The Full Spectrum of Christian Belief on Origins - where are you?

I think #5 (Progressive Creationist aka Day-Age Creationist) is really the only option that is supported 100% by scripture and 100% by science.

As others have said, the problem with YEC is it makes God out to be a deceiver - that his creation is not telling what really happened - and the Bible itself says, "The heavens declare the glory of the Lord"

The problem with 6-8 is science doesn't support it. There is no scientific evidence supporting macro-evolution. There are gaps in the fossil record between all species. There's not a single macro-evolutionary transition where we have a complete fossil record of that transition. After hundreds of years of digging and millions of fossils found and not a single macro-evolutionary transition documented, I find it hard to believe that we just happened to miss every single gap.

The other problem I find with 7 & 8 is that if you don't believe in a literal Adam & Eve, then how do you account for the uniqueness of human beings in all of creation. Genesis says only man was created in the image of God - only human beings have a soul, the ability to discern right and wrong, and the ability to perceive God. Since those are not physical characteristics it's hard to imagine they could evolve into us naturally. It seems like it would take an intentional act of God for there to be something created in His image when no previous species was.

BTW, a fantastic site documenting the biblical and scientific evidence supporting #5 can be found godandscience.org

How does science support plants existing for millions of years prior to the sun?

#8 here. No surprise.

My advice to those who don't think the science supports evolution is to learn more of the science. Most doubts about the evidence stem either from not knowing the evidence or from not understanding the theory and/or the evidence.

It is very common to see people expect the very opposite of what evolution proposes. On the C&E forum, one person said s/he would only accept evolution when someone was able to cross-breed two cats and get a dog. Well, the day someone did that, it would prove Darwin and all evolutionists had got the theory quite wrong, because, according to the theory of evolution that is something that absolutely cannot happen.

So, it is important to check that your idea of evolution is sound and that you have understood both the theory and the evidence.

Oh, and a special word to bluejeans.

Stars have died. In fact, our sun and solar system is made out of the remnants of a star that died.

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"Either we've got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy - and then admit that we just don't wanna do it." Steve Colbert

I don't think there was a need here to speak badly about a person Gluadys. This just asked your beliefs, not who is inferior to you.

Who did she speak badly of?

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In matters that are obscure and far beyond our vision, even in such as we may find treated in Holy Scripture, different Interpretations are sometimes possible without prejudice to the faith we have received. - St. Augustine, in his analysis of Genesis.

Where did I say anyone was inferior?

Bluejeans said the stars haven't burnt out. In general, she is right. Not all the stars have burnt out yet.

I was just commenting that some have. That's a fact too. We are here on this planet because a star died and our sun was created from its remnants. Without the death of the earlier star, the elements we are made of would not exist in this part of space and there would be no life on earth.

Maybe bluejeans already knew that and just didn't think it was important. I thought it was important. But I don't see that as making me superior in any way. Just a person who thinks different thoughts.

That's my opinion. ok?

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"Either we've got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy - and then admit that we just don't wanna do it." Steve Colbert

I'm probably a #7-#8

Probably 3, but I'm open.

6 with 8. I believe in a literal Adam and Eve. They were the first humans to achieve such an advanced state of mind that they could interact and have a relationship with God. They then taught this to other human beings (and others would naturally be born with a heightened sense anyhow as the modern human mind expanded naturally).

However, God did create the natural laws of nature, and let them go, though He directed them in the case of humanity.

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President of the WACCAV
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For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
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I'm a bit of 5.

I believe that God caused the Big Bang to happen. Science has said that if the "Big Bang" was 1/1,000,000,000th larger or smaller, we wouldn't be here. God caused the Big Bang and organized and orchistrated everything in the Big Bang, the creation of the universe, the vacuum, Earth, the skies, the ground, the animals, the plants, everything.

I also believe that we aren't the only ones in the universe. But I also believe if we are alone, that God created the universe to be inhabited by us.

I believe that the universe wasn't created in 6 literal days, since there are many instances in the Bible where day refers to a period of time. Like Haley's Bible Handbook points out, even the Babylonian Empire had the creation of Earth at 6 "epochs" and having their gods rest on the 7th period. Of course, they were inspired by Abraham, Noah, Seth, Methuselah and the other great people of that day.

I also believe that humans do evolve over time, however we don't come from apes. Although we are similar to other animals. In a way that the Penguin is like the Eagle, both are birds, and both are very similar, but yet, aren't related. Like Humans and Apes are mammals, but they are two very different things. There are many other animals that we are genetically similar to, but it doesn't mean they came from us or vice versa.

Of course, I also believe in a literal Adam and Eve.
There was a lot of people from that day and age that are being found, and they say they have a lot of signs of arthritis and other problems. Of course, they lived very long lives and didn't always have comfy beds or nice tools to work with and thus their bodies were hurt severely because of their age and physical condition.

But the most important factor overall...

I believe the Lord caused all of this to happen and I believe there is evidence in the Bible...

On another note, from reading Haley's Bible Handbook and scripture, I also believe Pangea existed, and that in the end days, the land will once again be united under 1 landmass and 1 city, New Jerusalem.