Why Should You Go to the International Conference on Creationism?

Update:
Our Experience at the International Conference on Creationism 2023!

July 16-19, 2023 marks the 37th year of the International Conference on Creationism (ICC)! Held every four or five years since 1986, this global event gives creation scientists around the world a chance to interact with fellow scientists and informed laypeople as they present their latest discoveries in their field of expertise.

The ICC does not exist primarily to attack universal common ancestry or deep time. Instead, the primary function of the ICC is for the further development of a young-earth creationist understanding of origins, recognizing that the events in Genesis 1-11 are historical in nature and had a major influence on our planet’s history.

Why a Conference?

The ICC is not quite like the creation conferences that may visit your local church from time to time. One of the things that makes ICC unique is that it is not headed up by a single creationist ministry. Instead, it is a collaborative effort between scientists from a variety of colleges, ministries, and organizations. The list includes Answers in Genesis, Creation Ministries International, Institute for Creation Research, Creation Research Society, Core Academy of Science and others.

Another difference is that ICC is a technical conference where creation science is front and center. All research presented undergoes several rounds of critical review by other experts in the relevant disciplines. Topics covered are wide-ranging: 

• Rock and Fossils
• Biology
• Genetics
• Intelligent Design
• Cosmology
• Atmospheric Science
• Theology
• The Philosophy of Science
• and much, much more!

In previous years, this conference has seen many significant contributions to creation research. For example, Dr. Michael Oard’s model of a post-Flood Ice Age, commonly used by creation scientists today, had its beginnings in the very first ICC in 1986. Modern baraminology (the study of created kinds) saw its origins in a presentation given by Dr. Kurt Wise in 1990. Catastrophic plate tectonics, a model of how God may have caused the Flood via the breakup of the pre-Flood supercontinent, was first proposed in 1994. The last conference, held in 2018, held a controversial presentation by Dr. Matt McLain about how feathered dinosaurs fit into the creationist understanding of things.

Since the conference is in person, it also allows for interaction with the scientists doing the research! Every time ICC occurs, there are presentations where scientists will talk about their work to an audience, followed by a Q&A portion. There are also panel discussions where scientists will converse about a particular topic to exchange ideas. These can get quite heated — especially if the scientists involved disagree about a particular model or hypothesis!

There are even interactive workshops and field trips that may take place before, during, or after the conference.

What’s New in 2023?

There are a lot of new things surrounding ICC 2023. For one thing, the Creation Science Fellowship of Pittsburgh has always headed up ICC in the past. But in 2021, ownership transferred to Ohio’s Cedarville University, who will hold it this year.

In addition to the presentations themselves, there will also be scientific posters where researchers can present their findings as visual representations.

Why Should YOU Go to the International Conference on Creationism?

Simply put, if you’re at all interested in creation science, this is the event for you! You will get to see creation research presented for the first time and be able to interact with the scientists actually doing the work. Since a number of organizations collaborate to make ICC happen, you will likely run into scientists from any of your favorite creationist ministries. If you’re really fortunate, you might even run into a few of the regular writers of the New Creation blog!

Say No More! I Wanna Go!

The International Conference on Creationism 2023 will be held from July 16-19 at Cedarville University, in Ohio. Purchase your tickets at their website from now until July 3.

See you in Cedarville this July!