Young Earth Creationism

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Young Earth Creationism is the belief that the Earth (and generally the universe) is approximately 6,000 years old as opposed to the evolutionary view that Earth is 4.5 Billion years old and that the universe is at least 13 Billion years old. [1] Young Earth Creationism is a subset of creationism most commonly found among members of the Abrahamic faiths, especially Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Most young earth creationists believe that the first few chapters of Genesis are straightforward narrative meant to be interpreted in a nearly literal fashion. Thus, young earth creationists believe that the universe was created by God. Young earth creationists scientists reject naturalistic explanations on the origins of the galaxies, stars, planets, and how life, animals, and plants first arose in the present universe. [2][3][4] In addition, young earth creationists frequently cite the scientific literature which admits the weaknesses of naturalistic explanations for origins of the natural world. For example, the following material is cited by young earth creationists:

“... most every prediction by theorists about planetary formation has been wrong.” Scott Tremaine, as quoted by Richard A. Kerr who was proposing a new planetary formation model, “Jupiters Like Our Own Await Planet Hunters,” Science, Vol. 295, 25 January 2002, p. 605. [5]

“We don’t understand how a single star forms, yet we want to understand how 10 billion stars form.” Carlos Frenk, as quoted by Robert Irion, “Surveys Scour the Cosmic Deep,” Science, Vol. 303, 19 March 2004, p. 1750. [6]

“We cannot even show convincingly how galaxies, stars, planets, and life arose in the present universe.” Michael Rowan-Robinson, “Review of the Accidental Universe,” New Scientist, Vol. 97, 20 January 1983, p. 186. [7]

"When discussing organic evolution the only point of agreement seems to be: "It happened." Thereafter, there is little consensus, which at first sight must seem rather odd." - Simon Conway Morris (paleontologist, Department of Earth Sciences, Cambridge University, UK), "Evolution: Bringing Molecules into the Fold," Cell, Vol. 100, pp.1-11, January 7, 2000, p.11 [8]

Also, young earth creationists believe in a 6 day creation with each day being 24 hours,[9][10] the subsequent expulsion of humanity from the Garden of Eden, a global Noachian flood and the dispersal of humanity after the Tower of Babel. Young earth creationist scientists have a number of arguments that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old. [11][12] In short, young earth creationists generally argue that the available evidence, both scientific and Biblical supports their view and that all natural features, such as the Grand Canyon, were formed within the last few thousand years.

While Young Earth Creationism is prominent in many conservative Protestant denominations, most theologically liberal Protestant denominations as well as Catholics generally reject it.

Popularity

Roughly 45% of the United States are Young Earth Creationists and this number has stayed roughly constant for the last 20 years. [13][14] Among scientists, in the late 1990's the fraction who are young earth creationist was much smaller and was by some estimates around 5% overall. [15][16] However, the ranks of scientists openly rejecting evolutionary ideas (macroevolutionary ideas posit the earth is millions of years old) is currently on the rise. [17]

References

  1. http://creationwiki.org/Young_earth_creationism
  2. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/qa.asp
  3. http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/21
  4. http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences.html
  5. http://creationwiki.org/Astronomy_quotes
  6. http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/ReferencesandNotes60.html
  7. http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/ReferencesandNotes61.html
  8. http://creationwiki.org/Biology_quotes
  9. http://creationwiki.org/Days_of_creation
  10. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/genesis.asp
  11. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/young.asp
  12. http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3040/
  13. http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2004/US/724_public_view_of_creationism_and_11_19_2004.asp
  14. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092401262.html
  15. http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_over.htm
  16. http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=824
  17. http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2732