Tag Archives: Kinds

On Bird Kinds, the Bible, and Racism

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“And God created every winged fowl after his kind:” – Genesis 1:21

The dove represents peace and the Holy Spirit… two things we should be seeking in this day-and-age. White-winged Dove; Hays County, TX. ©www.williamwisephoto.com.

“What kind of bird is that?” my young daughter asked, pointing up into the tree. “It’s a White-winged Dove.” After giving a short species account, I went on to explain, “For many, the dove represents peace. And in the Bible it often represents the Holy Spirit.” When she asked what kind it was, I understood that she was asking what species of bird sat perched before us. But her use of the word “kind” brought another thought to my mind.

The Bible reveals that on Day Five, God created all the winged creatures after their kind. While Baraminologists (scientists that study created kinds) aren’t sure of the specific groupings, perhaps the bird kinds are similar to what you find the index of your favorite Field Guide: long-legged waders, ducks, seabirds and gulls, raptors, passerines, etc. Modern day science labels them by genus and species. The Bible says each were created after their kinds.

But when it comes to the creation account of man, the language of the Bible makes a change. We do not read the phrase “And God created man after his kind”. Instead, we read, “God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). From the very beginning, we can see the truth that humans are not broken down into different kinds, but all mankind is one kind!

Grouping people into kinds, or “races” as we call them today, is purely a human invention. And racism is most certainly a human invention! The Bible is quite clear that all humans are related; all are of one blood. “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26).

In God’s system, all men and women are of the same kind; all are of the same standing and worth, no matter the differences in appearance. In fact, the value of something is based upon the price someone is willing to pay for it. Jesus Christ paid the price of His life and blood equally for all human beings.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).

Race is purely a discriminatory classification system concocted by humans themselves. In God’s order, there is no such thing as race, and therefore absolutely no grounds for racism! “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).

(Read the full text of this article at www.williamwisephoto.com)

Hi, I’m wildlife photographer and nature writer William Wise. I was saved under a campus ministry while studying wildlife biology at the University of Georgia. My love of the outdoors quickly turned into a love for the Creator and His works. I’m currently an animal shelter director and live in Athens, Georgia with my wife and two teenage daughters, who are all also actively involved in ministry. Creation Speaks is my teaching ministry that glorifies our Creator and teaches the truth of creation.  — “What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.” Psalms 104, The Message.

Answer’s Dingo Dog

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Singing Dogs at Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee

Ken Ham, from Answers in Genesis, wrote an article about Dingos, The Dingo—It’s Not a Dog, But It’s a “Dog”. We have watched a pair of them at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa many times.

In fact the ones at Lowry are promoted as “Singing Dogs.”

Singing Dog Sign LPZ by Lee

“they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.” (Genesis 7:14 NKJV)

Anyway, the article tell how with DNA testing, it is just again proving that the Lord created different “Kinds” with in the Dog Family. The Dingo is its own species, yet it is still in the Canidae Family. They “can reproduce with domestic and feral dogs.”

I always enjoy when real science reveals the truths which the Lord God has already revealed in His Word, the Bible.

Here’s a video that I took at the zoo when the two of them got to calling/singing back and forth.

“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.” (1 Corinthians 14:10 KJV)

Singing Dogs at Lowry Pk Zoo

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (Psalms 150:6 NKJV)

New Guinea Singing Dogs at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida

The Dingo—It’s Not a Dog, But It’s a “Dog”

A previous blog here about the Singing Dogs:

Singing Dogs at Lowry Park Zoo

3:16 The Numbers of Hope

Avian Kinds on the Ark – What Is A Kind?

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Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) Pair ©WikiC

They Came By Pairs – Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) ©WikiC

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis 6:19-22 KJV)

When Noah was preparing the Ark, he was informed that the animals and birds (fowls) after their kinds would come to him to keep them alive. Again, notice in Genesis 7:1-3 that the clean beast and the birds (fowls) all come by sevens (pairs) also. Clean or unclean, the birds came by seven pairs. There is no distinction made with them.

And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 7:1-3 KJV)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) CC Pair ramendan

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) ©© Pair ramendan

In Birds of the Bible – Foundation #3 Updated, I made this remark “Noah did not have to round up the animals, they came to him. Because not every animal we see today came on board but the main kinds (for instance the “bird kinds” may have had a “warbler kind” but not have black and white warblers, yellow-rumped warblers, hooded warbler, etc.), which ever ones they were, there was plenty of room for them. I have an idea that because the LORD sent the animals, birds, and critters, that their DNA’s were of the highest quality. (That is my opinion)”

At the time that comment was made, I was not aware of this article from Dr. Jean Lightner, about the Avian Ark Kinds. This series is based on her’s and other’s research into the Avian Kinds that came on board the ark.

“Kinds” or created kinds are called “baramins” and they used different methods to try to find the original kinds. This part of her article is rather technical, and honestly, I don’t understand some of the terms and methods discussed. Yet, the findings, is what I would like to share with you. Those, we can understand. (You can read her article HERE)

Most of us are aware that the many variety of dogs we see today came from an original “dog kind.” No matter how much interbreeding they do, the results are still dog kinds. Cats and dogs don’t interbreed, so no evolution is involved. Variation within the dog kind has occurred, just as it has in the “bird kinds”. In the Bird Kinds, they have come up with approximately 196 putative bird kinds and most of those break down to our modern-day Families in our taxonomy. Yet, in the I.O.C. their are 239 families and two Incertae Sedis families which make 241 families. The next articles will show how those Families compare to today’s families.

By the way, my math was off in that first article. I forgot the two Incertae Sedis Families. That makes for 45 extra families to account for.

Mountain Bluebird, male (R) & female (L) ©Mickey Barnes / from Birds & Blooms

Mountain Bluebird, male (R)- female (L) ©Mickey Barnes / from Birds & Blooms

Two quotes from Dr. Lighner’s article: “There is tremendous variety seen today in animal life as creatures have multiplied and filled the earth since the Flood (Genesis 8:17). In order to identify which modern species are related, being descendants of a single kind, interspecific hybrid data is utilized. When hybrid data is lacking, a cognitum approach is preferred; this identifies natural groupings based on human cognitive senses. Generally the cognitum at the family level (which is usually fairly strong) is preferred when hybrid data is lacking, though obvious cognita surrounding this level are noted.” (emphasis mine)

“As in mammals and amphibians, the state of avian taxonomy is in flux. Despite the ideal of neatly nested hierarchies in taxonomy, it seems groups of birds are repeatedly “changing nests.” This is partially because where an animal is placed depends on which characteristics one chooses to consider. While many had thought that molecular data would resolve these issues, in some cases it has exacerbated them.”

One thing we can see from all this. We will never know exactly who, what, or which one belongs to this family or that order or kind until we reach heaven and ask their Creator.

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. (Psalms 148:5 KJV)

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Avian Kinds on the Ark – Introduction

Birds of the Bible – Foundation – The Ark

Birds of the Bible – Foundation #3 Updated

An Initial Estimate of Avian Ark Kinds,

https://leesbird.com/2011/02/01/birds-of-the-bible-seven-by-seven/

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Birds of the Bible – Foundation #3 Updated

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Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by Quy Tran

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by Quy Tran

We will continue on with the Birds of the Bible – Foundation series.

If you have not read the previous blogs:
Foundation #1 Updated
Foundation #2 Updated

In the last blog the “Fall” of Adam and Eve was mentioned and because of that, the “Curse” is now on them and all of God’s creation. Death comes on the scene, mankind now has sinned and now each person is born as a sinner. The ground is cursed and thorns and thistle now appear.

By Genesis Chapter 6, God has had it with the sins of man.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:5-7 KJV)

The Ark by Elfred Lee

The Ark by Elfred Lee

All is not lost because, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8 KJV) Because of the grace found by Noah, the LORD gives him instructions about how to build an ark including the size, materials to use, who and what will be on board, and why the ark will be needed. God makes a covenant with Noah and tells him to come in with his wife and his sons and his son’s wives.

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. (Genesis 6:19-20 KJV)

He was also to provide food for all of them. And Noah obeyed all that he was told. Noah spent over 100 years preparing the ark and trying to warn others of the coming judgment. There was plenty of room on the ark for more than the 8 people who boarded the ark. The others refused to repent.

Noah's Ark ©©Flickr elmada

Noah’s Ark ©©Flickr elmada

When we get to Chapter 7, the boarding of the ark takes place and the rain and flood begins. “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.” (Genesis 7:1-5)

Noah did not have to round up the animals, they came to him. Because not every animal we see today came on board but the main kinds (for instance the “bird kinds” may have had a “warbler kind” but not have black and white warblers, yellow-rumped warblers, hooded warbler, etc.), which ever ones they were, there was plenty of room for them. I have an idea that because the LORD sent the animals, birds, and critters, that their DNA’s were of the highest quality. (That is my opinion)

Dove in Israel

Doves in Israel

If you read the rest of Genesis 7, you will see that the global flood came and covered everything and only those who were in the ark survived, plus some of those that live in the water.

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (Genesis 7:21-23)

In Foundation #4 we will find out about what the birds go through as they come off the ark and after.

Gospel Presentation

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After Their Kinds – Creation Moments

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American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest ready to eat WikiC

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest ready to eat WikiC

AFTER THEIR KINDS

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)

How wonderful! Your dog has just had puppies! But do you now have to sort through the litter and make sure there are no baby giraffes or kangaroos?

New born Welsh Springer Spaniel puppies ©WikiC

New born Welsh Springer Spaniel puppies ©WikiC

No, not a single giraffe or kangaroo in the litter!In God’s account of creation in Genesis 1, we repeatedly read that both plants and animals were created to reproduce “after their kind.” Genesis 1, in speaking about the creation of plants, repeats three times in just two verses that they are to reproduce “after their kind.” We see the same phrase repeated later in the chapter when animals are created. This is not just empty repetition. God is stressing a fundamental principle that all things reproduce “after their kind.” Mother dogs have puppies and mother cats have kittens. You can count on it.

Why does God stress this principle? Even before creation, God knew that humans would eventually sin and then seek to hide their responsibility by trying to explain things without a Creator. God knew that this idea of evolution would capture the faith of millions over the history of the world.

God stresses what our experience shows so that He might be harder for us to hide from. All things do reproduce after their kind. And despite evolutionists’ strong faith in evolution, they cannot offer one established scientific fact to explain how one kind of creature might eventually make a completely different kind!

Prayer:
I thank You, Lord, that You have made it hard for men to deny You. Yet men still deny You, seeking explanations and excuses outside of Your Word. I know that I, too, can do this, for I am both saint and sinner. I ask that You would correct me when I seek outside of Your Word what is so richly provided to me in Your Word. Amen.

Notes:
Photo: No, not a single giraffe or kangaroo in the litter!
Used with permission of Creation Moments ©2014

See:

Creation Moments – After Their Kind

More Creation Moment and Interesting Things articles here

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Birds of the Bible – Created Kinds

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Black Kite (Milvus migrans) by Nikhil Devasar

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) by Nikhil Devasar

An interesting “News To Note” from Answers in Genesis reported on an article from BBC: “Species count put at 8.7 million” The following paragraphs are what prompted this blog.

Created kinds are organisms representing or descended from those originally created by God about 6,000 years ago. Organisms within a created kind generally interbreed and produce only more organisms of their own kind “within the limits of preprogrammed information, but with great variation.”15 Organisms that can interbreed are of the same created kind, since God designed organisms to reproduce “after their kind.” Due to loss of information and other factors, however, some organisms lose the ability to interbreed. Created kinds correspond roughly to the family level of the current classification taxons but may vary from order to genus level.
Although evolutionists imbue taxonomic classification with evolutionary implications—believing that the taxonomic groupings roughly depict common ancestry— taxonomy is really nothing more than a useful bookkeeping system to sort and group organisms according to their shared characteristics.

I know there is research going on by the Creationist to try to find out what were the original “kinds”, but I am just going to show the different passages in Scripture that talk about “kinds” and specifically those that refer to the “birds or fowls”

The first mention of the “Kinds” is in Genesis, of course. We start of with Genesis 1:21:

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 KJV)

This  took place on the fifth day of creation. Believer’s Bible Commentary says this:
“1:20-23 The fifth day saw the waters stocked with fish and the earth stocked with bird-life and insects. The word translated birds means “flying ones” and includes bats and probably flying insects.”

The kinds are again mentioned when Noah was told to keep alive the birds after their kind during the global flood, they board in Genesis 7:14, and then again these kinds are mentioned as they come off the Ark.

Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:20-22 NKJV)

they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. (Genesis 7:14-15 NKJV)

So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. (Genesis 8:18-19 NKJV)

Most of the versions use “kind or families” and “birds or fowls.” As we continue through Scripture we arrive at the “eat or do not eat” list of birds in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Let’s see what is here:

Leviticus 11:14 has the Kite and Falcon after its kind (ACV) and these are in two different Orders and two different Families today:  Accipitriformes (order) – Accipitridae (family) and Falconiiformes (order) – Falconidae (family). Other versions have the Vulture which is in the Accipitriformes, but the Catharidae family. The Buzzard is mentioned in the GW version, but again, it is Accipitridae family. These are today’s divisions, but yet they are all placed next to each other and could have come from the same original kind. Leviticus 11:16 does the same with the terms for “kind”, but this time with the Hawk. It again is in the Accipitriformes (order) – Accipitridae (family).

The different versions use the terms; after its or his kind, likened to it, the like to it, of that sort, all types.

Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus)Raven (Corvus corax) by Kent Nickell

Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus)Raven (Corvus corax) by Kent Nickell

Levitcus 11:15 mentions the Raven after its kind. These are the Corvidae Family of birds which are in the Passeriformes (Songbirds) Order. This family includes the Crows, Jays, Treepies, etc., and the Ravens way down at the bottom of the list. (Which has nothing to do with importance)

Leviticus 11:19 does the same, but has the “Heron after his, her  or its kind” (depending on the version) Egrets, Herons, and Bitterns make up the Ardeidae Family of the Pelicaniformes Order.

The list in Deuteronomy 14:13-18, covers the same birds and basically says the same things.

There is one interesting reference in the DRB (1899 Douay-Rheims) in Leviticus 11:19 and Deut. 14:18. Look at the verse:

The heron, and the charadroin according to its kind, the houp also, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:19 DRB)
The bittern, and the charadrion, every one in their kind: the houp also and the bat. (Deuteronomy 14:18 DRB)

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) by Nik

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) by Nikhil Devasar

Some of the other versions mention the Lapwing and the Hoopoe, but not with “their kinds.” What caught my interest here is that there is an Order and a Family with a name similar to “charadrion.” The Charadriiformes Order has a Family called Charadriidae and guess what bird is in that family? The Lapwing! I loaded the Vulgate into my e-Sword, not because I know Latin, but all the birds are given a Common Name and a Scientific Name, which most times is Latin or similar. For instant the – Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) or a Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus). Here is Lev 11:19 and Deut 14:18:

erodionem et charadrion iuxta genus suum opupam quoque et vespertilionem
(Leviticus 11:19 Vulgate)
onocrotalum et charadrium singula in genere suo upupam quoque et vespertilionem (Deuteronomy 14:18 Vulgate)

I also see the word “genus” and “genere” which could refer to what we call today a genus or genera. (Told you I don’t know Latin.)

James is the only New Testament place where “every kind of” birds is again listed. In this reference all birds no matter what Family or Order are included. See Birds of the World.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: (James 3:7 KJV)

I know parts of this blog has been somewhat technical as far as the Taxonomy of birds, but the birds are mentioned in the Bible and I enjoy trying to find out about them. The Bible also says:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

Previous articles here include:
Birds of Bible – Foundation #2
Birds of Bible – Foundation #3
Birds of Bible – Foundation #5

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