Young Earth Creationists Drive Me Batty
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
by Jennifer Cuddy
There isn't a whole lot that drives me more nutty in this world than young Earth creationists. First of all, I think they have zero respect for science and the meticulous, time consuming, utterly over educated scientific methods employed by the world's most brilliant scientists ( and probably most brilliant people in general). Secondly, I believe that they are embarrassing Christianity to such an extent, that they just may be ultimately responsible for Christianity's demise. You can't just ignore facts to suit your literalistic interpretations of the Bible. There are other explanations that fit with the Bible just fine if they would just admit to their errors and educate themselves to Judaic idioms and allegories. It is a Jewish book, after all.
I apologize if this sounds so harsh, but I am about fed up. Something has got to be done to stop these people from falsely educating their children whom I hope will grow up and grow out of it to learn the truth. Speaking of truth, I do believe it is a sin to call truth a lie, and this exactly what they are doing. I believe that by doing so, they are causing confusion amongst believers which will ultimately lead to doubt and denial.
Here is a great website that will inform you of the many methods used to date the Earth that include much more than just radiocarbon dating systems: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-age-of-earth.html#howold
So please, do not be intimidated by researching the truth. Most YEC's I've found do not even understand the science behind what they are arguing against! If you would still insist on believing that the Earth is only 5 to 10,000 years old, I beg you to go to your local university and take some classes in Biology, Geology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Physics, Paleontology, and Mathematics before you make your decisions. Or at least then you will have some inkling of what you are talking about.
Here is a great website that will inform you of the many methods used to date the Earth that include much more than just radiocarbon dating systems: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-age-of-earth.html#howold
So please, do not be intimidated by researching the truth. Most YEC's I've found do not even understand the science behind what they are arguing against! If you would still insist on believing that the Earth is only 5 to 10,000 years old, I beg you to go to your local university and take some classes in Biology, Geology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Physics, Paleontology, and Mathematics before you make your decisions. Or at least then you will have some inkling of what you are talking about.
Here is an excellent reference for old Earth creationism:
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Thank you Jennifer, I hadn't realized that I am embarrassing Christianity to such an extend that I am responsible for Christianities demise. I appreciate your setting me straight. Love, teresaDidn't mean to mis quote you - I meant to say that I might be ultimately responsible.Jennifer, there is ample evidence on the other side of this from Christians who are just as knowledgable and well educated. You don't have to agree, but please do not use this one issue to sum up a Christian. I can honestly say to you, that I thought there was nothing anyone could ever say that would bring me to tears and have me trembling regarding my Christianity. I was wrong. I didn't account for another Christian saying something so incredibly narrow and mean. I understand your passion, but not your statement. There is a lot more to being a Christian and being an example of Christianity than this subject.Yes, I am taking this very personal.
Excuse me, Christianity's demise.
I apologize Teresa, and I was afraid that you would react this way if you read this article...But I believe what I say to be true and it should be an issue that we need to think about. The evidence that the YEC have is argued by every reputable scientist in the world. We have evidence of the Earth's correct age in almost every aspect of science. It is the truth, and I stand by it.BUT, we do not know where or how water got to our planet. Did you know that?I never meant to hurt you. I was just blowing off some steam.I know that you believe what you say is true and that is what makes me so upset. You assume that young earth creationist have not done their homework. Some of us just happen to believe the evidence that shows that secular science is in error and has case studies to prove it. Why do you insist all Christians have to believe the evidence you read especially from men and women who don't start with the belief that there is a God and he did the Creating? I know this is a big issue for you, but how is judging other Christians who do not take this same stance going to make you feel better? I won't speak for everyone, but for me, so what if I am wrong - what I believe the earth to be has no baring on what kind of Christian I am going to be.There is a lot more to being a Christian than young earth/old earth positions. And I do not see how making the kind of statement you did can be Holy Spirit filled.I guess I am just saying don't assume that all the amazing scientists that are Christians are lying to the world. Really, when we come face to face with Jesus, is it going to matter? I know I am going to fall to my knees and be thankful for his grace, because it is on that day when I see his holiness that for the first time I will see the depth of my wretchedness.I believe the Bible tells us how water got here. That is the problem with secular science, if they can't figure it out, then the are baffled. But since water is a visable reality, they can't simply say it doesn't exist. Scientists are not bigger than God.The fact is not whether scientist are bigger than god, who probably does not exist anyway, but whether they are bigger than circular logic. In 99% of cases they are.
Teresa, you can still believe in God and old Earth. In fact, I believe you'd have to, or it is false.This earth is so brilliant and I am constantly awe stricken by its magnificance...I believe that God and the Bible are just more complicated than the literal translation. And there are 2 creation stories in the Bible. Jewish allegorical teaching is such that when 2 conflicting stories appear in the Bible one of them is allegorical.The water fact I stated was supposed to be pro-Creator.Again, no reputable scientist agrees with YEC; and I mean none. You have to think about that. There is a good reason for it!
and what makes you think that scientists all begin with disbelief? Do you think there is some conspiracy going on?? Alot of scientists do believe, and they believe in an old Earth. There is no conspiracy, only facts. And these facts have been discovered by brilliant people who have studied and studied and studied these things..It only shows how much more magnificent it all is!Yes I know you can still believe in God and old Earth.No, I am not much for conspiracies. I know we are not going to agree, and that is okay, we can still fellowship together. My point is, you once told me that it was mean spirited, judgmental Christians that make blanket statements that kept you away from Christianity. This is why I am so surprised that you shared your belief about old earth this way.Still, this is how you feel, I am over it now. I only took this so personal because of the many great study times and conversations we have had.You get 10 stars for writing an article that generated such a personal response from me. No one has ever done that before :-) Love you bunches, my dear sister in Jesus. Talk to you soon.
Good thoughts on this, Jennifer. I've always wondered about the phrase in Genesis 1 that says, "The earth was formless and empty". You could read that to imply that "something" was here before God began the actual formation of the earth. That would account for the age of the rocks, etc and younger actual "creation".Hi Jean,There are many excellent references supporting old Earth creationism. I can't post a url here so I will put it in my articleThanks for reading!Jennifer
Jennifer, anyone is perfectly welcome to believe whatever he wishes. But it is totally unrealistic to say there is not one reputable scientist who believes in a young earth. I say the oopposite, there is not one REPUTABLE one who denies it. There loads of PhD's who can show you where the disreputable ones are simply lying and trying to prove to be above submitting themselves to God. Go to (hebronics dot org slash evolquotes dot html) And see what these disreputable scientists admit in private. By the way, I did take biology, physics and mathematics in college. I didn't become convinced.Fair enough, Joel..I will take a look at your link. I respect that you are an educated man. All I have ever known is the opposite, but then again, I am from another generation than you are. Thanks for commenting.Jennifer
Hi Ms. Cuddy,I used to teach science and geology in college and embraced all the interesting principles that brilliant scientific minds use to try to explain how the Earth behaves. In the process, I had to wrestle with those principles as well as with those taught in the Bible which I had held since I became a Christian as a college student myself. For a while, I held on to a mixed view of the Universe and of Creation – pretty much what you probably have now. But something happened which convinced me the Bible account was right all along. (God is much more brilliant than any human genius!)It will take a long time to go through it but in order to disabuse you of your anger, disillusion or whatever you might be having against so-called YECs or literal-Bible-readers, let me just refer you to my blog: (www dot manariwa dot com).Thanks.Vince RagayI don't see anything in your site that disproves the age of the Earth. Sorry.Care to give an example? What is "the thing that happened" that changed your mind?Hi Jennifer, you will have to read the whole book. It chronicles the whole story of Noah and how, if seen through faith, science, history, mythology and contemporary events, it shows the authenticity of his eyewitness account. An example would be that the Water Canopy Genesis 1 talks about did exist to produce the perfect climatic conditions that made Paradise what it was (no dark and cold nights,no clothes needed, no rains, no storms, no ice caps, etc.). In short, the witness of the OT writers about early Earth realities was valid and factual and not something we can throw in among myths or suppositions. The science of their day was as based on observation (Adam saw what Moses wrote and passed it on to Enos who told Noah, and so on) as our own. Eyes and ears were made for seeing and hearing. And hands were made for writing. Noah and Moses saw, heard, logged in and wrote what they experienced, heard or read. Without their truthful accounts, not even Christ would have anything to stand on. Faith is the key to all the wayward discussions we are having.
Dear Ms. Cuddy,What does one then make of exodus 20:11 and Exodus 31:17?Or the instruction given to kill the man who collected wood on the seventh day? How can one not interpret these literally since the context is crystal clear:The six days for man in which to work is exactly the same as the six days in which God created the heavens and theearth?If the earth is so old, when exactly was man created? Do you believe in evolution too?If so then what to do with all it's implications of death BEFORE the fall? What did Jesus then die for?More importantly, who is your authority on the creation of the earth? Is it the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who created heaven and earth and who was there in the beginning or is it the science of man, the created being who has to speculate [make assumptions to interpret scientific facts] and interpret what the eyes see? Who do you believe?It would be interesting to see your total exposition to answer these questions in a logical and coherent way once you go down the path of old age for the earth.May God bless you as you grapple with the truth.KevinR.
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