There is some question as to whether Adam’s sin caused death to come only on mankind or if the curse of death also fell upon all that were under Adam’s domain as well. One of the most prominent progressive creationist websites claims that animal death had to exist for billions of years because of predators. The writer of the article suggests that since animals that have no predators wreck ecosystems in a fallen work, then animals without predators would have also wrecked ecosystems in a world that God declared to be “very good.”

• Bad Assumption 1: Animals that prey on other animals today were predators before Adam sinned.
• Counter: Genesis 1:29-30 says that God provided only plants for animals to eat. It is contrary to scripture to assume that predatory activity existed prior to Adam’s sin. Since Adam’s sin, God’s carefully crafted creation has decayed to the point that animals now find nourishment easier to gain by killing other animals than eating salads. Romans 8:18-21 is strong affirmation of the fact that all of creation was affected negatively by Adam’s sin. Even today, creatures that would be thought to be only predators (based on appearance) have vegetarian diets. See the story here. And here. Isaiah 11:9 and Isaiah 65:25 give strong reasons why predatory activity is considered part of the curse.

• Bad Assumption 2: “Under God’s plan, nature is balanced.”
• Counter: Where in God’s Word does it say balanced? What is actually says is that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” The author assumes death by predatory animals to prove death of animals. It’s not sounds reasoning.

• Bad Assumption 3: The world prior to Adam’s sin is no different from the fallen world after Adam’s sin.
• Counter: Again Romans 8 has a lot to say about the author’s naive assumption. Genesis 3:17-19 also rebukes the author’s assumption. The world changed radically after Adam sinned, and one of the biggest changes was the introduction of death to Adam, his descendants, and those under his dominion (animals).

You can also find further scriptural evidence of animal death by looking here. And here.

Test 1: Is this skull from a predator or vegetarian?

Test 2: Predator or Vegetarian?