Creation's Tiny Mystery

McLean vs. Arkansas State Board of Education
Little Rock, December 17, 1981

Line	Mr. Ennis	(Attorney for the ACLU):
1	Q	Dr. Gentry, didn't you get the opportunity to review the transcript of your deposition on November 24 of this year and make every correction that you considered appropriate?
	A	Yes, I did.
	Q	You have been a member of the Creation Research Society since the formative date of that organization, haven't you?
	A	Yes.
	Q	I believe you testified on direct examination that you do subscribe to the statement of beliefs of the Creation Research Society, is that correct?
	A	Yes, I do.
	Q	You believe, then, that all the assertions of the Bible are scientifically true in all of the original autographs. Is that correct?
	A	My understanding is that all the assertions in the Bible which pertain to science would be true.
	Q	Do you believe that Genesis is literally true?
	A	I believe that the Bible record in Genesis is a factual account of the creation narrative.
20	Q	You believe that the description of creation in Genesis is literally true, do you not?
	A	Yes.
	Q	You believe that the earth was created in six literal days, do you not?
	A	Yes, I do. Twenty-four hours.
	Q	Do you believe that only by scriptural chronology can we determine how long ago that six-day period was?
	A	Yes, I do.
	Q	Isn't one of the primary reasons that you began to rethink the entire issue of evolution and creation is because of the moral perspective of the Fourth Commandment?
	A	Absolutely.
	The judge asked about the question and response. Mr. Ennis: The question was, Your Honor, was it not true that one of the major reasons that Dr. Gentry began to rethink the whole issue of evolution or creationism was because of the moral perspective of the Fourth Commandment? And that is—that is— [inaudible] [p. 306] Gentry: Yes.
40	Q	It is fair to say, is it not, Dr. Gentry, that for several years you tried but were unable to find scientific evidence that would support the information contained in the book of Genesis?
	A	Well, there were a number—there was a period of time in which after I began my research—certainly there was a period of time that I was looking for evidence for which I didn't have. That was the whole purpose, of course, in beginning the research. So with very few exceptions I was taking what other people said to be true about time. I think—if you would you repeat that statement—I think I am in essence agreeing with what you said.
	Q	Well, let me ask it this way. Is it fair to say that for several years you tried but were unable to find scientific evidence that would support the information contained in the book of Genesis?
	A	Well, let me give you the entire perspective so that we don't infer the statement you're giving me is true here. I became a Seventh-day Adventist in '59. I—from that time on until the time I actually began my research in 1963, I was puzzling in my mind about things concerning creation, reading books and trying to find, trying to find out from other people if indeed there was evidence—
60	Q	I recall that in your direct testimony, Dr. Gentry. I'm not asking you to say that that's your belief today. I'm simply asking you, is it not true that for several years you tried but were unable to find scientific evidence to support the information contained in the book of Genesis?
	A	Okay.
	Q	Is that true or not?
	A	Okay if we use the word "tried" to define my thinking from 1959 to l963—generally speaking in 1963 before I began this research I thought there was a paucity of evidence, and after I began this research in 1963—
	Q	I am not asking you after that time, I am simply asking you if that was true up to that time—
	A	From 1959 to 1963 I understand I think there was a paucity of evidence—

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