Is that your take on the universe as well, or just the earth?
Both.
Do you really feel the evidence just isn't there to support the earth being billions of years old, or are you strongly opposed to a metaphorical reading of the creation account to the point that you won't believe in an old earth regardless of what evidence comes up?
I wouldn’t say I “won't believe in an old earth regardless of what evidence comes up” because I’m open to the fact that I’m either misunderstanding one or more of (1) the Genesis creation account itself; (2) the evidence in support of an older earth/universe; and/or (3) the evidence in support of a younger earth/universe. But I do feel that the evidence isn’t there to support the earth being billions of years old. There is evidence. But I think the theories and models that explain that evidence and draw the conclusion that the earth is older are inadequate. I think there is a lot of evidence supporting a young earth. But I think on either side, we fall far short of conclusive proof one way or the other.
Going back to the text, nothing in the text seems to indicate a figurative timeline. Again, I could be completely missing the point. But, generally, when biblical authors intent something to be taken metaphorically, there are contextual clues that point us in that direction, and I see none here. But, again, I leave room for the fact that I might be mistaken.
That’s the short answer. We’ve had these discussions for pages and pages and pages.
And while we're on the topic of Genesis, don't you think that the author had to have a bit more than divine inspiration, but rather a sort of divine dictation in order to accurately describe events that occurred before any human was around to witness them? If you take a literal reading of the creation, how did the author happen upon the knowledge of how it all went down?
In short, I think what you are describing as “divine dictation” is essentially the kind of divine inspiration that the Bible describes. There really aren’t many options for how the writer came upon that knowledge. Either someone who was around passed it down until it was written, God told the writer directly what happened, or it was made up. Unless I’m missing something, I think those are the only options.
This may or may not be on topic anymore, but hopefully you don't mind.
That’s fine. I think it’s appropriate to the thread since the topic is really a broad one anyway. I don’t really care to debate the science because it’s been done to death and nobody ends up persuading the other side anyway. But I don’t mind discussing what my opinions are on the subject.
Topic: Why do you still believe in a god? (Read 63472 times)
