Institute for Creation Research

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) is a Christian organization that promotes Young Earth Creationism, the accuracy and authority of Biblical text, and the validity of “creation science.” The institute was founded by Henry Morris in 1970 as the research division of Christian Heritage College in San Diego, Calif. The ICR focuses heavily on research supporting scientific creationism, which utilizes only scientific data to support the creation model. It is different from biblical creationism, which utilizes only the Bible to support the creation model. The institute maintains, however, that the two forms of creationism are compatible.

The ICR believes in the creation of life by a transcendent personal creator and that the creation of the Earth was relatively recent (within the last 10,000 years). The institute rejects the idea that modern day creatures evolved from other organisms or inanimate matter, maintaining that life was functionally complete from the beginning.

The Institute for Creation Research also focuses many of its resources on certified formal education that promotes Young Earth Creationism. The institute offers a master’s program in science education through their online graduate school, as well as a certificate program called the “Creationist Worldview Program” designed to provide a well rounded exposure to the issues of worldview, biblical authority, the foundation of Genesis 1-11 events, the biological and science disciplines, and the application of the stewardship mandate in society, law, and education.

While the institute does not dismiss the role that faith plays in accepting Young Earth Creationism, it maintains that compelling evidence can and should be presented in order to legitimize this view as both valid and scientific. Among the ICR’s scientific arguments are the irreducible complexity of life, the stability of the universe and its physical constants, and that the Earth’s catastrophic geological past — including the Genesis flood — point to a young rather than old Earth. To promote these arguments in favor of creationism, the ICR publishes a monthly newsletter titled Acts and Facts, a variety of books and DVDs, and a syndicated radio show titled, “Science, Scripture, & Salvation.”

While it does contend that evolution promotes materialism and weakens morals, the ICR directs much of its criticism of evolution at apparent shortcomings and at the widespread acceptance of what it considers an unproven theory. A post on the Web site by ICR president John D. Morris compares evolution to an atheistic state religion and claims that it offers naturalistic explanations rather than truth.