Funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here...
I'm not denying that if God wanted to create the world in exactly 6 days, or 6 hours, or 6 seconds, that He could.
I'm not denying that if He wanted to create everything appearing older than it was (i.e. "We now join your regularly scheduled universe, already in progress...") He could, though I do raise a question I didn't come up with: God doesn't lie, so how can we honestly suggest He would create an entire universe with the appearance that it was much older than it really is? Isn't that the same as distressing forgeries so they look like the real thing?
But really, let's take a look at young earth creationism for a second, and apply the twin faculties of Faith and Reason to see what the scriptures are telling us.
Well, it's easy to see where we get the young earth truth from, many bible-christians will tell you. It says so in the creation story.
Which creation story?
This is a link to the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. I will be taking excerpts from the first two chapters, click "Next" at the bottom of the page to get to chapter two.
Genesis 1:1-3;
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.We're all familiar with this story, right? From Gen 1:1 to Gen 2:3, we tell the classic story of creation, 6 days, and on the seventh God rests.
Synopsis:
- Day 1: Let there be light.
- Day 2: Sky.
- Day 3: Dry land & Vegetation.
- Day 4: Sun & Moon & Stars.
- Day 5: Aquatic & Flying Animals.
- Day 6: Wild Animals, Cattle, People.
- Day 7: Party!!! Er... I mean rest...
Specifically note Genesis 1:27;
God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.Some of you may know where I'm going here, and the rest are asking about the rib. Mmm... Ribs... I think I know what I'm having for supper now...
Sorry, subject at hand.
Genesis 2:4-7;
Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation. At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens - while as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil, but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground - the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.
Keep in mind that Day 7 just ended at 2:3.
In verse 8, God finally gets around to planting Eden, followed by all the various plants.
Verse 18: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."
In verses 19-20, God proceeds to create all the animals, bringing them before the man who names them, but none is a suitable partner for him.
Last, but certainly not least, in verses 21-25, we see the creation of Eve, who is, "at last bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh."
For those not keeping track:
- Earth is made.
- Adam is made.
- Eden planted/plants are made.
- Animals are made.
- Eve is made.
- No mention of days.
- ???
- Profit!
In case you didn't notice, that's two separate creation stories. Not just like, hey, Joachim and Zebediah heard the same story and wrote it down differently. Like, seriously, different order and a different point to the stories.
So next time you're faced with a bible-christian who emphatically insists that the earth is only 6,000 years old based on the scriptural evidence, tell them to read Genesis 1 & 2. Their reaction to the actual words of scripture will tell you whether further discussion with them is worth it.
