Age of the earth, why is it relevant?!

[Jamsie]

I'm saying every speculation on this is just speculation, including the zero and little time speculations -- the Young Earth speculations. Total speculation, not biblical.

Both Young and Old Earth are ideas of men, not in the Bible.

Agreed, the Bible is quite silent on many things as to being incontrovertible, especially to a narrow point of interpretation. This is easily proven by the fact that theological discussions on disagreements are rife on Christian Forums. The more salient point as you state is that the Bible "It's about saving our souls."

As to the OP it is relevant because the evidence for OEC is overwhelming... and the YEC rigidity places Christianity for too many as an anachronistic fairy tale and a mindless delusion. Many of us grew up YEC because of the pervasive inculcation at that time. When one opts to challenge through a prayerful lucubration it tends to open one up to not only how much we don't understand but how such subjects should be approached with humility.

One of the first things that struck me in my journey from YEC was actually from a myopic creation site: https://creation.com/arguments-we-think-creationists-should-not-use Yet I've still heard these dismissed bogus arguments used.....

 

[SkyWriting]

Sorry, not sure if you have no point or I just missed it, please elaborate.

The plain words of scripture say the hills and mountains are ancient and eternal and everlasting. It's only people with calculators, who all come up with different numbers, that claim it is young. Nobody in scripture makes that claim. They all knew the world was ancient.

 

[SkyWriting]

It only took the time it took to say "let there be light" to create the sun.

And did God draw in light beams so we could see all the stars instantly?
Becasue the next closest star is 4 light years away.

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

And did God draw in light beams so we could see all the stars instantly?
Becasue the next closest star is 4 light years away.

Only in the heliocentric worldview. A geocentric and flat-Earth worldview puts the stars much, and much-much closer.

 

[Tetra]

We can't learn how old Earth is (mere time quantity) in scripture without speculative assumptions/guesses, or added ideas or information not in scripture.

But the age of Earth is ultimately trivial, compared to the real content of the Bible.

God created all that is, and that's only the beginning.

No, if the earth isn't young, there is no God. You know nothing.

 

[SkyWriting]

Only in the heliocentric worldview. A geocentric and flat-Earth worldview puts the stars much, and much-much closer.

We should be able to get a close view using Space-X then.
If we send you to Alpha Centauri, will you take food
for a 4 light year trip? Or will you plan for less.

SpaceX Cargo Capsule Arrives at Space Station with Tons of Supplies


Elon Musk says SpaceX is building a 'kid-sized submarine'
to Aid Soccer Team Trapped

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

We should be able to get a close view using Space-X then.
If we send you to Alpha Centauri, will you take food
for a 4 light year trip? Or will you plan for less.

SpaceX Cargo Capsule Arrives at Space Station with Tons of Supplies


Elon Musk says SpaceX is building a 'kid-sized submarine'
to Aid Soccer Team Trapped

You'd crash into the firmament in a matter of days.

 

[SkyWriting]

No, if the earth isn't young, there is no God. You know nothing.

How old is eternal and ancient in scripture?

Genesis 49:26 May the blessings of your father surpass the blessings of the ancient mountains, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills.


Deuteronomy 33:15 with the best products of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the eternal hills

Habakkuk 3:6 When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One!

Psalm 76:4 You are shining and full of glory, more than the eternal mountains. Thou
enlightenest wonderfully from the everlasting hills. ...

Psalm 76:4 You are the radiant one. You are more majestic than the ancient mountains.

 

[SkyWriting]

You'd crash into the firmament in a matter of days.

I will keep that in mind then.

SpaceX to Fly Two Passengers On Private Trip Around the moon

 

[cfyahoo08]

Okay, so I'm going to start off by stating my position just so we're clear. I believe the "new earth" theory is nonsense.

However, the purpose of this post isn't to debate the age of the earth, but rather, I'm trying to sort out why it matters how old the earth is?? It seems in my experience, new earthers tend to be obsessively dogmatic in holding this position. It's not sufficient that simply they hold this worldview, it's necessary everyone else does as well. Is there an underlying philosophical position I'm missing here?

Seems the thinking would be if they can disprove the age of the earth they can disprove the existence of the God that made the earth.

It might well be that the earth is only 4 or 5 thousand years old but could have been made/created out of much much older pieces so to increase / build faith, time will tell.

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

Seems the thinking would be if they can disprove the age of the earth they can disprove the existence of the God that made the earth.

It might well be that the earth is only 4 or 5 thousand years old but could have been made/created out of much much older pieces so to increase / build faith, time will tell.

There's more evidence for a young Earth than an old. Just depends on how open-minded one is.

 

[Kenny'sID]

u7yyyyyyi\75tr

And did God draw in light beams so we could see all the stars instantly?
Becasue the next closest star is 4 light years away.

Are you saying God doesn't have control of the speed of light?

 

[Kenny'sID]

The plain words of scripture say the hills and mountains are ancient and eternal and everlasting. It's only people with calculators, who all come up with different numbers, that claim it is young. Nobody in scripture makes that claim. They all knew the world was ancient.

What did God use to calculate his 7 days?.. no, it's not just people.

I think you misunderstand the term "eternal"

For instance, If w have salvation, we have eternal life, but does that make us eternal in that we always existed? At some point we would be ancient.

 

[Halbhh]

No, if the earth isn't young, there is no God. You know nothing.

God doesn't rely on our understandings to exist! Hallelujah.

Indeed none of us, not any here, are the Teacher.

It's not men nor doctrinal stuff we are to follow, but only Christ Jesus, our Savior. Praise the Lord!

 

[Halbhh]

Seems the thinking would be if they can disprove the age of the earth they can disprove the existence of the God that made the earth.

It might well be that the earth is only 4 or 5 thousand years old but could have been made/created out of much much older pieces so to increase / build faith, time will tell.

Yes, it's possible for God to do anything. He could even have created the stars to appear as if old. But it seems unlikely.

Any case, mere time duration...how could that matter for God. 10 billion years, or 1, time isn't likely a problem for Him!

 

[Halbhh]

Praise the Lord.

 

[SkyWriting]

What did God use to calculate his 7 days?.. no, it's not just people.

I think you misunderstand the term "eternal"

For instance, If w have salvation, we have eternal life, but does that make us eternal in that we always existed? At some point we would be ancient.

Eternal means things don't age. Are not subject to time.
Like Our Father.

 

[SkyWriting]

u7yyyyyyi\75tr


Are you saying God doesn't have control of the speed of light?

That's a good retort.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Eternal means things don't age. Are not subject to time.
Like Our Father.

Can you please explain your point?

That's a good retort.

It was a question, but if you choose not to answer or even see it for what it really means, up to you.

 

[Jamsie]

Yes, it's possible for God to do anything. He could even have created the stars to appear as if old. But it seems unlikely.

Any case, mere time duration...how could that matter for God. 10 billion years, or 1, time isn't likely a problem for Him!

Yes, God can do anything, with some qualifications, but He didn't, he did SOMETHING. The problem with any "appearance of age argument" is that it reduces Romans 1:20 to a false statement.

Perhaps for many the problem lies with the impression that science is an Atheistic endeavor, which it is not. The beginning of both the universe and of life remain a mystery, which is why the argument for the existence of God centers in the realm of philosophy, and specifically metaphysics. Taking a view against science because of pre-conceived bias is submitting to a false dilemma, and an extremely myopic perspective.