Difference between revisions of "Old Earth Creationism"

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Old Earth Creationism is the belief that God created the universe and the world billions of years ago. Old Earth Creationists do not all agree on the extent of the Noachian flood, although many maintain that it was a local flood.^[1]

General

Old Earth Creationists hold to view of the Biblical book of Genesis that allows for an old earth ^[2]. Dr. Norman Geisler wrote that "both young- and old-earthers who are evangelical hold to the historicity of the Genesis account: They believe that Adam and Eve were literal people, the progenitors of the entire human race." Dr. Geisler also wrote concerning young earth creationist and old earth creationist the following: "Both groups are also agreed in their opposition to naturalism, which they see as the philosophical presupposition of evolution." ^[3]

Proponents of Old Earth Creationism include Hugh Ross, David Snoke, Greg Neyman, Francis Schaeffer, and Norman Geisler. ^[4]

Rich diversity of views

There are a wide number of views of creationism starting from the literal understanding of Young Earth Creationism, through the Gap theory and Day age creationism and ending with Theistic evolution.

Old Earth creationists frequently, though not always, hold views which are more in keeping with those which are held by naturalistic scientists. For example believers in the Gap theory maintain that there was a gap of millions or billions or years between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. Believers in Progressive Creationism or the "day age" idea believe that each "day" of creation lasted a thousand years or more. Believers in Theistic Evolution go even further in trying to harmonize the Bible to naturalistic views.

Criticism

Meanwhile Young-Earth creationists hold that belief in an old Earth is frequently based on extra-biblical sources, not on the Bible. For example:

If an old earth were really the teaching of Scripture, then one claim is glaringly conspicuous by its absence, that is, any claim in commentaries that the Bible unambiguously teaches long ages. Rather, the usual claim is that the biblical text appears on the surface to teach a young earth but may allow for an old earth.—Jonathan Sarfati^[5]

It is apparent that the most straightforward understanding of Genesis, without regard to the hermeneutical considerations suggested by science, is that God created the heavens and the earth in six solar days, that man was created on the sixth day, and that death and chaos entered the world after the fall of Adam and Eve, and that all fossils were the result of the catastrophic deluge that spared only Noah’s family and the animals therewith.—Pattle Pun^[6]

From a superficial reading, the impression received is that the entire creative process took place in six twenty-four hour days. If this was the true intent of the Hebrew author (a questionable deduction, as will be presently shown), this seems to run counter to modern scientific research, which indicates that the planet Earth was created several billion years ago.—Gleason Archer^[7]

It is of course admitted that, taking this account [Genesis] by itself, it would be most natural to understand the word [day] in its ordinary sense; but if that sense brings the Mosaic account into conflict with facts, [millions of years] and another sense avoids such conflict, then it is obligatory on us to adopt that other.—Charles Hodge^[8]

[C]onfessedly, it would not have been as readily deduced from the Genesis text had it not been for the evidences advanced by secular science.—J. Barton Payne^[9]

We have to admit here [concerning those who take the six days of Creation as literal days] that the exegetical basis [the arguments from the words of Scripture] of the creationists is strong. … In spite of the careful biblical and scientific research that has accumulated in support of the creationists’ view, there are problems that make the theory wrong to most (including many evangelical) scientists. … Data from various disciplines point to a very old earth and even older universe.’—James Montgomery Boice^[10]

External links

Old Earth Creationism Ministries

• Reasons to Believe
• Answers in Creation
• Godandscience.org

Criticism of Old Earth Creationism by Young Earth Creationists

Jonathan Sarfati addresses Old Earth Claims

Evidence for an Old Earth

Old Earth Evidence from an OEC

References

1. ↑ Ross, Hugh, Let Us Reason: The Waters of the Flood Facts & Faith, Volume 4, No. 4, Winter 1990.
2. ↑ http://www.answersincreation.org/question.htm
3. ↑ http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/science/SC0305W3.htm
4. ↑ http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/notable_leaders/index.shtml
5. ↑ Sarfati, Jonathan, Refuting Compromise, Master Books, March 2004, p.55. Emphasis in original.
6. ↑ Pun, P.P.T., Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 39:14, 1987; quoted by Creation Ministries International[1].
7. ↑ Archer, G.L., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Moody, Chicago, p. 187, 1985; quoted by Creation Ministries International[2].
8. ↑ Hodge, C., Systematic Theology, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, pp. 570–571, 1997; quoted by Creation Ministries International[3] (their parenthetical insertions).
9. ↑ J. B. Payne, The Theology of the Older Testament, (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1972, p.136); quoted in Sarfati, Jonathan, "Refuting Compromise", Master Books, March 2004
10. ↑ Montgomery Boice, J.L., Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Zondervan Publishing House, Michigan, 1:57–62, 1982; quoted by Ham, Ken, The big picture, Creation 23(2):16–18, March 2001 (their insertions in square parentheses).