John N Clayton Archives

January 16, 2026January 14, 2026

The Ignorance of Modern Churchgoers

Postmodern America is searching for answers in all the wrong places, and this is evident both in churches and in the secular world. The Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) surveyed 1,000 churchgoers, adults who attend Christian church services at least once a month. The survey found that the ignorance of modern churchgoers is significant.

Only 54% of churchgoers said they believe that the Bible is the true, inspired, and error-free Word of God. Only 61% can say that they believe in the God described in the Bible. Only 51% said the Bible speaks clearly on abortion, and only 47% said it is clear on homosexuality. When asked whether they prefer capitalism or socialism, 32% of churchgoers favored socialism.

Although 30% of those surveyed claimed to have a biblical worldview, the survey shows that only 11% actually do. CRC research director George Barna remarked, “This generation of churchgoers is increasingly unsure of what they believe—or why.” The challenge for church leaders is how to modify their education programs to confront this ignorance. Currently, the tendency is either to deny the problem or to offer a simplified, outdated explanation that doesn’t meet the needs of today’s young people.

The FRC findings indicate that there is “widespread confusion about the most basic truths of the Christian faith—about who God is, what sin is, and how someone is saved.” I would add to this list confusion over WHAT God is. The ignorance of modern churchgoers is troubling, and clearing up this confusion is what this ministry is about.

References: frc.org and arizonachristian.edu

January 14, 2026January 2, 2026

Butterfly Timing Discovery

If you read a textbook on the evolution of butterflies, you will see that the evolutionary model holds that butterflies appeared after flowering plants provided the pollen needed for their survival. There was no fossil evidence to definitively prove this model, but it made sense and fits the evolution model well. A recent discovery, however, has changed scientists’ understanding of butterfly timing.

New studies of coprolite from prehistoric plant-eating animals challenge this model. Coprolite is fossilized animal dung, and one such fossil found in Talampaya National Park in Argentina contains butterfly remains. This fossilized feces predates the existence of flowering plants. The question then is: what did the butterflies eat? The answer appears to be that plants of that era—mainly conifers and cycads—secreted droplets of a sugary substance that would have been an ideal food source for butterflies.

The key point is that the timing of butterfly emergence, based on the fossil record, does not support the traditional evolutionary model. There are many instances where accepted models of life development are contradicted by evidence, and this is another example. Insects are a vital food source for higher life forms, so the creation of various insects laid the foundation for later life. Like all of God’s timing in creation, butterfly timing was perfect.

We can learn much about the history of life on our planet by reading the biblical account, and even more by combining that with insights from the fossil record. One of our publications, titled “God’s Revelation in His Rocks and in His Word,” is available free at doesgodexist.org.

Reference: discovermagazine.com and Discover for January 2026, pages 10-11.

January 13, 2026December 31, 2025

Downy Woodpecker Dynamics

One of the interesting birds we see here in Michigan is the downy woodpecker. We have discussed before how woodpeckers avoid brain damage while hammering out insects embedded in trees. Watching downy woodpecker dynamics as they pound hundreds of times per minute with a force 30 times their body weight, you would expect them to have concussions. But the design of the woodpecker’s head and brain prevents brain damage.

Behavioral psychologist Nicholas Antonson at Brown University, with the help of colleagues, captured eight downy woodpeckers and examined the muscular and vascular systems that enable their unique behavior. The researchers found that these woodpeckers exhale with each strike, and their muscular system is coordinated with this breath control, resulting in consistent hammering.

Downy woodpecker dynamics require a complex muscular system, as neck muscles activate to pull the head back even before other muscles complete the forward motion. A hip muscle controls the power of the strike, while tail muscles brace the bird just before impact.

The muscles and breathing systems work at a rate of 13 times per second, with a 40-millisecond inhale period between each strike. This coordination of muscles and breath allows the woodpecker to find food, control insects, and communicate territorial claims to other woodpeckers. It also reflects God’s creative design of the systems in living things.

Reference: “Woodpecker hammering is a full-body affair” by Anna Gibbs in Science News, January 2026, page 21

January 12, 2026December 31, 2025

Water Stewardship in America

What is the most vital compound for human survival on Earth? The answer is water. We see water shortages in underdeveloped countries, and we know that water was a major concern for every nation in ancient times. The Roman government built massive aqueducts to transport water to its people, and ancient Israel’s kings survived by constructing tunnels and digging wells. How is our water stewardship in America?

How much water does it take to run an average home in America? The answer is 109,500 gallons per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The University of Montana reports it takes between 109,000 and 136,000 gallons of water to produce a ton of alfalfa hay for cattle feed. One gallon of milk requires 1000 gallons of water, but most of that goes toward growing the cattle feed. Producing a quarter-pound hamburger patty consumes 450 gallons of water, most of which is used to feed and water the cattle.

A significant portion of the water used in agriculture comes from wells in the Midwest, known as the “grain belt.” The Cambrian-Ordovician deep sandstone aquifer underlies this region. According to Wikipedia, “The water from the aquifer is being pumped up and drained by agriculture, commercial, and residential use that is unsustainable.” Many wells are drying up, and additional wells are being drilled deeper to meet the demands.

God told Adam, “Take care of the garden, dress it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Recently, humans have not been following that command. In some areas, injection wells are used to dispose of waste, often injecting it into the same aquifers that supply our drinking water. Can we become more efficient in our water use? There’s no doubt that we need to.

The teachings of Christ urge us to serve and care for others. Providing food and water to those in need is part of that. Christianity isn’t about church buildings or political activism. Taking care of the garden involves responsible water stewardship. God has given us the resources and wisdom to address this issue. We must live out Christian principles of love and service to others, and humanity’s future survival depends on teaching these principles to our youth.

January 7, 2026December 30, 2025

God’s Magic Bullet – Dsup

As scientists explore the design of life more deeply, they discover increasing evidence of God’s creative wisdom. God knew humans would encounter destructive agents like cancer and COVID and would require a weapon to overcome Satan’s work. Scientists may have found that weapon in a previously unknown protein in microscopic animals called tardigrades. This protein has been named “Damage Suppressor” or Dsup. We call it God’s magic bullet.

Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are incredible animals. Researchers have found these tiny creatures to be almost indestructible. Tardigrades can survive being placed in boiling water, frozen, or exposed to radiation levels 2000 times higher than what human cells can tolerate. They are the only animals known to survive in outer space. Scientists have wondered how this microscopic animal can endure conditions that would kill other animals or humans. The Dsup protein can bind along the entire length of the DNA molecule and act as a shield against attempts to damage it. That’s why it’s called the Damage Suppressor protein.

Dsup has enormous potential to treat diseases or disorders with a genetic component. Diseases that damage DNA include cancer, COVID, and even strokes and heart attacks. No Darwinian theory explains the origin of the tardigrade or the protein that could be key to curing diseases. Yesterday, we discussed the discovery of orphan genes that code for unique proteins that don’t fit the Darwinian pattern of small genetic changes leading to gradual evolution. The Dsup protein appears to be the result of one such orphan gene.

The Damage Suppressor protein might help us cure diseases, lessen DNA damage from chemotherapy and radiation, shield against radiation during space missions, and prevent crop damage on Earth. That’s why we call it God’s magic bullet.

Reference: TheConversation.com

January 5, 2026December 30, 2025

Planet Earth is a Very Special Place

People often dream of leaving Earth and exploring or establishing residency elsewhere in the universe. Whether it is Star Wars, Star Trek, or The Martian Chronicles, entertainment media suggest that soon, humans won’t be limited to the planet on which we were born. What these people may not realize is that planet Earth is a very special place, carefully designed to support and protect life from deadly forces.

The Sun provides the heat, light, and energy essential for life on Earth, but its nuclear processes also release energy that can be harmful. Stars in other parts of our galaxy emit radiation capable of ionizing atoms in living cells, destroying them. Some of these radiation forms can be easily blocked—beta and alpha particles can be stopped by plastic, glass, or aluminum. But higher-energy radiation, like gamma rays, X-rays, and high-energy particles such as protons, neutrons, and HZEs (high-energy ions), requires heavy shielding like lead, concrete, or thick layers of water. Of course, building shields of such materials around a spaceship isn’t practical.

Scientists are exploring ways to use magnetism or exotic energy sources to solve this problem—and they may succeed someday. The point is that planet Earth is a very special place, beyond what most people understand. The author of the Genesis account had to describe creation in a way ancient shepherds could understand, yet one that scientists in 2026 couldn’t dismiss as just an old myth.

Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew reads, “reshith elohim bara shamayim erets.” The ancient shepherd would read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.” A scientist reading these words in 2026 would understand that the author was describing a beginning to time, caused by an intelligence outside of space and time, that created a planet with water so carbon-based life could live on it.” Planet Earth is a very special place.

Reference: American Scientist, January/February 2026, pages 40-47. For more on the language of Genesis 1, go to “God’s Revelation in His Rocks and in His Word,” on doesgodexist.org.

December 31, 2025December 23, 2025

Morality’s Design Posts in 2025

As we end 2025, we look back on some of our Morality’s Design posts in 2025. We have selected 10 that you may have missed.

Are humans hardwired for moral behavior? https://doesgodexist.today/hardwired-for-moral-behavior/

Who invented slavery and when? https://doesgodexist.today/who-created-slavery/

When you die, how do you want to be remembered? https://doesgodexist.today/how-would-you-want-to-be-remembered/

National Geographic reported on marijuana and recreational cannabis use. https://doesgodexist.today/national-geographic-cannabis-report/

The tragedy of gender transitions for children. https://doesgodexist.today/the-story-of-clementine-breen-and-gender-transition/

Fraud in scientific research data is increasing. https://doesgodexist.today/fraud-in-scientific-research-data/

Is there such a thing as free will? https://doesgodexist.today/free-will-is-it-an-illusion/

The plague of online sextortion is affecting teenage boys. https://doesgodexist.today/sextortion-scam-and-teenagers/

What is the connection between alcohol use and cancer? https://doesgodexist.today/alcoholic-beverages-and-cancer/

The lure of gambling is trapping more people. https://doesgodexist.today/the-lure-of-gambling/

December 30, 2025December 23, 2025

Physical Design Posts in 2025

As we end 2025, we look back on some of our Physical Design posts in 2025. We have selected 10 that you may have missed.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) continues without success. https://doesgodexist.today/alien-civilizations-in-space-wow/

Is Mars designed to support life? https://doesgodexist.today/life-on-mars-in-fiction-and-fact/

What we learned from a March lunar eclipse. https://doesgodexist.today/learn-from-a-lunar-eclipse/

What is entropy, and why is it important for you? https://doesgodexist.today/why-we-care-about-entropy/

In August 2025, we had the shortest day on record. https://doesgodexist.today/shortest-day-on-record/

Why the Earth’s age doesn’t matter. https://doesgodexist.today/earths-age-is-irrelevant/

Why do we need the giant planet Jupiter? https://doesgodexist.today/earth-needs-jupiter/

Why not expand daylight by putting solar reflectors in space? https://doesgodexist.today/solar-reflectors-in-space/

What is NOTHING? https://doesgodexist.today/precisely-nothing-is-it-something/

How does the Big Bang show evidence of a Creator? https://doesgodexist.today/evidence-for-the-existence-of-a-creator-in-the-big-bang/

December 29, 2025December 23, 2025

Life Design Posts in 2025

As we end 2025, we look back on some of our Life Design posts in 2025. We have selected 10 that you may have missed.

A report on how pregnancy can affect a woman’s brain. https://doesgodexist.today/a-pregnant-womans-brain/

Is there really a difference between males and females? https://doesgodexist.today/male-and-female-bodies-are-different/

Comparing the DNA of fruit flies and humans. https://doesgodexist.today/fruit-flies-and-humans/

How about comparing humans and chimpanzees? https://doesgodexist.today/genetic-difference-between-humans-and-chimpanzees/

2025 was the 100^th anniversary of the famous, so-called Scopes Monkey Trial. https://doesgodexist.today/bryans-arguments-against-darwin/

Psychologists say that Darwin made a mistake. https://doesgodexist.today/darwins-mistake-according-to-psychologists/

Left- or right-handedness is crucial to the building blocks of life. https://doesgodexist.today/darwins-mistake-according-to-psychologists/

The amazing story of the orchid and the wasp. https://doesgodexist.today/hammer-orchid-and-thynnid-wasp/

What is Biosphere 2, and what is Primary Succession? https://doesgodexist.today/biosphere-2-and-primary-succession/

How did life get started? https://doesgodexist.today/to-explain-the-existence-of-life/