How old is the Earth?

[CrystalBrooke]

Admittedly I haven't been going to church for the past 3 years, but up until then, I went every time the doors were open. In all those years the age of the earth never came up in any sermon that I had ever heard. A couple of months back I decided that I was going to go to church with my boyfriend's mother. The Pastor said something during his sermon that left me completely dumbfounded, he said that the earth was only 6,000 years old.:o Now, I don't think you have to believe in evolution to think that the earth is millions of years old...I know plenty of people (including myself) who believe in creation and think the earth is older than that. So I was just wondering..have I been sheltered, is this really a popular belief amongst Baptists?

 

[MrJG]

Admittedly I haven't been going to church for the past 3 years, but up until then, I went every time the doors were open. In all those years the age of the earth never came up in any sermon that I had ever heard. A couple of months back I decided that I was going to go to church with my boyfriend's mother. The Pastor said something during his sermon that left me completely dumbfounded, he said that the earth was only 6,000 years old.:o Now, I don't think you have to believe in evolution to think that the earth is millions of years old...I know plenty of people (including myself) who believe in creation and think the earth is older than that. So I was just wondering..have I been sheltered, is this really a popular belief amongst Baptists?

I am Baptist, and I personally do not hold to the earth being 6000 y.o. (or Young Earth Creationism). I believe that mankind is about that old, but not the earth itself.

I prescribe to the Gap Theory personally, but I will not split hairs over it with anyone.

Young Earth Creationism is rather popular among Baptists.

 

[TimRout]

Hi Crystal,

The Bible does not state definitively how old the Earth (or the universe) is. There are a variety of theories held by various Christians. Among these, the most theologically justifiable are those based on the text of Scripture alone. On the other hand, any opinion based on the assumption of macro-evolution or spontaneous generation should be excluded out of hand, since they use tons of extra-biblical material to interpret the Bible and construct their conclusions.

I should mention by way of admission, that I am a young earth creationist. Others here who hold differing views will doubtless chime in, but speaking from my own platform, I believe an effective case can be made for an Earth-Age somewhere between 6000 and 10,000 years. If you'd like further data, just ask.

 

[Allen1901]

Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old.

God Bless!

 

[student ad x]

appearances can be deceiving

 

[TimRout]

Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old.

God Bless!

On what biblical basis do you make this assertion?

 

[Allen1901]

The "Flintstones" is a cartoon guys, not a documentary. LOL

God Bless!

 

[Allen1901]

On what biblical basis do you make this assertion?

The Bible is not a science textbook Tim.

God Bless!

 

[TimRout]

The Bible is not a science textbook Tim.

God Bless!

Uh. So your source of authority is secular science and not the inerrant Word of God. Thanks for clearing that up for us.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Admittedly I haven't been going to church for the past 3 years, but up until then, I went every time the doors were open. In all those years the age of the earth never came up in any sermon that I had ever heard. A couple of months back I decided that I was going to go to church with my boyfriend's mother. The Pastor said something during his sermon that left me completely dumbfounded, he said that the earth was only 6,000 years old.:o Now, I don't think you have to believe in evolution to think that the earth is millions of years old...I know plenty of people (including myself) who believe in creation and think the earth is older than that. So I was just wondering..have I been sheltered, is this really a popular belief amongst Baptists?

Your pastor is right in saying the Earth is about 6,000 years old. Which is pretty old if you think about it. Many Baptist churches officially hold this position. Man was created on the 6th day of creation and looking at the family trees you can see there is only room for about 6,000 years. Reformers such as John Calvin and Martin Luther held to a 6 day literal creation. They didn't hold to a progressive creation view which Hugh Ross believes or in a Theistic Evolution view which is what Francis Collins believes. A good book that goes more indepth on this issue is Refuting Compromise. Also, feel free to check out the PowerPoint I made on the topic.

Martin Luther: (as cited in Plass, E.M., What Martin Luther Says, a Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian)

"The Days of Creation were ordinary days in length. We must understand that these days were actual days (veros dies), contrary to the opinion of the Holy Fathers. Whenever we observe that the opinions of the Fathers disagree with Scripture, we reverently bear with them and acknowledge them to be our elders. Nevertheless, we do not depart from the authority of Scripture for their sake."

Elsewhere Luther wrote:

"When Moses writes that God created Heaven and Earth and whatever is in them in six days, then let this period continue to have been six days, and do not venture to devise any comment according to which six days were one day. But, if you cannot understand how this could have been done in six days, then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of being more learned than you are. For you are to deal with Scripture in such a way that you bear in mind that God Himself says what is written. But since God is speaking, it is not fitting for you wantonly to turn His Word in the direction you wish to go."

John Calvin: (McNeil, J.T. (ed.), Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion 1, p. 160-161, 182)

"albeit the duration of the world, now declining to its ultimate end, has not yet attained six thousand years … God’s work was completed not in a moment but in six days."

Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

 

[TimRout]

You can find some useful "young earth" materials here:

Ken Ham's Answers in Genesis - Christianbook.com

While there are an abundance of Ken Ham critics floating around the net, he and his organization (Answers In Genesis) are actually a fairly good source of information. Our church uses their material.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

You can find some useful "young earth" materials here:

Ken Ham's Answers in Genesis - Christianbook.com

While there are an abundance of Ken Ham critics floating around the net, he and his organization (Answers In Genesis) are actually a fairly good source of information. Our church uses their material.

Denying evolution is one of the easiest ways to get critics. I know this from first hand experience. Of course speaking out against abortion is another way. At one point my web site was black listed by some group because I have articles speaking out against abortion. One group I should have mentioned, since I only linked to 2 in my last post, is ICR. They have many scientists in their group that do active research. They offer some nice free materials such as devotions and scientific newsletters.

 

[Linnia]

You can find some useful "young earth" materials here:

While there are an abundance of Ken Ham critics floating around the net, he and his organization (Answers In Genesis) are actually a fairly good source of information. Our church uses their material.

They are an excellent source. You can do straight to the Answers In Genesis website (google it, I can't post links yet) and finds lots of information that explains creation and the proof of it and how the Biblical account is accurate and is in line with real science, not opposed to it. My mother just recently visited their creation museum and said it was amazing.

 

[TimRout]

Answers in Genesis - Creation, Evolution, Christian Apologetics

 

[sealacamp]

Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old.

That is mans theory and it is disputable. How old is the earth? Only God knows for sure. And that is the only certainty, no one knows but God.

S

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

So the T-rex walked the earth less than 6000 years ago eh?

When you add up the genealogies in the book of Genesis you get 1656 years. However, it should be noted that other ancient Jewish writings such as the Septuagint indicate a longer time period. The book of Genesis identifies the life-spans of the people as approximately 900 years (Masoretic Text). This is obviously different from the life-spans of today.
Interesting stuff here.

 

[TimRout]

So the T-rex walked the earth less than 6000 years ago eh?

When you add up the genealogies in the book of Genesis you get 1656 years. However, it should be noted that other ancient Jewish writings such as the Septuagint indicate a longer time period. The book of Genesis identifies the life-spans of the people as approximately 900 years (Masoretic Text). This is obviously different from the life-spans of today.
Interesting stuff here.

YouTube - Did Dinosaurs Co-exist with Humans?

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

YouTube - Did Dinosaurs Co-exist with Humans?

I'm not touching this one.
ROTFL

 

[TimRout]

I'm not touching this one.
ROTFL

My point, brother, is that some highly intelligent people really do believe dinosaurs co-existed with humans. It's not out of the question.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

So the T-rex walked the earth less than 6000 years ago eh?

When you add up the genealogies in the book of Genesis you get 1656 years. However, it should be noted that other ancient Jewish writings such as the Septuagint indicate a longer time period. The book of Genesis identifies the life-spans of the people as approximately 900 years (Masoretic Text). This is obviously different from the life-spans of today.
Interesting stuff here.

I do believe dinosaurs walked with man and that they are even mentioned in Job. I enjoy collecting fossils and believe none are more then a few thousand years old. I was an atheist for the first 23 years of my life and went to a public high school and was taught and believed evolution in chemistry and especially biology. It was not until after being a Christian for a couple of years did I hear good evidence against evolution and for an earth that is only thousands of years old.