Re: Why I think the Age of the Earth Matters
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:49 am
mattrose:
steve:
steve:
To Homer, I'd just say that I think you're overly cynical, but this is merely a battle of our opinions However, on scientific issues, again, I'd point to the damage done in church history due to the church refusing to engage with science. If you are reminded at how often the scientific community has been wrong on scientific issues, how about how often the "church" has been wrong on scientific issues?
I find the biblical evidence for an old earth to be quite solid. And notable ancient interpreters thought the creation week was longer than a mere 168 hours without being influenced by modern scientists.If we're honest, Old Earth Creationism is not a Bible-first approach to the issue. It's a science first approach. Scientists say the earth is very old and so we re-read the Bible in that light. I'm not saying this antagonistically either. It might be RIGHT to approach scientific issues (like the age of the earth) with a science first approach (this is usually connected with the idea that the Bible is not a science textbook, which is true enough). But I think if we are honest we'd have to admit that most people reading through the entire Bible would assume that it teaches a recent creation.
steve:
In my mind you're describing "scientific" creationism, not the old earth scenario, which no one but some Christians consider controversial.In my opinion, Christians should not try to wed their biblical interpretation to controversial scientific scenarios.
steve:
But I do think there are compelling biblical reasons to reject the 7 24 hour day creation week view, Ussher's chronology, the macroevolution young earthers must support to get speciation from the ark, etc.... (the list goes on)That is, we should not, without compelling biblical reasons, hitch our wagon to any current paradigm which has not yet accounted for all the existing evidence.
To Homer, I'd just say that I think you're overly cynical, but this is merely a battle of our opinions However, on scientific issues, again, I'd point to the damage done in church history due to the church refusing to engage with science. If you are reminded at how often the scientific community has been wrong on scientific issues, how about how often the "church" has been wrong on scientific issues?