Twins Provide Peek into Mankind's Origin www.icr.org

NEWS     CREATION SCIENCE UPDATE     ALL PEOPLE DESCENDED RECENTLY FROM A SINGLE FAMILY    

Twins Provide Peek into Mankind's Origin

BY BRIAN THOMAS, PH.D. *  | 

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

Lucy and Maria Aylmer are 18-year-old twins from the United Kingdom. They were born on the same day from the same mother, yet one has light skin and hair, and the other has dark skin and dark, curlier hair. Lucy told the New York Post, "No one ever believes we are twins because I am white and Maria is black."¹ Strictly speaking, nobody is literally black or white, but their unique story illustrates how the diversity of human traits now found around the world could have arisen suddenly in Noah's offspring.

Although these twins' individual styles may accentuate their differences, their light and dark skin tones remarkably contrast. Their three siblings, however, have mid-tone skins—colors between either twin. When asked about their siblings' skin tone on Good Morning Britain, Lucy replied, "They're all quite in-between me and Maria as like opposite ends of the spectrum."²
Human skin tones do fit a spectrum, not simple, separate categories of black or white. Those whose skin bears more melanin appear darker, those with less melanin look medium-toned, and those with very little melanin appear lighter. And the genetic differences between any two people on the planet, regardless of skin tone, amount to a paltry 0.1 percent. Maria and Lucy help show why the concept of "race" has no real genetic basis. Our differences are mostly cultural.
Instead of "races," the Bible talks about peoples belonging to different nations or language groups. And people from different places can look quite different. How did these differences arise? Paul, speaking in Acts 17:26, said, "He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth."
His declaration mirrors a key phrase found in Genesis 10:32, "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." So, from beginning to end, the Bible consistently explains how all nations descended from the "one blood" that flowed through Noah's veins.
If that's true, then how could all the trait variations we see around the world have arisen from just one man? Those who ask this question often assume that Noah looked like one of today's distinct people groups, which would not make sense. For example, if Noah were Asian, he probably would not have the genetic information for African or other people groups' features. Contrary to this notion, Noah and his wife's DNA must have carried trait information whose combinations resulted in a diverse assortment of features within their descendants. Distinct families then disbanded from Babel to the world.
Nowadays, when two members of different-looking nations or groups marry, they reunite the genetic information responsible for their trait differences. The combination can show up in wonderfully diverse ways in their children. The Aylmer family shows this. Though Mr. Aylmer has a European ancestry, his wife is half Jamaican, and they have children with a variety of skin tones.
So, could all the human-trait differences have arisen in just those five generations between Noah and the Tower of Babel dispersion? Since Lucy and Maria's trait variations occurred in just one generation, the answer seems to be an enthusiastic yes.

Population Growth Matches Bible and DNA Clock www,icr.org

BY JEFFREY P. TOMKINS, PH.D.  | 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020

According to detailed biblical chronologies and genealogies, the global Flood recorded in Genesis that wiped out humanity occurred about 4,500 years ago.^1,2 Then the earth was repopulated by Noah’s three sons and their three wives. As I reported a couple months ago, a research project was just published that used high quality DNA sequence data to develop a human Y-chromosome genetic clock that matches up perfectly with the Bible’s timeline of modern human origins.^3,4

Now, the same researcher has shown that human population growth curves over the past few thousand years match up with both the new Y-chromosome data and biblical event chronology.⁵

The majority of evolutionary speculation alleges that modern humans didn’t arise until our ancestors migrated out of Africa between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago. However, a number of secular and creationist research studies analyzing a variety of DNA clocks have indicated a far shorter time-scale of not more than 5,000 to 10,000 years.^6-9 And a new more precise human Y-chromosome DNA study demonstrates that not only are the previous studies vindicated in their short time predictions, the Bible’s timeline of the global Flood appears to be spot on. In fact, the researcher in the study empirically showed that only about 4,500 years of mutations have accumulated in the DNA record of the human Y chromosome. If mankind has been around for 100,000 to 200,000 years, we should’ve accumulated between 8-59 times the number of mutations actually observed.⁴

But what about human population growth? Does it match up with these Bible-based timelines and the new genetic data? As it turns out, secular scientists and creationists generally agree on the basic events and population growth models for the past 3,000 years. But when dates get beyond this, there are discrepancies in their models.

Creationist researcher, Nathaniel Jeanson, determined to see how population growth would match up with splits in lineages in Y-chromosome genetic clock data.⁵ This was possible because this type of genetic data can be analyzed in a tree-like structure. Along this line of reasoning, a biblical timescale predicts that the last 4,500 years of human population growth should be reflected in the branching events of human lineages in the Y chromosome tree data—not just in the lineages represented in the “tips” of the tree. And quite interestingly, the population growth and Y-chromosome data also appear to fit well with specific shifts in population structure in ancient history such as the global famine described during the Bible patriarch Joseph’s life as a ruler in Egypt, as described in the in the later chapters of Genesis. A global famine would dramatically stunt population growth and be detected in genetic branch analyses.

In regards to the importance of these new results, Jeanson told ICR staff,

This adds a second, independent line of evidence to confirm the recent origin of the human race. It preemptively rebuts evolutionary attempts to circumvent the first line of evidence, and it strengthens the initial creationist conclusions.

In summarizing the key challenge this new research presents to the secular science community, Jeanson stated,

It’s been interesting to watch the evolutionists react to these new findings. Or, I should say, fail to react to them. I watched one evolutionist vigorously object online to the first finding, citing a “problem” that I obviously missed. Turns out that the “problem” was the subject of the entire second paper—a paper which showed the “problem” not only had been solved, it had also made evolutionary responses all the more difficult to invoke. No wonder he had no comment about the second paper. It really turns the tables on this debate, putting creationists on the offensive and evolutionists on the defensive.

Indeed, this new study, isn’t only a sound refutation of evolutionary speculation, but a strong confirmation for mankind’s recent origins.

40 Pakistani Christians freed after almost 5 years in prison on trial for ‘terrorism’ www.worldwatchmonitor.org

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 January 30, 2020 By Julia Bicknell Pakistanchurch, Lahore, suicide bombs, Taliban, Youhanabad

Location near where a mob burnt alive two men in angry reaction to twin church suicide bomb attacks in Youhanabad, March 2015. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Forty Pakistani Christians, who’ve been on trial for the murder of two men during a violent protest following Easter suicide attacks on two churches in Youhanabad – a majority-Christian area in Lahore – have been freed by the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court. Two others, arrested with them, have already died, allegedly due to a lack of access to medical treatment.

The twin suicide bombings, on 15 March 2015, which killed 17 and injured another 80, were claimed by a splinter group of the Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The death toll would have been much higher if church volunteers on ‘security duty’ had not acted quickly to defend worshippers.

In riots that erupted following the bomb blasts, a mob killed two Muslim men whom they believed had been involved in the attacks. In the end 42 Christians went on trial for their murder, but two died in prison before 2018. The other 40 have been waiting for their appeal to be heard by the Lahore High Court. Meantime, the group have reached a financial settlement with the families of the two men, which under Pakistani law allows for all their acquittal.

The Anti-Terrorism Court announced the verdict on 29 January, acquitting all, including those who had died, after recording the statements of the victims’ families, who told the court that they had arrived at an agreement with the suspects and would have no objections over their acquittal.

A local reacted: “As we give thanks as Christians in Pakistan, one cannot get away from the brutal realities of what this means. The journey of physical, emotional and spiritual healing ahead is a long one. Pray for the right people to be positioned alongside them.

“We also reflect on the lives and deaths of the two [who died in prison]. If they had not, the release of the 40 would not have happened. Their deaths acted as catalysts and became an advocacy bridge for pushing for action and justice”.

Background

In 2015, the Christians of Yohanabad had been angry in the immediate aftermath of the twin suicide attacks on their churches because in 2014, Pakistan’s Supreme Court had ordered the creation of a special police force to protect minority worship places – but this had been later scrapped. Punjab Human Rights and Minority Affairs Minister, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, had said “there was no need of raising another force for this purpose” because the protection of worship places “was quite satisfactory in the Punjab and reasonable security was being provided”.

Napoleon Qayyum, who lived 100 yards from one of the bombed churches, said police were not providing security to the church: “The local police station had been requested to provide a walk-through gate for security, but no such measure was put in place.”

A Catholic nun, Sister Arsene, who had reached one church 30 minutes after it had been bombed, tried to explain to the BBC why the subsequent anger had spilled out of control. “We’re treated as second class citizens. We’d like the government to give Christians our due place and due right. That’s why the angry youths reacted.”

At the time, there were conflicting reports about the two men set upon by the angry mob. Some reports said the two carried weapons, other reports said they had been firing them.

The two, who had been arrested and put into a police vehicle, were apparently forced out of the vehicle, beaten up and eventually burned alive on Ferozepur Road. Some social media reported they were suspects thought to have attacked the churches. Other reports said they were, separately, planning to attack another small church in Khaliqnagar, a Christian settlement next to Yahounabad.

However, some days later, they were finally identified as Muhammad Naeem, a local glasscutter, and Babar Nauman, a hosiery worker from Sargodha; it appeared that they had had nothing to do with the church attacks.

News of their murder filled the Pakistani media, somewhat overshadowing the deaths of the 17 Christians and injury to 80 more. As gory images of their lynching ran on TV and more details emerged, for many Pakistanis earlier sympathy with the Christian community slowly turned into animosity. One young Muslim commented on a Facebook post:

“Christians (Chuhras) have set on fire two Muslims today. I am only sad about their death.” (“Chuhra” is a pejorative term often used to describe Christians).

Lahore High Court

Easter 2015 suicide attacks repeated Easter 2016, but foiled in 2017

“The Tehrik-e-Taliban Jamaatul Ahrar accepts responsibility for the [2015] attacks on the churches in Lahore,” its spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan later told reporters. “We promise that until an Islamic system is put into place in Pakistan, such attacks will continue. If Pakistan’s rulers think they can stop us, they can try.”

In March 2016, on Easter Sunday, the Pakistani Christian community experienced the deadliest terror attack in the history of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous, and most Christian, state when the same Jamaat-ul-Ahrar bombed a popular children’s park in Lahore as families thronged to enjoy their holiday. At least 76 died, many of them children, with over 300 injured.

(Christians make up just 2 per cent of overwhelmingly Muslim Pakistan. They are somewhat more prevalent in Lahore, which has about 10 million people, about 5 per cent of whom are Christian).

At Easter 2017, Pakistan’s security forces said they prevented a “major” terror attack on Christians in Lahore over the same weekend. The police caught the attackers in time, killing one suspect, Ali Tariq, and making two arrests during a Good Friday raid at the Punjab Housing Society in Lahore. Two suicide vests and four grenades were recovered from the scene.

Earlier, police had released a memowarning the city’s residents: “Reliable sources have informed us that two suicide bombers of an unidentified terrorist organisation have entered Lahore with the intention of carrying out attacks in churches or parks on 16/17 April. They have been equipped with suicide jackets and will target areas where the presence of Christians will be high.”

One of those arrested was a 20 year old woman, Naureen Leghari, who’d been to join Islamic State group in Syria. The medical student confessed to returning to Lahore with the intention of carrying out a suicide bombing against a church during Easter 2017, according to an interview broadcast on local television.

Police later released her, saying that she had undergone rehabilitation and that IS had deceived her.

Prosecutor offered 40 their freedom if they converted to Islam

In May 2017, it came to light that the Lahore deputy district public prosecutor Syed Anees Shah had told the 40 Christians that they would be freed if they converted to Islam. He was later found guilty of proselytism and suspended.

Shah was criticised for his alleged comment by Malik Muhammmad Ahmed Khan, then-special assistant to the chief minister of Punjab, who said the offer “is not just shameful but a heinous crime … We are all set to end the extremist mindset and steer the country to a tolerant and moderate society. Therefore, we cannot tolerate anyone in the government machinery with this mindset”.

Pakistan’s Senate Special Committee on Human Rights said almost two years ago that “terrorism charges against the [Christians] arrested should be dropped and they should be tried in civil courts”, as Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

At that time (May 2018), then-Senator Farhatullah Babar said: “[Three] years ago, two churches were targeted in Youhanabad, as a result of which [many] Christian citizens died. People in the area conducted protests to condemn the deaths of their fellow citizens – as is their right. These people were charged with terrorism and have been rotting in jail.”

In September, 2013, a suicide bomber had blown himself up outside a 130-year-old church in Peshawar after Sunday Mass, killing around 80.

The group’s acquittal came on the same day that the most well-known Pakistani Christian, Asia Bibi, published her biography (in French only, ‘Enfin Libre’ (Free at Long Last), written with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, author of two previous books with the woman who survived 9 years in prison on false charges of blasphemy.

“You know my story from the media, perhaps you have tried to put yourself in my place to understand what I suffered,” Asia Bibi was quoted saying in a press release announcing the new book. “But you are far from understanding my day to day existence in prison, or my new life, and that is why I tell you everything in this book.”

Today's Update: Nine Christians Killed in Kenya After Refusing to Recite Islamic Creed www.thebereancall.org

According to the persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, the group was separated from their Muslim friends before being instructed to pay homage to the Prophet Muhammad by reciting the “Shahada.” When they refused, they were summarily executed.

“A passenger bus belonging to Medina Bus Company, traveling between Wajir and Mandera was attacked by a criminal gang at around 1730 hours this evening, ” a local Kenyan police officer confirmed to ICC. “The attack happened at Maadathe area, five kilometers to Kotulo. Lives are believed to have been lost.”

The group was accosted while traveling on a bus towards the North-Eastern city of Mandera. Everyone present was then told they must recite the Shahada. Those who couldn’t were marched off the bus and shot at point-blank range. It is thought that the attack was perpetrated by al-Shabaab militants. Two further passengers currently missing are presumed to be dead.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the heinous bus attack near Kotulo, Wajir today around 5:00 p.m. where 10 passengers were killed [or are missing],” said the governor of Mandera, Ali Roba, on Facebook. “I am informed that the suspected al-Shabaab fighters cowardly segregated non-locals heading to Mandera from Nairobi. It is extremely sad and humanly disturbing to learn that, yet again, they segregated locals from non-locals before killing those they believed to be non-locals.” This is not the first time such an incident has occurred.

Just last year, two men were shot dead after refusing to recite the Islamic creed. Prior to that, in 2014, some 28 teachers traveling to Nairobi for the Christmas holiday were gunned down after being forced to try and recite the Shahada.

There have been stories of hope, however. Indeed, on several occasions, Jesus-followers have had their lives saved through the incredible bravery of Muslims.

As Faithwire previously reported, in July, a group of Muslim construction workers saved their Christian colleagues from certain death after warning them of an impending attack.



The workers bussed their fellow Christian workers away from the building site and even confronted the Al-Shabaab fighters when they showed up. Despite the militants opening fire, incredibly, no lives were lost.

“We pray for the families of the deceased and for peace to come to a region that has seen increased violence toward Christians who are just trying to survive,” ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, said of the most recent attack. “We hope that the government will take effective action to stop the senseless killing of so many Christians in Kenya at the hands of Islamic extremists like al-Shabaab. We praise God as the refuge and strong tower that He is for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ who continue to endure so much.”

https://www.faithwire.com/2019/12/12/at-least-nine-christians-killed-in-kenya-after-refusing-to-recite-islamic-creed/

Luke 20 Pastor Greg Huston https://www.ccbelfast.org/

https://subsplash.com/+ca86/embed/mi/+4349bpq?audio&info&embeddable&shareable&logo_watermark&fbclid=IwAR3qZ5RWwzgfMq7EhBTe5GpUAQYIY1Erh_ckeBleqJjideV8-L5SGOBxNi8