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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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Hugh Ross' Reasons to Believe mentioned by steve(?) of the redwoods!
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Quick disclaimer, I always feel a deep reluctance to share the "intellectual" side of my faith, which I always work hard to keep humble, with Christians I don't know because so many Christians seem offended by anyone searching for God's truth in this way... I have no idea why, and I find it painful, but since someone else brought this up, I'd like to make a comment.
I just had to make a quick comment about Steve of the redwoods comment on 5-14-12 podcast (if I heard you sing your name correctly :D ). He mentioned Reasons to Believe and I just want to encourage anyone who has struggled like I have with the issue of old vs. young earth, and "science" vs. "faith." For me, I grew up in a conservative church setting and had a binder full of notes as to why the earth was young, even gave a brief talk on it in High School. Then I took one geology class in college and it literally ripped all I had been studying to shreds. For me, I was confronted with such clear cases for the earth being old that I simply had to reject a young earth. It was either that or believe one of the following: that God made a young earth look old (a kind of lie I couldn't except), the devil had the power to recreate the world into an old earth (a level of power I can't accept he has), or that there is a vast conspiracy among literally all scientists to fudge and make up very complex scientific findings to show that the earth is old when it is not (a conspiracy that strains the boundaries of credulity).
So, for about 7 years I was stuck in this place where I felt compelled to believe the earth was old, yet I had no way of reconciling that with the truth of the Bible which was life itself to me. Then I came across Reasons to Believe (reasons.org) and though it took a while for them to answer all my questions, and I still have some skepticism, they have put my faith and understanding back together again, and I'm so very grateful for them because of that.
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Matthew Epperson 05/22/2012 06:05 |
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Craig from Illinois
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05/22/2012 13:07 |
Matthew,
I like to ask questions and challenge the norms too. This forum is the only place I feel like I have a shot to express my doubts and questions without fear. I am always searching; always exploring. I'm glad you're here asking and searching as well!
I have not looked at "Reasons to Believe". I'm sure it's an intriguing web site. I also have a BS degree in Biology from a Christian university. I never used my degree and I'v lost much of my knowledge of the subjects. However, I remember my professors staying away from engaging in the social debates regarding evolution and the Old Earth/New Earth theories. I'm not sure exactly where they would have stood 15 years ago. But one of my professors wrote a book called "Random Design".
His book was a twist of Creation/Intelligent Design/Evolution theories. Eventually, it got him kicked out of the university. The point being, I think those that disagreed with his work got stuck on the similar conclusions that you made...
1) Did God make the young Earth look old?
2) The devil recreated the new earth into an old Earth. (That's a new one for me)
3) There is a conspiracy among all scientists to fake the numbers.
I think there is at least one more plausibility...
1) The Genesis poem (The Creation Story) is misunderstood.
The Bible says what it says... but does it mean what we think it means? Is the intent of Genesis 1 to explain how our Universe/Solar System/Earth/Biodiversity/mankind came into existence? Was the the point? There is debate on that. I'll have to find those resources and provide links.
So, I am at a place where I am not thinking how the creation story can be validated by Old Earth & New Earth theories. I am thinking about the creation story itself. What was it's purpose? What message did the author intend leave with His chosen people? The poem is a beautiful, simple yet complex piece of work.
I don't believe it's a list or a chain of events. I believe it's more. It's an infinite God sharing His infinite wisdom to a people with a lineal perspective trapped by time and space.
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Matthew Epperson
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05/22/2012 16:23 |
Thanks for your response Craig, it is very encouraging. I agree with much of what you said, and yes, your 4th point is my own conclusion as well. I think your later point if very good, that God is simply communicating a story to us about who he is as our creator. However, because of what I've learned from reasons.org, I do see it as a more literal account than I use to.
Here is a link to a podcast where their genesis 1 time line is explained starting 13 minutes in. I hope you find it as intriguing as I have.
http://www.reasons.org/podcasts/i-didnt-know-that/reading-recommendations-rtb-creation-timeline-explained-unpacking-cosmic-fingerprints-dvd-my-genes-made-me-do-it
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