This article is from
Creation 37(1):52–55, January 2014

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Exposing the deception

Carl Wieland chats with geologist, marine scientist, and educator Roger Gallop

Encountering a creationist book published by a geologist and marine scientist—one who also has a Ph.D. in science education—would always have been of interest. But the no-holds-barred title of Dr Roger G. Gallop’s book (deliberately missing the opening capital letter) certainly grabbed my attention: evolution—The Greatest Deception in Modern History. Well illustrated and covering a wide range of topics and arguments, it was my first introduction to the author.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of North Carolina, Roger obtained a master’s degree in oceanography from Florida Institute of Technology in 1975, where he also earned his Ph.D. in science education in 2002. A certified professional geologist, he has spent more than 35 years as a geotechnical and marine scientist.

Following his undergraduate studies he served as an officer in the US Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as an infantry/airborne platoon commander. He received the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and then served in the Reserves for 5 years before his honourable discharge with the rank of Captain in 1979.

Following his graduate studies in marine sciences, he married Katharine and they had a son. Soon thereafter he was employed by the Florida Dept of Environmental Protection (FDEP) doing environmental impact analysis and computer modelling. During this time he was also an adjunct instructor of hydrology. After this period, Roger started a geosciences and biological consulting firm which he still operates today.

Roger says he was greatly blessed by growing up in a Christian family in which both parents were devoted to God and family. Despite being baptized at age 10, he says, he progressively became ‘disconnected’ from his faith, much of which had to do with being indoctrinated with evolution and millions of years. This started at high school, and was particularly acute while attending college. He says, “This period can be a real ‘stumbling block’ for many students from Christian families.”

“Nonetheless”, he says, “I was open-minded enough to question what they were telling me, especially in geology. I was fortunate to have a visiting professor who admitted that the earth’s landforms were better explained by large-scale catastrophic processes rather than ‘slow and gradual’ over billions of years, and who said that other geologists were thinking along those lines too. That was important to me later on.”

Rediscovering God in Gitmo

While serving post-Vietnam at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (prior to its subsequent notoriety for the prison it now houses) Roger started attending a weekly Bible study with fellow marines. “I began reading books about Bible prophecy and Genesis creation, and renewed my faith in Jesus Christ and God of the Holy Bible.”

After ten unfulfilling years with the FDEP, he resigned to start his own business. What followed were years of much struggle and sadness for Roger and his wife, Katharine. This included not just death and disability among the young couple’s aging parents, but a life-threatening malignancy in Katharine. He says,

“We found ourselves walking through a dark and uncertain time of our lives (financially, physically, and emotionally—but not spiritually). God answered our heartfelt prayers, including for Katharine’s total recovery, and we persevered. In fact, one of the big things I’ve repeatedly learned throughout my life is perseverance; the other ones are humility, and learning to overcome adversity through prayer and faith.”

Gradually, as doors were opened and the family began their recovery of physical and financial health, Roger was able to return to his studies at FIT, and obtained his doctorate over a span of five years—all while overseeing his growing business some 300 km (200 miles) away.

During the 1980s and ’90s, Roger says, “I grew increasingly weary of public TV, the secular media and public schools and colleges continually promoting evolution as ‘fact’. I could not (and still can’t) understand the mindset of my fellow scientists concerning their interpretation of ‘observational’ evidence about the ‘ancient past’. They seem oblivious to the fact that the past cannot be experimentally tested or observed in the way that scientists do in other areas of research. It seems that they and the media are just bringing their bias to the table.”

Don’t just sit there …

Eventually, fed up with the way in which people were being led astray, he says, he was motivated to write and self-publish his book. He says he felt ”immensely blessed” when CMI decided to carry the book, seeing it as a big step forward. Yet, aware of the immense difficulty of such a venture, he advises those contemplating the same thing to be very sure of their motivation. It has cost him substantially in time and money, but overall he feels, “I felt spiritually compelled to do this … and I could not possibly explain this to anyone. But my wife understood.”

I asked Roger about interaction with scientist colleagues on origins. He said that at most one in four was a Christian who believed in biblical creation. For the rest, he would bring creation up from time to time and, he says, “Most often they would immediately throw up a mental block, not wanting to talk about it. Some are very good friends who are quite intelligent but seem unable to budge on evolution.”

I asked him why the majority of scientists believe in evolution, despite the evidence against it. He said,

“I can think of several reasons. First, they are the product of a secular educational system, one that assumes evolution and long ages ‘as fact’, as a basis for interpretations about the past and origin of mankind. And contrary evidence is simply ignored.

“Then there is the fear of being ridiculed—any time you bring up your belief in creation, or even the name of Jesus, you are considered an outsider or a freak. You cannot get a federal grant for research if you are labelled a creationist. It’s easier for most to ‘go with the herd’.

“And of course, as 2 Peter 3:5 indicates, people ‘deliberately forget’ about creation and the Flood. They just choose not to believe. This is part of that general post-Fall tendency of humans to rebel against the Creator, which is described throughout the Bible—e.g. in Noah’s time and again in the post-Flood world. This rebellious tendency is described in Romans 1:18–32—it reads like today’s headlines.”

Research on the stubbornness of bias

Roger says that, “Despite the common perception that they are ‘objective’, scientists actually tend to be some of the most biased people. I did my doctoral dissertation on this very subject, that when people learn something and vocalize it repeatedly it’s very difficult for them to change their mind. It seems that the mind finds it hard even to process information that conflicts with previously accepted data; prior conditioning is immensely difficult to challenge.”

Nonetheless, Roger says, “It still amazes me that people with a science degree are not willing to step back and say, ‘I want to know the truth’, and ask serious questions. It’s always a wonder to me, too, why people would actually favour evolution over creation. Any credible scientist should know that the past cannot be directly tested, and should be willing to question the idea of evolution. Not only does biblical creation fit the facts, today’s ‘big evolutionary story’ goes against the laws of science—such as the law of causality, the law of biogenesis, and the laws of thermodynamics;¹ but creation is perfectly consistent with such laws.”

Asked about the response to his book, Roger says, “I’ve had a number of very nice letters from people who have been greatly influenced by it, which is a wonderful encouragement. Of course I’ve also received angry ones from evolutionists.”

Today, he and Katharine continue to routinely read the Bible together each night, and he says, “The Lord blesses your life through the time you spend in His Word each night—never forgetting that life’s securities and blessings are gifts from God. Our son and his wife are great Christians. Ultimately, it is not about where you have been, it’s where you are going that matters.”