Posted on 10/29/2010 9:53:29 PM PDT by skeptoid
Here's an audio excerpt from Thursday night's Alaska Public Broadcasting gubernatorial debate, in which Republican Gov. Sean Parnell and Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz respond to the moderator's question of whether Earth is closer to 6,000 or 6 billion years old. (Audio courtesy Think Progress.)
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Those who believe in God know He was there and that only He knows when it all began. To atheists and agnostics, scientific or not, “only God knows” is a meaningless phrase. I will amend that intellectually honest believers and non-believers both would agree that an estimate is only that and not a statement of fact as to the age of Earth.
How did that “universally accepted” global warming thing work out again?
Just curious—why would that be a fair question in a gubernatorial debate? What policies does it address in the office sought? Would it be equally fair to ask Mr. Berkowitz if he agreed with his forefathers’ sacrificing of animals to Jehovah?
The Earth is indeed 4.5 Billion years old.
And the Universe is perhaps 3 times older.
That’s when God made these things. To claim that the earth is 6000 years old (or some other ‘young’ age) in contradiction of the facts is a disservice to the truth.
And if a literal reading of the Bible leads us to say the Earth is 6000 years old, then what does that tell us about how we are using, or misusing, the Bible?
Since I don’t know where God lives and I don’t know how long one of his day’s is I can be content with with He created the world in six days plus all the scientific data.
Those who embrace junk science are equally damaging to a society needs to be able to use rational thought and not just faith.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth(.)
Note the period at the end of this verse. I believe that the Bible clearly states that there was an age that was, we now live in the earth age that is, and there is an age to come.
The first earth age ended with satan’s rebellion, and this age will end with the return of the LORD and the beginning of the 1000 year “Day of the LORD” thus bringing about the third earth age and our Father returns His kingdom to earth.
II Peter 3:5 “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”
II Peter 3:6 “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:”
Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”
These verses aren’t talking about the flood of Noah, God did not make the earth without form and void. It became that way as a result of satan’s rebellion.
Isaiah 45:18 “for thus saith the Lord That created the heavens; God Himself That formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord; and there is none else.”
One can also state the assumptions being made in that assessment, instead of claiming it as fact.
I see nothing wrong in a relative basis timeline labeling the history back to 6 billion years, but if one seeks to claim it is an absolute 6 billion years, then they might be academically and mathematically valid, but lacking wherewithal to discern soundness in their argument.
Agree with your last point completely, Catsrus.
You don’t know he didn’t create via larvae or eggs. The scripture is not specific. When I make a zip line out back (my honeydo today), I have to go through the process, buy parts, put together, clamp, pull, etc... Then when I’m done, I say “I made a zip line, there it is” to my boys. To the boys, if they don’t see the process, it appears with age, to me, I see the process.
From what I read, you just can’t say with or without age with certainty; the text is just too vague.
Are you really certain of this? Does your statement rather indicate that you have chosen to accept on faith the dogmatic pronouncements of the contemporary scientific community, which marches in lockstep behind Darwin. And which, we all know, has always taught the same unchanging truths throughout the centuries, and has never grown, developed, or changed any of it's fundamental understandings? (sarcasm off)
One might ask: how many years have you personally spent in the formal study of astrophysics, evolutionary biology, and other related sciences, and what original research have you carried out which qualifies you to speak with authority on the age of the earth and the universe?
Your reply, I might guess, would be something along the lines of: "Don't be silly - of course I haven't personally done all that research - but plenty of others have..." You will probably trail off there, realizing that continuing would undermine your position. Continuing, as in: "...and I accept the truthfulness of what they say/I believe what I have been taught by my science teachers/I dare not challenge what I have been relentlessly indoctrinated to accept my entire life...
Isn't the truth of the matter that you do not know how old the earth and the universe is? Rather, have you not simply chosen to accept what you have been told, perhaps out of deathly fear of being labeled a religious fanatic?
In that regard, the words of Jesus come to mind: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels..."
Anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian (I have no idea of what Faith, if any, you profess) is obligated to accept the foundational truth, affirmed by the Judeo/Christian heritage and enshrined in the Apostles Creed: "I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth..."
This is a non-negotiable affirmation for Christians. Beyond that, there exist differences of opinions as to how God created the universe - and yes, how long He took to accomplish it. And we may discuss those differences, while sharing the affirmation that the world and all that is in it did not spontaneously arise, but is the wondrous work of our Creator.
“You don’t know he didn’t create via larvae or eggs.”
Actually He created creeping things, they were creeping. Eggs don’t creep. Larva sort of do, but anyway. Scripture says He created creeping things.
My point remains. He created mature versions of plants, animals, AND mankind, indisputably. He did not create each item in its initial stage of life. Adam was upright, walking, talking, needed no care. He was an adult.
The birds were flying, not in their eggs or their nests. Etc.
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