Three Methods To Make Rapid Petrified Wood

Three Methods To Make Rapid Petrified Wood

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 6, 2026 (Donate)

Introduction

I was taught that it takes millions of years to form petrified wood. Consider this quote from a geology website:

“The petrification process can take millions of years to complete. During this time, the minerals slowly replace the organic matter in the wood, cell by cell. The result is a rock-hard replica of the original tree.”[1]

Has anyone ever observed this alleged process over millions of years? No! This is pure speculation and arbitrary at best. I like to ask, “what experiments have been run that verify it takes millions of years to form petrified wood?” Again, there are none.  

On the flip side, did you know that we can make petrified wood quickly! It doesn’t long ages, but can be made in weeks to months.

Three methods of rapid formation of petrified wood; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Some petrified wood is being manufactured for home products (e.g., flooring) and can be ordered through local home goods stores. Let’s look at a three of these methods of rapid petrified wood formation—some of which have been known for some time but others have been explored in more detail in recent decades. But first, what is petrified wood?

What Is Petrified Wood?

Petrified wood is wood that has been preserved by mineralization. The original organic material is replaced by minerals—partially or completely—while retaining the original cellular structure of the wood. This is not to be confused with coalified wood—which is a different process of converting wood to coal, which can be made quickly as well.

Chunks of coal; photo by Bodie Hodge

This petrifying process occurs when wood is rapidly buried or submerged [to seal out oxygen and prevent rapid decay and degradation of the wood’s fine details] in mineral-rich water. This allows dissolved minerals such as silica, calcite, or iron compounds to replace the pore spaces and cell walls. As the organic material decays or is removed by water transport, minerals precipitate in its place, forming a stone-like replica of the original wood.

Petrified wood; Photo by Bodie Hodge

Petrified wood is therefore not simply wood turned to stone, but a detailed mineral “cast” that preserves growth rings, vessels, and microscopic anatomy. The resulting fossil can be as structurally detailed as modern wood, yet composed entirely or largely of inorganic mineral matter. Of course, it is much heavier than the original wood, being that is now rock.

Method 1: Silicification By Silica-Rich Fluids[2]

This first method utilizes wood that has been mineralized rapidly through silicification by silica-rich fluids (SiO₂—think of “quartz”), particularly in hydrothermal or volcanic settings. The point here is that heat is involved to speed the process of converting the wood material to minerals.

Western Illinois silica geode; Photo by Bodie Hodge

When wood is buried or submerged in water that is chock full of dissolved silica, then the silica replaces cell walls and pore spaces while the organic material simultaneously decays or it removed. The heightened temperature and alkaline pH quickly increase silica solubility and reaction rates. So, the silica precipitates quickly as amorphous silica and then later recrystallizing into microcrystalline quartz. Don’t let the fancy terminology scare you. It simply means the process goes fast—very fast.

Laboratory experiments and field studies of hot spring environments show that cellular-scale replication of wood anatomy can occur on timescales of months to years, preserving microscopic structure before mechanical collapse. So actual scientific studies show this doesn’t require millions of years, but can be done quickly. This process does not require long, slow periods of diffusion over millions of years but instead depends on early, rapid mineral infiltration after burial.

This is exactly the type of conditions we expected at certain phases and places from the global Flood of Noah’s Day. Most of the petrified wood we find in the world today is associated with Flood rock and with volcanic layers—showing the heat was present to rapid formation of petrified wood. During the Flood, there was immense volcanic activity—especially when considering continental shifting and mountain building phases (e.g., Genesis 8:4-5; Psalm 104:8-9).

Second Method: Carbonate Permineralization[3]

Wood can also be mineralized rapidly through carbonate replacement which is also called permineralization. A carbonate material basically has a “CO₃” attached to it. It involves minerals such as calcite (CaCO₃), dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂)—which has calcium and magnesium, or siderite (FeCO₃) which has iron. The carbonate materials are the mineral that make the wood into stone instead of silica (SiO₂) from the last method.

With this process, it occurs in carbonate-rich waters, especially in anoxic (i.e., oxygen is kept out) or microbially active environments such as swamps, deltas, or shallow marine sediments. Then the dissolved calcium, magnesium, or iron precipitate within wood tissues. This process of carbonate precipitation is very fast under alkaline conditions and can occur before the wood collapses or fully decomposes.

Scientists have learned from experimental studies that carbonate mineralization of plant material can occur in months to years, producing rigid, stone-like replicas of wood structure. This mechanism is well documented in coal measures and flood deposits. Interestingly, unlike the last method, this one does not require high temperatures or silica-rich fluids. Again, these are the types of processes that were expected at certain phases and places during Noah’s Flood.

Third Method: Microbially Mineralization[4]

A third rapid pathway is microbially mediated mineralization, in which bacteria play a direct role in fossilization. Think of them like a catalysts that speeds up the process.

Microbial biofilms colonize buried or submerged wood and alter local chemical conditions—by basically putting a boundary around it. These changed chemical conditions could include pH, redox state, and ion concentration.

These “micro-environments” act as sites for mineral precipitation, speeding up the deposition of silica (SiO₂), carbonates (CO₃), iron minerals, or phosphates directly onto cell walls. Lab experiments revealed that microbial involvement can speed mineralization by orders of magnitude compared to abiotic processes (i.e., processes that are only physical/chemical without biological help).

The result—the mineral replication of biological tissues occurring in weeks to months. This mechanism explains the exceptional preservation of fine cellular detail observed in many fossil woods and plant remains. Again, these are the conditions that are expected during the year long Flood of Noah’s day.

Conclusion

Although many are taught that it takes long ages of millions of years to form petrified wood, this is simply not the case. There are multiple methods that can do it weeks, months, or at most a couple of years.

As mentioned, one of these processes is used to make petrified wood home goods if you want a beautiful and unique flooring in your home (though it does have its costs!). So these three methods have been known for a while and its time to start spreading the word about the rapid formation of petrified from a scientific perspective.

Recommended Resource:

A Flood of Evidence (by Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge)

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

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[1] Petrified Wood Forest: What It Is and How It Forms, Geology IN,  https://www.geologyin.com/2023/09/petrified-wood-forest-what-it-is-and.html.

[2] See: Leo, R. F., and E. S. Barghoorn. 1976. Silicification of wood. Botanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard University 25 (1): 1–47; Channing, A., and D. Edwards. 2009. Experimental taphonomy: silicification of plants in Yellowstone hot-spring environments. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 100 (3–4): 219–246;

Mustoe, G. E. 2017. Non-silicified fossil woods of the Pacific Northwest. Geosciences 7 (4): 111.

[3] Berner, R. A. 1968. Calcium carbonate concretions formed by the decomposition of organic matter. Science 159 (3819): 195–197; Coleman, M. L. 1993. Microbial processes: controls on the shape and composition of carbonate concretions. Marine Geology 113 (1–2): 127–140; Allison, P. A., and D. E. G. Briggs. 1991. Taphonomy of nonmineralized tissues. In Taphonomy: Releasing the Data Locked in the Fossil Record, edited by P. A. Allison and D. E. G. Briggs, 25–70. New York: Plenum Press.

[4] See: Konhauser, K. O., J. R. Ferris, and T. J. Beveridge. 2004. Mineralization by bacteria in natural environments: implications for fossil preservation. Geobiology 2 (1): 1–17; Dupraz, C., R. P. Reid, O. Braissant, A. W. Decho, R. S. Norman, and P. T. Visscher. 2009. Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats. Earth-Science Reviews 96 (3): 141–162; Iniesto, M., J. Lopez-Garcia, and C. Martin-Closas. 2015. Experimental fossilization of plants: decay versus mineralization in controlled microbial environments. Palaios 30 (4): 286–299.

Why the Resurrection Must Be Argued Presuppositionally

Why The Resurrection Must Be Argued Presuppositionally

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 5, 2026 (Donate)

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7, NKJV)

Introduction

God is the absolute authority on all matters. God’s Word comes with the authority of God Himself. Thus, when we look at the resurrection of Christ, we must first start with what God says about it. The Bible—God’s Holy Word—repeatedly affirms that Jesus resurrected. The resurrection is therefore 100% factually true. Anyone who disagrees is wrong—per God. 

Yet we live in a culture that elevates man’s ideas as an attempt to supersede and usurp God’s authority. Like Satan (e.g., Isaiah 14:12-15), man’s attempts at putting themselves above God and His throne, are met with utter failure (e.g., Isaiah 2:22; Proverbs 14:12). Finite man cannot compete with the Almighty, who is the omnipotent (all-powerful) God.

But still, people resist and try to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see this in false religions like Islam and atheism—and so many more! But here’s what gets me. In some cases, there are Christians who, strangely, take the tact of man and try to argue for the resurrection.

What do I mean by this? Well, they take God’s Word and set it aside and try to argue for the resurrection all the while leaving the Bible out of it! If that sounds strange—it should!

In some cases, they try to calculate the odds of the resurrection (based on data they oddly enough draw from the Bible) for instance and when they arrive at numbers over 99%, they think did great job. Meanwhile, they went from 100% to 99% and now leave open the possibility that Christ didn’t resurrect! Did you notice that?

I would humbly suggest a tact like this, is not the best. Instead, we should stand on the authority of God’s Word and look at the resurrection from God’s perspective—never giving up the absolute authority of God’s Word in the discussion. From a presuppositional perspective, the resurrection of Jesus Christ must be argued beginning with God’s Word because all reasoning already rests on ultimate authorities.

Consider Cornelius Van Til

Theologian, pastor, and philosopher Dr. Cornelius Van Til argued that the resurrection must be viewed as a revelational and covenantal fact, not as a brute historical event waiting for neutral human interpretation. For him, all facts receive their meaning from God.

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31, NKJV)

Therefore, the resurrection is authoritative and meaningful because God has interpreted it in Scripture. It is not something that gains authority by passing the tests of autonomous human reason (i.e., man’s fallible reason apart from God) or secular historical analysis.

Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987)

According to Van Til, there is no neutral ground that the believer and unbeliever can jointly evaluate the resurrection. You are either for Christ or against Him.

Any demand that the resurrection be proven according to allegedly neutral standards already assumes principles such as logic, causality, historical reliability, and the uniformity of nature. Van Til points out that these principles only make sense within the Christian worldview! When unbelievers appeal to them while rejecting God, they are borrowing ground from Christianity while denying its foundation (often called common ground, not neutral ground).

So why would Christians move away from God’s Word to use these errant human methods?

Van Til taught that the resurrection should not be presented as a mere probability or hypothesis. Christianity does not rest on likelihoods but on divine certainty. The resurrection is part of God’s redemptive plan of history, not an isolated anomaly. To treat it as a bare fact detached from God’s revelation is to strip it of its true meaning—sadly, that is how many try to look at the resurrection today.

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29, NKJV)

Even so, Van Til further says that unbelief is not primarily an intellectual problem but a moral and spiritual one. People may acknowledge the historical data surrounding the resurrection and still reject its significance because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Consider that Thomas himself doubted until he touched the hands of Christ. Some of the other disciples doubted even when Christ ascended in to heaven.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16-17, NKJV)

The resurrection should get every person to realize that it is not merely with evidence but with the risen Christ Himself, who has the absolute authority and calls all people to repentance and the Holy Spirit who convert them. These disciples had a heart change when the Holy Spirit came upon them not long after this. 

Van Til puts the resurrection directly connected to the self-attesting authority of Christ. One can appeal to no higher authority than God! To accept the resurrection rightly is to receive Christ as Lord. Any apologetic method that seeks to argue for the resurrection while neglecting that Christ is stated to have resurrected in the Bible has already compromised the biblical position.

Van Til taught that the resurrection must be viewed presuppositionally because there are no uninterpreted facts, God alone provides the correct interpretation of history. This framework later shaped and informed the more explicit resurrection apologetics developed by Greg Bahnsen.

Consider Greg Bahnsen

Theologian, pastor, and philosopher Dr. Greg Bahnsen also repeatedly pointed out that there is no neutral intellectual ground between belief and unbelief. Every person interprets facts through foundational presuppositions about reality, knowledge, logic, truth, and morality. To argue the resurrection as though human autonomy or neutral historical standards are ultimate is to concede the very point at issue, namely the authority of God over human reasoning.

Greg Bahnsen (1948-1995)

Bahnsen argued that Christianity is not one hypothesis among many, but the "precondition of intelligibility" itself. Facts do not interpret themselves; they require a worldview framework that we use to look at facts and evidence. The resurrection, therefore, cannot be treated as a brute historical suggestion that needs to be evaluated by autonomous human reason (man’s ideas).

Instead, the resurrection must be understood as a divinely revealed in Scripture. The 66 books of the Bible do not wait for man’s permission to be authoritative; it speaks as God’s self-attesting revelation—from the highest authority.

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:19-21, NKJV)

As a point of note, a presuppositional argument does not deny historical evidence. Rather, it insists that historical evidence can only be properly interpreted within God’s revelation. Bahnsen pointed out that unbelievers routinely borrow Christian presuppositions such as the uniformity of nature, the reliability of testimony, and the laws of logic, while denying the God who makes those things meaningful in the first place. 

When skeptics demand proof of the resurrection according to autonomous standards, they assume the very rational and moral order that only the Christian worldview can justify!

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:18, NKJV)

Like Van Til, Bahnsen did not write a single stand-alone apologetic book devoted exclusively to the resurrection—however, Bahnsen did write a paper on the subject here.

Consider Charles Buck

Theologian and pastor Rev. Charles Buck’s theological dictionary (1802) reflects this presuppositional conviction by defining the resurrection of Christ not merely as a historical claim but as a foundational article of faith upon which Christianity stands. Though the systemic approach to the presuppositional view had not been fully articulated in theological circles yet, Christians often and readily stood on the Bible as the supreme authority on the subject of the resurrection in the past. Buck was no different in this case. 

Charles Buck (1771-1815)

Buck consistently treats Scripture as the final court of appeal in doctrinal matters, not ecclesiastical tradition or human philosophy when dealing with the resurrection. In this framework, the resurrection is known with certainty because God has spoken concerning it, and God cannot lie. Thus, the authority of the resurrection is inseparable from the authority of the Word that declares it.

Saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34, NKJV)

Scripture itself presents the resurrection as a matter of truth, not suggestion. The apostles did not argue as neutral historians appealing to shared assumptions with unbelievers; they proclaimed what God had done and called all people everywhere to repent. 

Christ’s resurrection is presented as God’s public vindication of His Son, interpreted authoritatively by inspired witnesses who recorded the inspired text by the power of the Holy Spirit. The presuppositional approach follows this biblical pattern by submitting human reason to divine revelation rather than placing revelation on trial before human reason.

Moreover, the resurrection is not an isolated miracle but the climax of redemptive history. Buck’s theological understanding showed that doctrines must be understood in their interconnected biblical and theological context. In other words, they were not subject to man’s fallible opinions on the subject.

Conclusion

The resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. It also proved Christ’s claims of who He was and what He could do. He also proved that He was going to be the final judge. These theological meanings cannot be derived from mere human historical analysis alone—but is predicated on God’s Word.

Bahnsen said that to argue the resurrection apart from Scripture’s authority is to strip it of its true meaning and reduce it to a mere anomaly. The resurrection is not simply an event that we, as fallible being, are in charge of validating; it is a divine act that is to be interpreted through God’s Word—no our imperfect and arbitrary opinions. To receive the resurrection rightly is to submit to the risen Christ as Lord, not merely to acknowledge a curious historical anomaly.

Arguing for the resurrection presuppositionally honors God as the ultimate authority, treats Scripture as self-authenticating absolute revelation. Following the insights of Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen and the theological foundations reflected in Charles Buck, the resurrection must be proclaimed and defended beginning with God’s Word, because only God’s Word provides the necessary preconditions for truth, meaning, and knowledge itself.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

 

Aren’t You Ashamed?

Feedback: Aren’t You Ashamed?

Absolute disgrace to the progress of man?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 4, 2026 (Donate)

Letter, unedited:

You're business is an aboslute disgrace and abomination to the progression of man. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves for wanting to teach kids such fallacies you have no evidence for as 'facts'. Though a complete picture of how the world was derived hasn't been totally identified, the evidence is so far stacked toward evolution that I pity how heavily you must have been brainwashed and how much you have to ignore and reject to maintain your selfish beliefs. I am truely embarrassed to be on the same planet as you backward idiots! I challenge you to spend a few months to IMPARTIALLY research opposing theories and the possiblilty your 'God' does not exist. If you dont think your faith can withstand this examination, then I guess ignorance is bliss!

Who needs logic rationale and reason anyway. If you can believe a genocidal malevolant tyrant wants you to ignore science, then you better do it!

Response:

Thank you for contacting us. My comments are below and I really hope you consider these. Also note, they are said with sincerity and respect, though I am being direct in places.  

To whom it may concern, You're business 

It is actually a ministry and a non-profit. 

is an aboslute disgrace 

First, I’m glad you believe in absolutes; and second, I’m glad you believe there are such moral things as respect, honor, and subsequently shame, hence, where disgrace stems. Most evolutionists would disagree about these things.[1] They say “there are no absolutes or shame or honor, etc.” They argue that everything is material and all things happen—even one's own thoughts—as mere chemical reactions that ultimately have no meaning, because there is nothing immaterial. 

Of course, many evolutionists are being illogical when they claim there are no absolutes, as they just used an absolute! All this is to say that I’m glad you disagree with leading evolutionists about absolutes and morality. These are very Christian of you. However, by the email it seems the Bible is not a high priority (which where morality comes from) so why think there are absolutes and disgrace without the Bible being true?  

The battle is actually how an infallible God views things versus how fallible man does—God is always right; Image from Presentation Library

and abomination to the progression of man. 

But from an evolutionary perspective, why care about the progress of man? “Eat, pass on your genes, and die”; that is really the evolutionist’s motto. Why would the evolutionist care about the next generation—let the offspring fend for themselves before they die? Why care about anything? Really? 

When someone care about people or society that is Christian attribute (people are made in the image of God[2], Genesis 1:26-27; 9:5-6) and I’m glad you do, but that must be borrowed from the Bible to make sense of it.  

You should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves for wanting to teach kids such fallacies you have no evidence for as 'facts'. 

We are not ashamed since we are teaching the truth, but evolutionists should be ashamed that they teach kids lies about God, morality, truth, science, and justice…and even kill them in “abortion factories” like “weeding the garden” (recall that it is the evolutionists that teach that children are just animals that can be disposed). 

But let me ask…what fallacies? And furthermore, in an evolutionary worldview where everything is material, why would truth and logic even exist? These things are NOT material, they are abstract. It is a Christian worldview based on the Bible from which we can have a basis for knowledge, logic, reasoning, morality, and so on. The non-Christian must borrow from the Bible just to try to argue against it. 

Though a complete picture of how the world was derived hasn't been totally identified, 

Then why believe it is “absolute” enough to argue against other worldviews as the absolute standard? 

the evidence is so far stacked toward evolution 

Such as? We have the same evidence as the evolutionists and God disagrees with the evolutionists who make such claims. He says all of it is stacked His way: 

“The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein (Psalm 24:1, NKJV).” 

So what is the best evidence that evolution is true (even though evolutionists say there is no such thing as truth)? 

that I pity 

Why “pity” if people are just chemicals? Chemical don’t “pity”?  Again, pity is a Christian thing, and I’m glad you have pity, even though it is misguided, because it refutes the position that that evolutionists are arguing for (that pity and other immaterial things do not exist) and verifies that you are indeed made in the image of God. 

If man is nothing but mere chemicals, they have no ultimate or eternal value; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

how heavily you must have been brainwashed and how much you have to ignore and reject 

I was brainwashed by public education that taught me that I was just a chemical and a “waste of space” in a “billions of years” universe where nothing matters and when you’re dead…you’re dead. But then, I actually studied the subject. And I found out who was doing the brainwashing. 

I thank the Lord God for saving me from the secular humanist religion (evolution and millions of years are aspects of this religion) that I was taught in school and university. It sounds like this religion was forced on you without question too. I want to encourage you to question it.[3]  

to maintain your selfish beliefs. 

How is being loving and caring to others selfish? How is teaching people the truth selfish? How is taking a stand to save lives of children selfish? How is loving and being obedient to the God that died to save us from sin and death selfish? How? 

But in an evolutionary worldview where it is “free for all” evolutionary world…why not be selfish? 

I am truely embarrassed 

Again, consistent evolutionists have no basis for truth, so why maintain this belief; if you want to be consistent, then either give up on truth and logic or give up on an evolutionary worldview.  

But what I don’t get is…why not be embarrassed of fellow evolutionists like Hitler or Stalin who killed many kids and adults or that maniac evolutionist Anders Behring Breivik who killed all those little kids in Norway…and yet email us to saying we who preach righteousness should be the ones embarrassed? 

to be on the same planet as you backward idiots! 

How are we backwards and how are we ignorant? Such a claim is merely a question begging epithet fallacy.  

I challenge you to spend a few months to IMPARTIALLY research opposing theories and 

Like this “impartial” email? The fact is no one is impartial. There is no such thing as impartial research.  This email and others we have received like it is evidence that those who criticize the biblical position clearly haven’t “lifted a finger” to honestly research what the Bible teaches about creation, truth, knowledge, science and so on.  

Furthermore, I have searched hosts of religious beliefs including the six differing views of evolution (Epicurean, Lamarckian, Traditional Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism, Punctuated Equilibrium, and Hopeful Monster).[4]  Since you’ve professed a belief in evolution, out of curiosity, which of these do you believe right now and why are the others wrong? 

As a matter of note, what Lamarck and Darwin did in trying to find a mechanism for evolution was really just a rehash of trying to make some Greek Mythology work.  The Epicurean Greeks proposed the myth of evolution; it was one popular form of Greek mythology – even Paul refuted it thousands of years ago in Acts 17. 

But with aspects added by Lamarck and Darwin, they simply made variations in this mythology. Rightly, it is still Greek mythology, but their new aspects can also be dubbed French mythology (Lamarck was from France) or English mythology (Darwin was from England).  Sadly, WWII in Europe was instigated by Adolf Hitler, who bought into English mythology of evolution…[5] 

the possiblilty your 'God' does not exist. If you dont think your faith can withstand this examination, then I guess ignorance is bliss! 

When it comes to the existence of God, I have searched the subject as well; be it the classical arguments which are still found wanting or the Transcendental Argument for the existence of God (TAG) which is foundational to the others.[6] How have you disproved the Transcendental Argument for the existence of the God of Christian Theism?[7] 

Who needs logic rationale and reason anyway. 

Evolutionists don’t consistently believe in such a thing since they are not material. 

If you can believe a genocidal malevolant tyrant 

Well this is clearly not the God of the Bible as anyone could tell who has actually read the Bible. This is straw man fallacy that God-haters like Dr. Richard Dawkins have set up. Keep in mind that the last few genocidal, malevolent tyrants have been evolutionists like Hitler and Stalin. 

wants you to ignore science, then you better do it! 

I love science and have Master’s Degree in it. It is sad to see when evolutionists can’t tell the difference between evolution and science. It is a common equivocation fallacy on their part. 

Mr. M., I would like to encourage you though. You have expressed a belief in evolution (with its atheism, since evolution comes out of an atheistic worldview) and yet you are living your life borrowing from the Bible that morality, logic, truth, and science exists. 

I even suspect that you wear clothes—which come directly from a literal Genesis 3. Let’s face it frogs don’t wake up in the morning and put their clothes on. The point is, you are living a life that is a contradiction—you follow the Bible in some areas (perhaps unknowingly) and yet you argue against its truthfulness.  

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:18-22, NKJV). 

But it is time to stop and repent (Luke 13:3). It is time to change your life and start on the path of truth and righteousness. M., I would love to see you get saved. It seems you have a passion for standing up to things you feel is wrong, and that is a good Christian attribute.   That is something I would hope you continue to do. But you need to understand what is right and wrong and have a basis for it—the Bible. 

I want to encourage you to begin the journey. A good book to get you a good overview of who God is and what he Bible is all about with selected Scriptures in the Bible is simply entitled “Begin” compiled by myself and Ken Ham (by Master Books, Green Forest, AK, 2011).  

At the very least, it would help teach you who God is, and what the Bible teaches on a number of subjects.  With kindness in Christ, 

Recommended Resources: Defending God’s Existence

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission. 

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[1] Evolution is an atheistic worldview and one of the popular forms of Secular Humanism. Sadly some Christians try to mix this religion with biblical Christianity. This is no different from what many Israelites did mixing their religion with Baal worship and God was not happy with them. Is God happy with mixing evolution and Christianity?  

[2] See also: Bodie Hodge, The Fall of Satan, Master Books, Green Forests, AK,

[3] Please don’t me wrong – there are many great Christian teachers in the secular system and they need your prayers, but the system is now set up to oppose Christianity and promote the religion of secular humanism. 

[4] For a concise review of some of these positions see: New Answers Book 3, Ken Ham, Gen. Ed., Master Books, Green Forest, AK, 2010, pp. 271-282.

[5] Hitler was purely an evolutionist and gave up any thoughts of God. For more on this, see Hitler’s Second Book, The Unpublished Sequel of Mein Kampf, dictated in 1928. It can be purchased offsite: http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Second-Book-Unpublished-Sequel/dp/1929631162.

[6] See also, New Answers Book 3, Ken Ham, Gen. Ed., Master Books, Green Forest, AK, 2010, pp.263-270.

[7] Being in the vein of Van Til in philosophy, I’ve tried to follow this debate. For good summary of people’s failed attempts to refute TAG, please see: The Transcendental Argument for God's Existence, Michael R. Butler, http://www.butler-harris.org/tag/; See also Defending God’s Existence, Ken Ham, Gen. Ed., Master Books, Green Forest, AK, 2025, .

Could Adam Eat from Any Tree?

Could Adam Eat from Any Tree?

Did God contradict Himself concerning what He said Adam could eat?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 3, 2026 (Donate) 

The “Problem” 

God said that Adam and Eve may eat from any tree in Genesis 1, but in Genesis 2 He said that they may not eat from one tree.

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29, NKJV)

 

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17, NKJV) 

This seems to be a rather straightforward alleged contradiction. God said to eat and not to eat; but is this in the same relationship? 

The Solution

There are several possible solutions that easily reveal this is not a contradiction. But there are other potential solutions that could eliminate this alleged contradiction. 

Seedless?

One possibility is revealed by reading these verses more carefully. There are qualifying terms in Genesis 1:29 that show the herbs and fruit must produce seeds. So potentially, there were trees and herbs that did not produce seed and were off-limits.  

The fruit could have been seedless. Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Consider for a moment that some plants reproduce by other means—shoots, sprouts, and so on. Even some “fruited” vegetation use these other means of spreading in addition to seeds. Raspberries, for example, lean over and strike the ground, and roots develop for the next year’s plants. Strawberries send out shoots that also take root. But they still reproduce via fruit and seed, so they would have been allowed.  

The fruit of figs have seeds, so they too would be included as edible food per Genesis 1:29, and indeed, figs were found in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:7). So, consider for a moment how this alleged contradiction “bears no fruit” if the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had no seed in it. This would resolve the proposed contradiction. It might also explain why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil may not have thrived and reproduced but remained as a unique one-off plant. 

Speaking of Broad vs. Specific Places

The Lord could have been speaking of the fruit on the face of the whole earth beyond the special and unique Garden of Eden. This would make sense considering there were special instructions given to Adam regarding what was edible in the Garden and what was not. In other words, they may have been complementary commands given for two different places (i.e., different relationship). 

This information would prove rather useful had they traveled beyond the borders of the Garden for expedition of potential living space for their descendants. Remember, they were commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth in Genesis 1:28. So knowing that edible food was ready for them beyond the Garden would only make filling the earth that much easier. 

Exception Clause 

Probably the simplest explanation is that the command about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was given first and served as an exception clause. Although it appears in the Bible in Genesis 2:17, this instruction was delivered prior to the creation of Eve. In Genesis 1, God’s instruction about food occurred after the creation of Eve, so Adam was already fully aware of the exception. 

These types of exceptions appear elsewhere in Scripture. For example, Jesus gave an exception in Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 regarding divorce. So, assuming that giving an exception clause is without warrant would be inaccurate. The exception clause simply shows that God revealed more information about a particular subject at the necessary time.  

Conclusion 

Any of these possibilities indicate that this alleged contradiction can be “pruned from the tree.” Once again, the Bible easily withstands the attack of the skeptic. 

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.