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
Young Earth creationism
Young 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...
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross is an American vertebrate paleontologist and young earth creationist. Ross was featured in a February 2007 New York Times article about the conflict between his young Earth creationist beliefs and his doctoral dissertation...
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
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...
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
Seventh-day Adventist church
Leonard Brand is a Seventh-day Adventist young earth creationist, biologistBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, paleontologist
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
Trace fossil
Trace fossils, also called ichnofossils , are geological records of biological activity. Trace fossils may be impressions made on the substrate by an organism: for example, burrows, borings , urolites , footprints and feeding marks, and root cavities...
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association...
campus.
Scientific research
Brand began his scientific career in the study of small mammals. In 1968, Brand and Raymond Ryckman studied the systematicsSystematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
Cactus Mouse
The Cactus Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found in Mexico and the United States....
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo Mouse
The San Lorenzo Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is known only from the islands of San Lorenzo Norte, San Lorenzo Sur, and Salsipuedes off the east coast of Baja California. The species is threatened by predation by feral and domestic cats,...
and Angel Island
Angel Island Mouse
The Angel Island mouse or La Guarda deermouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is historically known only from the island of Ángel de la Guarda, and nearby islets. The species is believed to be extirpated from the three smaller islands, and may be...
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
Animal communication
Animal communication is any behavior on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. The study of animal communication, is sometimes called Zoosemiotics has played an important part in the...
of California chipmunk
California Chipmunk
The California chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is found in Baja California, Mexico and in southern California in the United States....
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
Taphonomy
Taphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and how they become fossilized . The term taphonomy was introduced to paleontology in 1940 by Russian scientist Ivan Efremov to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the...
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
Diatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
Ichnology
Ichnology is the branch of geology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as burrows and footprints. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces...
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
's Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone is a geologic formation named after its exposure in Coconino County, Arizona. This formation spreads across the Colorado Plateau province of the United States, including northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, Nevada, and Utah....
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding 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...
and sociobiology
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
- tracks demonstrating various running gaits impossible under water, at various angles to the slope;
- tracks made by many forms of invertebrates which would not leave prolific underwater tracks, including some which could only be made on completely dry sand; and
- raindrop impressions.
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Creationism
On November 9, 1972, the California State Board of Education held hearings to examine creation science. Leonard Brand, along with Loma Linda University colleague Ariel Roth, made presentations. Brand contended that creationist views are misunderstood in that creationists also believe in evolution of species within the major groups of plants and animals. The evidence for this is very good, he said. They "have no argument with experimental evidence." In conclusion, he stated that students in California schools should be allowed to hear both theories and to make up their own minds.Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
Creation-evolution controversy
The creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
Young Earth creationism
Young 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...
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross is an American vertebrate paleontologist and young earth creationist. Ross was featured in a February 2007 New York Times article about the conflict between his young Earth creationist beliefs and his doctoral dissertation...
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
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...
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
Seventh-day Adventist church
Leonard Brand is a Seventh-day Adventist young earth creationist, biologistBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, paleontologist
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, and author. He is the Chair Professor of Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.
As a Creationist, he teaches interventionism, a view of history that holds that there is intelligent intervention in history. His desire for respectful dialogue has been welcomed by advocates on both sides of the creation–evolution controversy. He challenges his fellow creationists to use caution when making scientific claims.
As a research scientist, his findings are published in various peer-reviewed journals
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
. His most widely debated research was regarding fossil tracks
Trace fossil
Trace fossils, also called ichnofossils , are geological records of biological activity. Trace fossils may be impressions made on the substrate by an organism: for example, burrows, borings , urolites , footprints and feeding marks, and root cavities...
at the Grand Canyon. He has a PhD in biology from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, received in 1970 when working for LLU La Sierra
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association...
campus.
Scientific research
Brand began his scientific career in the study of small mammals. In 1968, Brand and Raymond Ryckman studied the systematicsSystematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of deer mice (specifically the mainland cactus mouse
Cactus Mouse
The Cactus Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found in Mexico and the United States....
and two related species isolated to nearby islands, the San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo Mouse
The San Lorenzo Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is known only from the islands of San Lorenzo Norte, San Lorenzo Sur, and Salsipuedes off the east coast of Baja California. The species is threatened by predation by feral and domestic cats,...
and Angel Island
Angel Island Mouse
The Angel Island mouse or La Guarda deermouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is historically known only from the island of Ángel de la Guarda, and nearby islets. The species is believed to be extirpated from the three smaller islands, and may be...
mice. This was also the topic of Brand's masters. They confirmed the accepted taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of these species, and showed that these species are still able to interbreed.
Starting in 1970, Brand reported on the tree nests and vocalisations
Animal communication
Animal communication is any behavior on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. The study of animal communication, is sometimes called Zoosemiotics has played an important part in the...
of California chipmunk
California Chipmunk
The California chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is found in Baja California, Mexico and in southern California in the United States....
s. This was also his PhD topic. Along with many other scientists, his reported methodologies and observations have added to the accumulating scientific knowledge of these mammals.
From 1999, the fossil remains of hundreds of whales (including the "Leviathan") were discovered as part of the Pisco formation in Peru. Brand and his associates studied the taphonomy
Taphonomy
Taphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and how they become fossilized . The term taphonomy was introduced to paleontology in 1940 by Russian scientist Ivan Efremov to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the...
of these well-articulated skeletons, and concluded that the burial of the whales in diatom
Diatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
sediment had been a very rapid event.
In 2000, Brand et al have conducted field research on fossil turtles in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. He has also been involved in taphonomy experiments using modern animal carcasses, particularly intended to aid understanding of the features of fossil turtles.
In the field of ichnology
Ichnology
Ichnology is the branch of geology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as burrows and footprints. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces...
, Brand, along with Thu Tang, Andrew Snelling, and Steven Austin has proposed that fossil tracks in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
's Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone
Coconino Sandstone is a geologic formation named after its exposure in Coconino County, Arizona. This formation spreads across the Colorado Plateau province of the United States, including northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, Nevada, and Utah....
point to underwater deposition, rather than desert wind deposition of dry sand. Brand and Tang studied western newts walking on sand under 4 cm of flowing water in an aquarium tank. By analogy, they concluded that at least part of the Coconino Sandstone was deposited under water. This hypothesis has been criticized by geologists who interpret evidence supporting sub-aerial formation.
Geologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
describe's Brand's Salamander trackway study as "seriously flawed" and notes that Brand links the underwater tracks theory to the idea that the whole Grand Canyon was entirely formed by a catastrophic, biblical-style flood, a view which Lockley calls geologically naive and disingenuous. He criticizes Brand's book, Faith, Reason and Earth History, for "leaving out any discussion of the objections published by geologists to his interpretation." Lockley praises Brand for admitting that creationists have made mistakes and that science-bashing can be counter-productive, for advocating respectful engagement, and for raising some thought-provoking philosophical questions regarding 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...
and sociobiology
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
.
A number of studies have found evidence contradicting Brand and Tang's conclusions and Lockley and Hunt's 1995 book Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States suggests an alternative explanation with the tracks being made in air by extinct mammal-like reptiles called caseids. Inconsistencies that contradict the underwater hypothesis include:
- tracks demonstrating various running gaits impossible under water, at various angles to the slope;
- tracks made by many forms of invertebrates which would not leave prolific underwater tracks, including some which could only be made on completely dry sand; and
- raindrop impressions.
Apart from the controversy, his observations of underwater foot prints have been cited in peer-reviewed journals.
In his report on laboratory controlled simulations of dinosaur footprints in sand, Simon J. Jackson cites eight scientists, including Brand. He says,
Brand has also been involved in research not published in mainstream scientific journals. In 1970 Berney Neufeld, Brand and Art Chadwick studied the controversial Paluxy tracks and, contrary to many creationists at that time, concluded that those tracks did not provide valid evidence for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
Creationism
On November 9, 1972, the California State Board of Education held hearings to examine creation science. Leonard Brand, along with Loma Linda University colleague Ariel Roth, made presentations. Brand contended that creationist views are misunderstood in that creationists also believe in evolution of species within the major groups of plants and animals. The evidence for this is very good, he said. They "have no argument with experimental evidence." In conclusion, he stated that students in California schools should be allowed to hear both theories and to make up their own minds.Leonard Brand has authored two books on the creation-evolution controversy
Creation-evolution controversy
The creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
, Faith, Reason and Earth History (1997, 2nd Ed. 2009) and Beginnings (2007). Both are published in English as well as in Spanish, and the former is also published in Portuguese.
Ichnologist Martin Lockley
Martin Lockley
Dr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
wrote a scathing review of FREH, accusing Brand of unscrupulousness and ignorance. He said the book "shows us, on the one hand, a very curious mix of what appear to be a few genuine attempts, by creationists, to do good science, or at least better science than they have done in the past, and, on the other hand, what appear to be quite ridiculous and extraordinarily naive interpretations of classic geological localities such as the Grand Canyon."
Young Earth Creationists
Young Earth creationism
Young 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...
include Leonard Brand among their leaders. They often cite his field and lab research as evidence for the biblical flood. Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross
Marcus R. Ross is an American vertebrate paleontologist and young earth creationist. Ross was featured in a February 2007 New York Times article about the conflict between his young Earth creationist beliefs and his doctoral dissertation...
of Liberty University includes Brand's Faith, Reason and Earth's History in a short list of "well-researched YEC writings on geology." These "excellent sources" include Steven Austin, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
, Leonard Brand and Andrew Snelling. In August, 2008, Brand gave the keynote address at the Seventh Creation Biology Study Groups Conference entitled “Origins Research: A Better Worldview Yields Better Research Questions.”
Brand participates in the creation–evolution controversy less confrontationally than many creationists. Young and Stearley, two Christian geologists who disagree with Brand's young earth views, state that he, along with Ariel Roth and some other recent flood geology
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...
advocates "have a much more irenic and moderate tone that provides a welcome contrast to the sarcastic, sometimes disrespectful tone and unwarrantedly dogmatic pronouncements of earlier creationists." In a forward to Brand's book, Faith Reason and Earth History, Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
applauds the book for breaking free from the "science-bashing spirit" prevalent in creationist literature. Lockley suggests that Brand is "writing for people of faith" and that his more sympathetic approach may have a greater impact in "educat[ing] creationists to a scientific way of thinking" than the more confrontational approach of many anti-creationists.
Brand argues for integrity in creationist arguments, against using material that is full of errors and writing "without having the scientific training to match their zeal."
In his PhD dissertation, Thomas McIvor reports that:
Brand distinguishes between scientific data and presuppositions:
Brand teaches that his biblical views help him propose questions for research. On page 8 of his book, Beginnings, he states,
Seventh-day Adventist church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has recognized Brand as a thought leader in matters of science and origins since the early 1970s. He has served on the SDA church's science council from 1976 to 2003. He oversaw the development of the church's earth sciences program at Loma Linda University. He has taught science methodology in regional church conference and has explained creationist concepts to students in public colleges.
In the area of doctrinal apologetics, Brand has published a book in response to the major critics of church founder 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...
.
In 1978, church leaders approved Loma Linda University's Department of Biology masters program in earth history. As head of the department, Brand explained the rationale for the program,
In 2005, Don S. McMahon, an Australian medical specialist, and Leonard Brand co-authored the book, The prophet and her critics. It was published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association
Pacific Press Publishing Association
The Pacific Press Publishing Association, or Pacific Press for short, is one of two major Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses in North America. It was founded in 1874 by James White in Oakland, California, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho. Its titles include theological works as well as...
. The core issue treated in their book is Ellen White's writings on health. In the first four chapters, Brand reports on the earlier research of Ron Numbers on health (1976), Jon Butler on prophetic fulfilment (1979) and Walter Rea on literary relationships (1982). He proposes that these earlier research studies should be examined for their use of logic, interpretation of data, and whether they had good research designs.
Numbers reports,
He severely criticises both of McMahon's books:
Publications
Thesis
Books
Journals
Presentations (California State Board of Education hearing re: including creation as a theory of origins along with evolution.)
See also
- CreationismCreationismCreationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
- 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...
- 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...
- PaleobiologyPaleobiologyPaleobiology is a growing and comparatively new discipline which combines the methods and findings of the natural science biology with the methods and findings of the earth science paleontology...
- TaphonomyTaphonomyTaphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and how they become fossilized . The term taphonomy was introduced to paleontology in 1940 by Russian scientist Ivan Efremov to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the...
- MammalogyMammalogyIn zoology, mammalogy is the study of mammals – a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems...
- IchnologyIchnologyIchnology is the branch of geology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as burrows and footprints. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces...
- Martin LockleyMartin LockleyDr. Martin G. Lockley is an English paleontologist specializing in dinosaur tracks. He is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Denver, in the United States, and founder and director of the Dinosaur Trackers Research Group.-Biography:...
- Man Track Controversy
- Coconino SandstoneCoconino SandstoneCoconino Sandstone is a geologic formation named after its exposure in Coconino County, Arizona. This formation spreads across the Colorado Plateau province of the United States, including northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, Nevada, and Utah....
External links
- Leonard Brand's Faculty Page
- Publications of Leonard Brand
- Taphonomy of fossil turtles and microvertebrates, and sedimentology, of the Eocene Bridger Formation, Wyoming
- Preservation of Baleen Whales in Southern Peru
- Time, faith, and fossil whales, creationist article (2006)
- A Creationist Walk Through the Grand Canyon, evolutionist article (1987)
- Insights from hindsight: resolving seeming conflicts of science and Scripture by Leonard Brand, August 16, 2011.
- Should we use animals in Adventist schools? (1994)
- The Religion of Science: The Largest Remaining Frontier. Why Exporting the Age of the Earth Controversy is a Bad Idea}}
- National Center for Science Education. Ten Major Court Cases about Evolution and Creationism