Changes

::::There is evidence that much of the Old Testament (after Genesis) is a historically accurate, if poetically embellished (as all histories were at the time), account of bronze-age Jewish history.  Archaeological evidence supports this and so science supports this.  However, it is a non sequitur to conclude that because ''some'' Old Testament stories are grounded in historical fact that ''all'' Old Testament stories are literally true--even St. Paul admits that this is a matter of faith (and open to interpretation), not evidence.  To draw an analogy, Livy, a Roman historian, wrote a lengthy account of the history of the Roman people.  Much of this account is very historically accurate and is supported as such by archaeological evidence.  However, it is very clearly illogical to conclude that because Livy's historical narrative is largely true, his references to the Roman gods playing a hand in these events must be true as well.  Similarly science, which by definition can ''only'' rely on empirical evidence, must search outside of scripture for evidence regarding the origin of life and draw conclusions based on evidence alone. --[[User:JHunter|JHunter]] 03:24, 25 January 2012 (EST)

::::There is evidence that much of the Old Testament (after Genesis) is a historically accurate, if poetically embellished (as all histories were at the time), account of bronze-age Jewish history.  Archaeological evidence supports this and so science supports this.  However, it is a non sequitur to conclude that because ''some'' Old Testament stories are grounded in historical fact that ''all'' Old Testament stories are literally true--even St. Paul admits that this is a matter of faith (and open to interpretation), not evidence.  To draw an analogy, Livy, a Roman historian, wrote a lengthy account of the history of the Roman people.  Much of this account is very historically accurate and is supported as such by archaeological evidence.  However, it is very clearly illogical to conclude that because Livy's historical narrative is largely true, his references to the Roman gods playing a hand in these events must be true as well.  Similarly science, which by definition can ''only'' rely on empirical evidence, must search outside of scripture for evidence regarding the origin of life and draw conclusions based on evidence alone. --[[User:JHunter|JHunter]] 03:24, 25 January 2012 (EST)

===What a creationist would reply===

===What a creationist would reply===