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Reconsidering the Necessity and Validity of a YEC view

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by humblethinker, Mar 9, 2013.

  1. humblethinker

    humblethinker Active Member

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    I have recently shifted my views on the interpretation of the creation account in Genesis Chapter 1. I was once a YEC (Young Earth Creationist). I am no longer. I am willing to be re-convinced though. Since the late 1980's I have studied and supported YEC. I have been heavily invested in it being the truth. In the early 1990's Gary Parker came to our campus at my public college, presenting a young earth creationist account. I had conversations with him, helped transport his materials to-and-fro. I had been to Carl Baugh's place in Glenrose, read his book. I had sections in my file cabinet for the creation/evolution debate. Listened to Dr. D.James Kennedy and read his material (I'm just reminiscing here now...). I hope you believe me when I say I believed YEC, promoted it, taught it in Sunday School, upheld it publicly to my college classmates and friends. So, this has been a difficult journey for me. Even if you don't share my current belief about YEC, if you've ever changed your mind about something that you once held dear and true you can at least appreciate what I've gone through. It is not fun, but painful, and can be frightening. There is a way to maintain your faith in God and the Bible though and maintain your faith... and even find it matured.

    I think it is wise for a YEC to consider what their theology would look like IF YEC was not the reality. This has helped me to consider the facts of the matter. (Google "Morton's Demon"). Wouldn't you agree that there are and have been many godly people that believe the earth and cosmos is very old? (Search it out if you don't accept this premise, It's true). The fact of the matter is that one CAN believe in an old earth AND in the scriptures. This is NOT contradictory.

    Throughout my journey I wanted to commit myself to truth and not to what I wish were the case (don't we all?). The authority of the scripture is very important to me as well. Throughout this journey I experienced the tension that I might have to change my beliefs about whether we have made certain parts of scripture to be something that they were never intended to be. I have a daughter, 13, and a son, 10, who are looking to me for guidance in truth since try are talking and studying this in school. I MUST have intellectual integrity in what I believe and I feel I MUST be honest with them about this subject. There is too much at stake to insist that they 'tote the line' about something of which they are unconvinced. The ethics of the matter have come to bear. For me this subject is not trite. I have skin in the game, if you will. My children are to be affected, my marriage, my faith, my ministry to outsiders and non-believers - all of this is affected. It is affected bot not forsaken.

    So, there are some valid questions that a YEC would ask. What does GEN 1 mean then? For me, John Walton has presented a compelling, and in my case convincing understanding of the creation account in Genesis 1. Keep in mind though, he is not making a case for an old nor young earth but that such is not what Genesis 1 is informing us about. There are other videos but here's one I watched.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyYYtCDtIos&sns=em

    Here's another http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6B2qTdacBY&sns=em

    Here's his book I have yet to read:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0830837043/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

    Perhaps you need to hold to YEC to maintain your faith in God and scripture. If so, I encourage you to do so. Keep it. However, for me, I could not continue to discount the fact that many godly, scholarly, Bible believers believed that an Old earth and scripture were compatible. I had to at least come up with a theological understanding upon which to transition to if the facts of the matter were reasonable and otherwise convincing.

    Proceed with humility and intellectual integrity.
     
  2. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    To me it is this simple, if God took billions of years to create the universe, he could have easily said so, and I would believe him.

    But as it is, God told us he created all of creation in six days, morning and evening. I believe those were 24 hour days that we have now.

    I personally believe the speed of light was much faster (billions of times faster) than today which answers many problems with the big bang and how light from stars millions of light years distant is here NOW. It explains the old ages in radiometric dating. Of course, God could simply create the universe with an illusion of age, but I do not believe this the case.

    What I believe is that the earth is about 6000 solar years old, but perhaps 15 billion radiometric years old. BOTH are true if folks understand that light was once much faster than today.
     
  3. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Am I correct that you also espouse Open Theism? Given that God is still on a learning curve perhaps He should consult with John Walton to find out what happened!
     
  4. humblethinker

    humblethinker Active Member

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    Winman, I think it would be helpful to understand John Walton's view regarding Genesis 1. Helpful in at least being informed of what some Non-YEC believe regarding how we should interpret what God has indeed told us. If you get a chance to watch/listen to it, I'd be interested in your thoughts about it. I do find it compelling and reasonable.
     
  5. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Good for you Humblethinker.
    Very few people ever change their opinion on this issue.

    Tell us a little more about the change process in your life.

    How long have you studied the alternatives to YEC? (very few YECs I know even consider anything else).

    How long have you been contemplating the change?

    What initiated the re-evaluation? books? conversation? internet research?
    What was the key infuence that made you decide to open up to the change?

    What has been the response of those closest to you? ... in particular what was the reaction of those who know what you once believed?

    Rob
     
  6. humblethinker

    humblethinker Active Member

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    Good questions. Allow me some time to return an answer. I've detailed my conversion out of KJVonly-ism and out of fundamentalism (as it is popularly defined in this day), and so I hope to do likewise again and I'll try to provide you with answers.
     
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