Genesis 1:1-2

[charityagape]

I do not take the Old Testament literally....I do not believe in the Adam and Eve story....I believe it was a visual representation of the creation of man, so people could understand it more.....

You take NONE of the OT literally? How much of the NT do you take literally?

 

[SoulReaper]

You take NONE of the OT literally? How much of the NT do you take literally?

for the NT....I take hardly any of it literally....

I believe in Jesus, but I do not believe he was the Son of God but a teacher of morals and ethics.....a great teacher....

The Bible, in my opinion, is an exaggeration of the truth....it is logical that they called him Saviour so people would be drawn to their faith because it would give them something to hope for, something to cling on to....there is no proof that he is the Son of God....

 

[sjdennis]

Genesis 1

The Creation

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

This part of the story of creation has always fascinated me. This seems to have taken place outside of creation week, the 6 days in wich God created our world and rested on the 7th. It seems that before that begins in Gen. 1:3, we have "the begining" wherein God created "the heavens" and "the earth."

A void and formless earth that seems to have been covered in water wich was already there and also created prior to creation week already existed before God said, "Let there be light," on the first day of creation week.

So, God chose not to explain this to us. We have nothing but speculation and interpretation to explain this.

I have never been to an indepth study of Creation in church, and have not been taught much on this. I'd like to hear the views of other creationists.

Pats
YEC

Technically, the first day of creation week would probably start at dawn, when God created light in verse three. However there is no reason to suspect that this was not immediately after the creation of heaven and earth as described in vs 1-2. In fact, Exodus 20:11 states "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.". Therefore the creation of the heaven and earth (and the sea, the water you refer to) within the creation week. He may have created the earth in what would have been the morning, and then created light at lunchtime. Who knows? However he did it, he created it all on the first day, even though the earth was created while it was still dark.

It is sad that most churches do not do in-depth studies of creation. This is because it is a very hotly debated issue, and churches generally don't want do get involved. Or in some circumstances they don't care, which is very sad. Or speakers are free to say whatever they like without the minister making a stand on it.

The fact is that the bible clearly states how creation happened. Any 5-year-old can understand it. And there is an enormous weight of scientific evidence being accumulated showing that the YEC position is certainly not contrary to science. In fact, I find it affirmed continually the more I study science. If only churches would get involved as well as online forums. My parents have been basically kicked out of a church for believing in YEC (although that reason was very under-the-table and would not be spoken aloud). Incredibly sad.

 

[Pats]

Technically, the first day of creation week would probably start at dawn, when God created light in verse three. However there is no reason to suspect that this was not immediately after the creation of heaven and earth as described in vs 1-2. In fact, Exodus 20:11 states "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.". Therefore the creation of the heaven and earth (and the sea, the water you refer to) within the creation week. He may have created the earth in what would have been the morning, and then created light at lunchtime. Who knows? However he did it, he created it all on the first day, even though the earth was created while it was still dark.

It is sad that most churches do not do in-depth studies of creation. This is because it is a very hotly debated issue, and churches generally don't want do get involved. Or in some circumstances they don't care, which is very sad. Or speakers are free to say whatever they like without the minister making a stand on it.

The fact is that the bible clearly states how creation happened. Any 5-year-old can understand it. And there is an enormous weight of scientific evidence being accumulated showing that the YEC position is certainly not contrary to science. In fact, I find it affirmed continually the more I study science. If only churches would get involved as well as online forums. My parents have been basically kicked out of a church for believing in YEC (although that reason was very under-the-table and would not be spoken aloud). Incredibly sad.

Hello, yes I agree. However, not all churches are like that. I think some churches really take it for granted that everyone there believes in creation... well, conservative churches I've been to, anyway.

There is a church I've been to that does have an appologetics class, but I haven't had the chance to attend it as much as I'd like. It's hard to keep up with all of this.

Pats

 

[sjdennis]

Hello, yes I agree. However, not all churches are like that. I think some churches really take it for granted that everyone there believes in creation... well, conservative churches I've been to, anyway.

There is a church I've been to that does have an appologetics class, but I haven't had the chance to attend it as much as I'd like. It's hard to keep up with all of this.

Pats

It sometimes seems like they take it for granted that everyone believes in creation, and I initially (very naively!) thought that at the church I currently attend. Ask the pastor and/or elders what they actually believe, and you may (sadly) be surprised.

Theoligical seminaries generally seem to promote OEC or TE, very rarely YEC from what I have heard (although there will hopefully be exceptions to this). So that is what many pastors believe. The only theological training I have recieved, at a very pentecostal type church, pushed a very unscientific and illogical variant of the gap theory as absolute, inarguable fact. The minister would not engage in ANY discussion to the contrary. In the end I refused to accept the certificate I would have recieved at the end of the course, as I did not wish to be seen as associated with the teachings of that church. Very sad. And this particular denomination is very active and fairly young, and converting many students to it's blunt, undiscussable teachings.

 

[Pats]

It sometimes seems like they take it for granted that everyone believes in creation, and I initially (very naively!) thought that at the church I currently attend. Ask the pastor and/or elders what they actually believe, and you may (sadly) be surprised.

Theoligical seminaries generally seem to promote OEC or TE, very rarely YEC from what I have heard (although there will hopefully be exceptions to this). So that is what many pastors believe. The only theological training I have recieved, at a very pentecostal type church, pushed a very unscientific and illogical variant of the gap theory as absolute, inarguable fact. The minister would not engage in ANY discussion to the contrary. In the end I refused to accept the certificate I would have recieved at the end of the course, as I did not wish to be seen as associated with the teachings of that church. Very sad. And this particular denomination is very active and fairly young, and converting many students to it's blunt, undiscussable teachings.

Again, I'm really sorry about the other thread.

Many churches hold "blunt" "undiscussable" teachings. That is one thing I like about coming to the forum, we get to discuss these things. Even YEC teaching churches, such as the Southern Baptists, teach it as absolute and not up for discussion. That's what has made me want to review what I've been taught and see if it really makes sense or if I've been brain washed.

 

[f U z ! o N]

for the NT....I take hardly any of it literally....

I believe in Jesus, but I do not believe he was the Son of God but a teacher of morals and ethics.....a great teacher....

The Bible, in my opinion, is an exaggeration of the truth....it is logical that they called him Saviour so people would be drawn to their faith because it would give them something to hope for, something to cling on to....there is no proof that he is the Son of God....

Jesus is the Son of God. Yes he was a great teacher but He was The Messiah. The NT is history such as the OT. To be saved, you must Believe that Jesus is the Savior.