My answer may be long, saving a spot so I can write and save answers one at a time.
I'll try to be as detailed as I can.
I am wondering someone told me that the bible says the earth is a few thousand years old, not sure if thats true or not though.
As I recall, the concept of a 'young earth', at least as we know it today, is based on adding up the recorded ages of Biblical persons from Adam until the birth of Jesus, then adding the number of years (i.e. 2008) since His birth. Of course, there are gaps in the timeline, since there isn't a complete chronology from Adam to Jesus, so estimates have to be made. This resulted in a variety of suggested dates, ranging from about 6,000 to 10,000 years. The traditional Catholic estimate of the date of Creation was 5199 BC, while the Angelican estimate is 4004 B.C.
However, this all depends on interpeting Genesis as a
literal Creation account. While some people might suggest that such is the only proper view, many early Church fathers held the view that it was an allegory (though true theologically in that God did create the universe). Granted, they did believe in a young earth, but a major factor in that is that there was no alternative suggested at the time. Geology simply wasn't advanced enough, and wouldn't be for over a thousand years.
I'll list a few of the allegorical interpetations of Genesis by ancient Christian theologians.
Origen
"For who that has understanding will suppose that the first and second and third day existed without a sun and moon and stars and that the first day was, as it were, also without a sky? . . . I do not suppose that anyone doubts that these things figuratively indicate certain mysteries, the
history having taken place in appearance and not literally" (
The Fundamental Doctrines 4:1:16 [A.D. 225]).
"And
with regard to the creation of the light upon the first day . . . and of the [great] lights and stars upon the fourth . . . we have treated to the best of our ability in our notes upon Genesis, as well as in the foregoing pages, when
we found fault with those who, taking the words in their apparent signification, said that the time of six days was occupied in the creation of the world" (
Against Celsus, 6:60 [A.D. 248]).
Cyprian
"The first seven days in the divine arrangement contain seven thousand years" (
Treatises 11:11 [A.D. 250]).
Saint Augustine of Hippo
"It not infrequently happens that
something about the earth, about the sky, about other elements of this world, about the motion and rotation or even the magnitude and distances of the stars, about definite eclipses of the sun and moon, about the passage of years and seasons, about the nature of animals, of fruits, of stones, and of other such things, may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience, even by one who is not a Christian. It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided, that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so idiotically on these matters, and as if in accord with Christian writings, that he might say that he could scarcely keep from laughing when he saw how totally in error they are. In view of this and in keeping it in mind constantly while dealing with the book of Genesis, I have, insofar as I was able, explained in detail and set forth for consideration the meanings of obscure passages, taking care not to affirm rashly some one meaning to the prejudice of another and perhaps better explanation" (
The Literal Interpretation of Genesis 1:19–20 [A.D. 408]).
"[A]t least we know that it [the Genesis creation day] is different from the ordinary day with which we are familiar" (
The Literal Interpretation of Genesis 5:2 [A.D. 408]).
Justin Martyr
"
For as Adam was told that in the day he ate of the tree he would die, we know that he did not complete a thousand years [Gen. 5:5]. We have perceived, moreover, that
the expression ‘The day of the Lord is a thousand years’ [Ps. 90:4] is connected with this subject" (
Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 81 [A.D. 155]).
So basically: The Bible does not state that the Earth is young. That idea is based upon one of several possible interpetations, and many early church fathers, among them saints, believed Genesis was at least somewhat allegorical rather then fully literal. It's certainly open to discussion, but the Bible doesn't say it is young or isn't young. I personally believe in a old earth, based on geological and astronomical observations.
Do you believe in Evolution, please answer yes and no I would like to tally up the opinions
Honestly? I don't personally care too much. My 'origin of the universe' view on my profile states as much, in that it says "Why does it matter what process God used?". If you truely want my personal opinion, however, I believe that Evolution is by far the most logical explanion as well as being the one that is most supported by science. I have seen a woeful lack of genuine evidence for Creationism, the majority of their efforts seem to be centered on attacking Evolution rather then supporting Creationism. This is quite possibly because their is little support for Creationism, but if one works from the position that Creationism is the only Biblical possibility, naturally that would be all the support some Christians would need.
My main issue here is that Creationism has not made a
logical case that would cause me to consider it as a legitimate scientific theory. Evolution, on the other hand, while far from perfect, is well supported and certainly does allow for the possibility of a God guiding the process.
So, if you want a real answer,
Thiestic Evolution seems to be the most logical position to me.
Also please give your thoughts on why you think its real or not
Honestly, someone else could probably explain this better than I can.
Let me put it this way - There are lots of reasons, which, while they make sense, I probably will do a poor job of explaining.
