Predation: Difference between revisions

==Argument against creation==

Predation often arises in origins debates as an argument against the God of the Bible in general and creationists in particular.  Young Earth Creationists point to the descriptive words of "good" and "very good" in Genesis 1, as well as God’s giving plants for food to everything with the "breath of life."  The term "very good" would seem to imply that there was no death at this point, and hence no predation.  This is in contrast to what is observed today, where many kinds of animals depend upon the meat of other animals in order to survive.  Moreover, many types of animals exhibit traits which appear specifically suited for killing and consuming meat.  It is claimed that there is no instance in scripture that indicates any such shift.

==Creationist arguments==

There are several [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] given as to the origin of carnivory and predation.  Note that not all of these are mutually exclusive.

===Fall and activation===

A related line of thought is that certain offensive and defensive features were already preprogrammed into the animal’s [[DNA]], but laid dormant until they were "switched on" by the Creator at the [[Fall of man]].  God would have known that man would give in to [[sin]] and set up a sort of "safety feature" wherein animals would be able to survive in a fallen world.

===Flood and shift===

Perhaps a very pertinent verse regarding animal predation is Genesis 9:1-6:

===Degenerate mutations===

Another idea is that predatory features and behavior arose as a result of degenerate mutations.  These mutations would have corrupted the original animal designs, distorting such features as teeth and claws to be more suited for killing.  Mutations could also have resulted in certain animals losing the ability to digest their original plant foods, or having that ability lessened.  This may be evident in animals for which certain [[species]] eat meat, but for which the animal's [[created kind|kind]] in general does not exhibit such characteristics.

===Definition of life===

It is stated that [[life]] is in the [[blood]] of a creature:

===Change in environment===

Tied in with a switch of diet after the Flood is the likelihood that nutrient values of plants would have been much different before and after the cataclysmic environment change.  Certain [[protein]] levels in plants can be quite high.  [[Antediluvian]] ecosystems may have been able to support plants with even higher amounts.

===Herbivorous carnivores===

Animals that are usually considered meat eaters, such as [[dog]]s and even lions, in reality consume a significant level of [[grain]] and [[fruit]].  Domestic dog meal is comprised largely of cereal, and coyotes are actually fond of fruit.  There is a case of the lion that could not stomach even the smell of a bone, but was raised by humans on a diet of grain, eggs, and milk.  [[Mosquitoes]] are not all blood suckers either--the males survive on [[nectar]].  Furthermore, features that are commonly associated with carnivory are in many cases used for purposes other than killing.  For example, [[reptile]]s with sharp teeth and [[bat]]s with fangs eat fruit.  In at least one instance, an evolutionist has even presented the possibility that dinosaurs used their claws to open coconuts (although this was meant to mock creationists).

* [http://answersingenesis.org/tj/v5/i2/diet.asp Creation’s original diet and the changes at the Fall]

* [http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2004/PSCF6-04Snoke.pdf Why Were Dangerous Animals Created?] PDF (anti Young Earth Creationist)

* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v22/i2/lion.asp The lion that wouldn’t eat meat]

* [http://answersingenesis.org/articles/nab/origin-of-attack-defense-structures How Did Defense/Attack Structures Come About?] [[The New Answers Book]]

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