Young Earth (Jesus, genesis, bible, Christianity, God)

[angellous_evangellous]

YIKES. I wrote a paper in grad school concerning Genesis 1-5 and I used scores of sources (critical commentaries, articles, etc) and none of them posited an arugment for young earth. Therefore, I concluded that the young earth theory was no longer widely held. However, I am near a fundamentalist Christian seminary, one of the largest in the world, and I have found that it is being taught and held by many students and professors.

I have some questions that I would like to debate:

First, is there any proof for the young earth theory?

Second, is there any other group - religious or otherwise - that is pushing this or a similar theory. If it is isolated to Christianity, then it is most likely not true. I don't know of any other group with this on their agenda.

In my personal view, I think that it is a scientific question, and should be answered by science alone. Our science should not have theological aims: Theology answers theological questions

More on my view is here: The death knoll of Intelligent Design and Creationism

[Dinogrrl]

I honestly have yet to come into contact with any 'proof' for the young-earth that even I (a freshman in college, and even earlier, in eighth grade) couldn't debunk.

Someone here on the forums (wish I could remember who--I want to put this in my quote list, so if you know who it was, tell me so I can properly credit! ) said "Why would God create a whole set of natural laws that He Himself would not follow?" Which basically sums up why I believe in an old earth. :}

[No*s]

Nope there isn't Nate. Even II know that (of course at Wayland, that wouldn't be saying much among the religion majors and probably less at your local seminary)

[Mister Emu]

I would talk to Barry Setterfield( www.setterfield.org ). He says he bases his belief in YEC on scientific data.

[Dinogrrl]

...it looks like he's an OEC. o_O Using the age-day theory. Unless I'm totally reading this wrong. Could you point me to a specific page or phrase where he's talking about YEC?

[Mister Emu]

...it looks like he's an OEC. o_O Using the age-day theory. Unless I'm totally reading this wrong. Could you point me to a specific page or phrase where he's talking about YEC?

No, I have never really searched his website. His(and possibly himself as well) wife posts at www.freejesus.net as Tuppence I believe.

Well actually here http://www.setterfield.org/combinedtimeline.htm He puts forth that the world is 5792 years old

[Dinogrrl]

Huh. And then on the 'geology time' whatever page, he's connecting geological times with Bible ages.


Okay, I'm confused.

[angellous_evangellous]

I am asking for scientific evidence rather than interpretive evidence - just to clarify.

Thanks for the help.

[Mister Emu]

Could you explain interpretive as opposed to scientific evidence, sorry, but it seems that some scientific evidence would be interpretive.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Mister Emu

Could you explain interpretive as opposed to scientific evidence, sorry, but it seems that some scientific evidence would be interpretive.

Quite right. Scientific evidence needs to be interpreted. I mean interpreting the book of Genesis to formulate a young earth theory is not proof for the theory.

Biblical interpretation is a science, but I want biological, palentological, physical proof.