Throughout history, various Biblical scholars have used the text of the Bible to determine the date of creation; there is some variability in their calculations, but the 6,000 year old figure is the most widely accepted. Other calculations put the Biblical date of creation about 8,000 years ago. The person you were responding to (so rudely) did not make the number up.
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Thx for the NOT rude reply, although I disagree with your point. “Young Earth” Biblical interpretation is a fairly new interpretation based on calculations done in 1654 by Archbishop Usher. Prior to that, it never crossed anyone’s mind that the Earth/Universe was “young.” Many Bible experts don’t accept that number. The whole concept of creation days being 24 hour periods is new and faulty. It’s popularized by Christian haters, because it makes Christians look stupid and anti-science. An to that I agree. It is stupid.
The Genesis “days” were written in Hebrew. The word was/is YOM. It can mean 24 hours, but it is also the ONLY Hebrew word for long period or time, such as in my grandfather’s “day” or the “day” of the dinosaurs. There’s actually NO good reason to think it means 24 hours. The earth wasn’t even there initially to measure the first 24 hours, we are still in the Biblical 7th day, which has lasted since the Creation of man, about 100,000 years ago.
Further, my first comment addressed the very old universe, so it was clear I was by no means saying the earth was 6ish thousands years old, but he/she chose to go ballistic.
Anyway, I’m fully aware of the day/age controversy. My initial response of “Nowhere in my post (it isn’t in the Bible either) is there anything about a “6,000 year old Earth.” Why would you make up something so stupid?” was regarding the incorrect assumption about my post, nothing beyond that.
regards.
According to the Wikipedia article I linked, the first recorded estimate of the earth's age that would put it at about 6,000 years old now was done in 160 AD. So the calculation is hardly new.
I don't know about "Christian haters", but I do know that most of the literal creationists I encounter embrace that number, and try to claim everything about science is wrong: the geological record, the steady change of species over time, radiological dating, etc. Most of the creationist websites do embrace young earth theology. While one can argue that they are moles pretending to be Christians so as to completely discredit Christians through displaying utter stupidity, I do not think that is the case. I think there are a lot of people who are convinced that to be Christian, one must believe that everything came into existence in its present form 6,000 years ago. I think that those who own the websites like Answers in Genesis are con-men preying on those people.
The Bible doesn't have a great track-record when it comes to scientific accuracy. However, I try to be knowledgeable about what the world would be like if the Bible were scientifically accurate: it's necessary, since I get pulled into literal creationist threads on a fairly regular basis. And I am a scientist; I think that the decline of the US in the sciences is just as dangerous as the decline of the US in other areas. So I want to educate people.