Unveiling the Divine Purpose Behind the Wilson Cycle: A Christian Perspective

The Wilson Cycle: A Serious Problem for Catastrophic Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is a well-established scientific theory that explains the movement and interaction of Earth's lithospheric plates. However, within the realm of plate tectonics, there are different interpretations and theories that seek to provide further insights into this dynamic process. One such theory is Catastrophic Plate Tectonics (CPT), which claims to build upon the existing evidence for Uniformitarian Plate Tectonics (UPT). However, when examining the details of the CPT theory, one major point of divergence becomes apparent - the Wilson cycle.

The Wilson cycle is a key concept in UPT theory and plays a significant role in explaining the motion of continents over time. It involves a series of tectonic events that occur during the opening and closing of ocean basins, ultimately leading to the formation of mountain ranges. This concept is believed to be supported by various lines of evidence, including paleomagnetism, paleontology, and tectonic studies.

In the context of CPT, however, the Wilson cycle poses serious challenges. According to CPT proponents, a 'Pangean' supercontinent was pulled apart at the initiation of the Flood by gravity-induced subduction of the pre-Flood oceanic floor. This resulted in the rapid formation of new oceanic floor at spreading ridges between the newly formed continents, with continental motion occurring towards the subduction zone.

One major issue arises when considering how the hot and thin oceanic floor could cool rapidly enough to allow subduction to occur later during the Flood, thus pulling the continents back in the opposite direction as required by a Wilson cycle. The cooling process is crucial for initiating subduction and reversing continental motion. Without a satisfactory explanation for this cooling mechanism, it becomes challenging for CPT to support a single Wilson cycle using the same UPT evidence.

One well-known example of a Wilson cycle comes from UPT evidence of the Iapetus and Atlantic Ocean basins. The Iapetus Ocean basin is believed to have opened in the Precambrian and closed in the mid-Silurian through the collision of preexisting continents. The modern Atlantic Ocean basin is thought to have formed through the separation and spreading of the Pangean supercontinent in the late-Triassic period. However, Baumgardner's explanation of CPT does not seem to provide sufficient opportunity for even one Wilson cycle in support of either the Iapetus or the Atlantic Ocean.

These discrepancies between UPT and CPT theories raise important questions and highlight the need for caution and further clarification before CPT can gain full acceptance. It is vital to understand how CPT can explain the process of continental drift pulling continents back together again using newly-formed hot and thin oceanic floor, which lacks the necessary rigidity or weight to allow opposing subduction zones to form.

In conclusion, while Catastrophic Plate Tectonics (CPT) claims support from Uniformitarian Plate Tectonics (UPT) evidence, it falls short when it comes to explaining the Wilson cycle. The Wilson cycle is a key component of UPT theory, involving the opening and closing of ocean basins, and the formation of mountain ranges. Without a viable mechanism for cooling the newly-formed oceanic floor and initiating subduction in an opposing direction, CPT struggles to support this crucial aspect of UPT. Further research and clarification are necessary to address these inconsistencies.

Source Material: "The Wilson cycle: a serious problem for Catastrophic Plate Tectonics" by Carl Froede Jr.