quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
I believe that the earth is ~4.5 billion years old. But if God had created it in 4004BC or whenever, couldn't He have also created the fossil record, etc., as if it were billions of years old?

I've heard that argument before, and I would have to concede that yes, it's possible, which is why I voted "fairly certain". And this is coming from someone who has studied the fossil record. I just think it is extremely unlikely.

The earth is a little older than dirt.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
if God had created it in 4004BC or whenever,

Why do we argue about this stuff? You were in grade school about then, weren't you?

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
..., humans are obviously going to destroy it with a couple hundred years of industrial revolution.

False

Grady McMurtry makes a good case for young Earth creation.

The Earth itself is billions of years old. Human civilization - i.e., when humans began to live together in cities and developed governmental structure, agriculture and especially writing - is around 6000 years old, about the time of the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians.

quote:

Originally posted by BlackTalonJHP:
Grady McMurtry makes a good case for young Earth creation.

Quick clarification, that's Grady S. McMurtry, not Grady L. McMurtry. HUGE difference.

latest science puts it between 4.5 and 4.7 billion

quote:

Originally posted by Stlhead:
Why spend time arguing over the age of the earth, when we can spend that same time arguing over the merits of 9mm for use as a self defense round?

This!

Can anybody explain the religious significance of the young earth theory? I'm religious and I really don't understand what difference it makes, how old the earth is, it's here for our use.

I hate to see people get hung up on meaningless points that distract them from what's really important.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Can anybody explain the religious significance of the young earth theory? I'm religious and I really don't understand what difference it makes, how old the earth is, it's here for our use.

I hate to see people get hung up on meaningless points that distract them from what's really important.

Proponents of Young Earth creationism use a literal interpretation of the Bible, which indicates an earth that is only about 6,000 years old. This runs counter to astronomical science, which currently estimates a universe that is over 14 billion years old, and the earth at about 4.5 billion. It also opposes anthropological science, which says that the creation of life on this planet was driven by evolution over millions of years.

So I guess the religious significance is whether the Bible is to be interpreted on a literal basis, and if not, how much of it is literal and how much is subject to interpretation.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
~4.5 billion years, but it doesn't matter, humans are obviously going to destroy it with a couple hundred years of industrial revolution.

Stow that silly shit. Ridiculous

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
~4.5 billion years, but it doesn't matter, humans are obviously going to destroy it with a couple hundred years of industrial revolution.

Stow that silly shit. Ridiculous

Apologies, I incorrectly assumed my sarcasm would be picked up.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Can anybody explain the religious significance of the young earth theory? I'm religious and I really don't understand what difference it makes, how old the earth is, it's here for our use.

I hate to see people get hung up on meaningless points that distract them from what's really important.

A very simple reason why it matters is that if you can convince people that what is told in the Book of Genesis is not true, then it becomes easier cast doubt on the rest of the Bible.

It took years for me to accept that the earth is young. Like many I bought into the idea that a day for God is no the same as a day for man, but I no longer think that way.

If you can get your hands on a copy of the documentary, Is Genesis History? I highly recommend that you watch it. They approach the case from multiple scientific disciplines.

*Edited to correct the name of the documentary

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Apologies, I incorrectly assumed my sarcasm would be picked up.

Sarcasm or no, you interjected politics into an apolitical thread.

I love it when ppl try to figure God out to fit the human 21 century human understanding.
Imo, God has no face, clothes, time, year .... God just is.... Complete in its self, no need or desire to place my limits on it.
So the earth is as science says in our know understanding of calenders.

The warranty has expired.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Apologies, I incorrectly assumed my sarcasm would be picked up.

Sarcasm or no, you interjected politics into an apolitical thread.

Firearms were also interjected into a non-firearm thread. I apologized, calm down.

quote:

A very simple reason why it matters is that if you can convince people that what is told in the Book of Genesis is not true, then it becomes easier cast doubt on the rest of the Bible.

Why is doubt a bad thing? Is it not better to have doubt so one can evaluate and make a decision, rather than a dogmatic approach?

Certainly there are some things in the bible you can agree are not an actual history of events, no?

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:

quote:

A very simple reason why it matters is that if you can convince people that what is told in the Book of Genesis is not true, then it becomes easier cast doubt on the rest of the Bible.

Why is doubt a bad thing? Is it not better to have doubt so one can evaluate and make a decision, rather than a dogmatic approach?

Certainly there are some things in the bible you can agree are not an actual history of events, no?

If you doubt that the Bible is the word of God and that some things in it are true and some things aren't, then yes, it is a bad thing. If one starts picking and choosing what they wish to believe, then what they end up doing is creating their own god instead of believing in the one and only true God. Are there going to be things you don't understand of have questions about, certainly! People should ask questions and seek understanding. God does not ask us to turn our brains off, I believe it is quite the opposite. Studying the Bible is a life long process that involves, among other things, thinking, meditation, prayer, fellowship and discussion with other Christians,faith, and a desire to seek the truth (as opposed to a desire to simply affirm your own ideas).

Obviously Jesus communicated in the form of parables so that His teachings could be understood. However, aside from that, I cannot think of anything that I do not believe to be historical fact. The people, places, and events that are in the Bible are historical. Is there something in particular you are thinking of that you doubt as being actual history?