Creation Questions

[Sinai]

Originally posted by Chloe

The word "day" used in Genesis, in Hebrew means a literal day, a 24 hr period of time.

Not necessarily. As Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs, who is probably one of the most respected theologians and Bible scholars of the past century, explained:

“The fact is that the Bible does not say dogmatically how long the creative period lasted. The Hebrew word for “day” (yom), like the English word, may mean any number of things: twenty-four hours, a generation, an era, or an indefinite period of time. Since the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Genesis 1, it must be concluded that he did not spell out this detail. Had he said “a twenty-four hour day” or “indefinite period of time” that would settle it. But since he did not do so, the time element is not a vital point in faith.”

 

[Sky]

True.

 

[Sinai]

Originally posted by TheBear
"For in six days the Lord created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day..." -- Exodus 20:14

And, what did the Lord do on the eight day? Or, Is mankind living in the 'seventh day'?

Since that is the subject of the thread dealing with whether God's "day of rest" has ended, I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on that thread, which you may easily reach by clicking here. Thank you.

 

[Sinai]

Originally posted by Chloe:
 

Actually, according to the Bible it was the fourth day when God created the sun and moon.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.  So the evening and the morning were the first day.(Genesis 1:3-5)

 

Compare the wording of Genesis 1: 3-4 with what the big bang theory’s Standard Model of the universe says happened after the initial big bang and inflation occurred: The universe expanded and temperatures and photon energies fell in proportion with the universe’s expansion. When the temperature fell below 3000 degrees Kelvin, electrons were able to be drawn into stable orbits around the hydrogen and helium nuclei by the electromagnetic charges of these nuclei—and light separated from matter and emerged from the darkness of the universe.

Although it may be argued that “light” existed prior to that point in the form of gamma rays, that is an energy form that is in excess of what would be visible to the eye. But as the thermal energy of the photons fell to 3000 degrees Kelvin (thus allowing electrons to bind in stable orbits around hydrogen and helium nuclei), not only did the photons break free from the matter of the universe, but they became visible as well. In other words, "and there was light."

 

[TheBear]

Originally posted by Chloe
I assumed you had problems (meaning you don't believe it) with the biblical account of creation because of your questions, if I was wrong, I sincerely apologize.

I believe that God created everything. You and I simply don't agree on the interpretation of the Biblical account.

 

[Sinai]

Originally posted by zyzychyn:
Why would he use the phrase "and there was evening and there was morning" if it didn't refer to literal days?

Why is it that each creative day begins with evening and ends with morning? That’s backwards from the way we as humans think of a day, since we begin the day when we get up in the morning and end it when we go to bed at night. Sure, some might point out that it is Jewish tradition to begin the day at sunset and end it at the next sunset. But that’s begging the question, since the reason for that Jewish tradition is the wording in the first chapter of Genesis. Some have also questioned how logical it is to insist upon its meaning a literal day when neither the sun nor the earth were apparently even around for at least the first day or two. Could there be another reason or a greater cosmic thought that Genesis One is telling us? Perhaps....

The Hebrew for “evening” is erev. The root of erev means “mixed-up, stirred together, disorderly”—which tends to be our visual sensation of being in the dark.

The Hebrew for “morning” is voqer or boker. Its root means “discernible, able to be distinguished, orderly”—which tends to be our visual sensation at the coming of day.

The root meanings help the phrase take on cosmic significance—and may perhaps be important enough to be repeated at the close of each of God’s creative days: Throughout the time of God’s creative activity, there was a systematic flow from chaos and disorder (“evening”) to order (“morning”). God brought order from chaos in the creation of both the universe and of our own world. The Bible also informs us that God desires to bring order from chaos in our own personal lives.....

 

[AV1611VET]

With the snap of His fingers, with a blink of an eye, with the mere thought, God could have created everything, all at once, in an instant. Yet, scripture clearly shows a timeline. Why?

God took six days on purpose, so as to create a template for the workweek we find incorporated into the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Why was there a sequence of events?

That's the way God does things.

Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

What does this imply?

That God is methodical.

Adam was created from the dust. Why was this method used? What does it mean?

It means we were not created ex nihilo, as the earth was, but ex materia.

Had God created us ex nihilo, the amount of mass/energy in the universe would be higher than it is now.

Were all living things created from dust, or out of thin air?

No ... marine life was created from marine molecules.

And, if He created everything else out of 'thin air', why not man? What does this mean to you?

It means we are a separate life form than the angels.

Angels were created ex nihilo; man was created ex materia.

For all the 6 day literalists, exactly how many hours and minutes did it take God to create the universe, the earth, vegitation, animals and man?

144:00

Let's kick it around.

John

Sure thing, John! Creationism is my speciality!

 

[rikerjoe]

No ... marine life was created from marine molecules.

What on earth is "marine molecules"?

 

[AV1611VET]

What on earth is "marine molecules"?

Molecules in the ocean.

 

[Lucy Stulz]

Molecules in the ocean.

You find those things in the darndest places!

 

[AV1611VET]

You find those things in the darndest places!

 

[Daughter of His]

I certainly agree God could have made everything in one snap. Instead He chose to complete things one step at a time and make sure "it was good" or "it was so". Perhaps He was enjoying everything unfold in front of them. It must have been the best sci-fi anyone could ever lay eyes on.

Maybe He was demonstrating that we need to work for things. He did show us that we need to rest after work.

 

[AV1611VET]

I certainly agree God could have made everything in one snap. Instead He chose to complete things one step at a time and make sure "it was good" or "it was so". Perhaps He was enjoying everything unfold in front of them. It must have been the best sci-fi anyone could ever lay eyes on.

Maybe He was demonstrating that we need to work for things. He did show us that we need to rest after work.

 

[rikerjoe]

Molecules in the ocean.

and they differ from molecules on land how, exactly?

 

[AV1611VET]

and they differ from molecules on land how, exactly?

Where they come from to do what they're told to do.

 

[rikerjoe]

Where they come from to do what they're told to do.

So, no real difference then....

 

[AV1611VET]

So, no real difference then....

Here's the question I was answering:

And, if He created everything else out of 'thin air', why not man?

Do you have a better answer that differentiates molecules from the dust of the earth from molecules from the ocean?

If so, by all means, enlighten us, please.

Had I just said "molecules," I'm sure you would not have gotten the idea they were from the ocean, as opposed to the land, would you?

 

[TLK Valentine]

I certainly agree God could have made everything in one snap. Instead He chose to complete things one step at a time and make sure "it was good" or "it was so".

Was there ever any doubt that something He created would be "good"?

Perhaps He was enjoying everything unfold in front of them. It must have been the best sci-fi anyone could ever lay eyes on.

Perhaps He had another creation on the side and needed to divide His time?

Maybe He was demonstrating that we need to work for things. He did show us that we need to rest after work.

And how do we show our appreciation? By pestering Him once a week on His day off.

 

[rikerjoe]

Here's the question I was answering:

Do you have a better answer that differentiates molecules from the dust of the earth from molecules from the ocean?

If so, by all means, enlighten us, please.

You are the one that said there was a difference, not me. So it is up to you to enlighten us on what that difference is and why it matters.

Had I just said "molecules," I'm sure you would not have gotten the idea they were from the ocean, as opposed to the land, would you?

There you go again. Does it matter where the molecule is from? What is the difference between a molecule from land and a molecule from the sea?

 

[Lucy Stulz]

Here's the question I was answering:

Do you have a better answer that differentiates molecules from the dust of the earth from molecules from the ocean?

If so, by all means, enlighten us, please.

Had I just said "molecules," I'm sure you would not have gotten the idea they were from the ocean, as opposed to the land, would you?

Based on the amount of CLAY minerals that wind up in the ocean maybe ths how God created AQUAMAN!