Old Earth Creationism vs Theistic Evolution?

[tammym1972]

What exactly is the difference between old earth creationism and theistic evolution? I'm confused.

 

[Assyrian]

Basically it is the question of whether God could come up with a system like evolution to create a new species or genus, or whether he made the changes by hand (as it were).

There was a discussion on TE and OEC here recently. Have a look at http://www.christianforums.com/t5622359-old-earth-creation.html

Welcome to the forum Tammy.

 

[juvenissun]

Basically it is the question of whether God could come up with a system like evolution to create a new species or genus, or whether he made the changes by hand (as it were).

There was a discussion on TE and OEC here recently. Have a look at http://www.christianforums.com/t5622359-old-earth-creation.html

Welcome to the forum Tammy.

A more critical difference seems to be the OEC suggests we are created, while the TE suggests that we derived from monkey.

Am I right?

 

[Mallon]

A more critical difference seems to be the OEC suggests we are created, while the TE suggests that we derived from monkey.

Am I right?

No. Any evolutionary creationist will tell you that we were created, too. The difference is that evolutionary creationists believe God used natural means to bring about the human race; OECs believe He used magic.

 

[Citanul]

TE suggests that we derived from monkey.

TE doesn't suggest that at all. Evolution claims that humans and monkeys share a common ancestor, which isn't the same thing as deriving from monkeys.

 

[theFijian]

A more critical difference seems to be the OEC suggests we are created, while the TE suggests that we derived from monkey.

Am I right?

Right!

 

[MrSnow]

A major proponent of OEC who is not an evolutionist is Dr. Hugh Ross. His site is www.reasons.org He wrote a book on intelligent design called "The Fingerprint of God", I believe to be in reaction to "The Fingerprints of the Gods", but I could be mistaken on that.

And if we evolved from primates, it would be an ape, not a monkey (but who's countin', right?).

 

[tammym1972]

Very interesting. I guess I believe that God created the earth but over billions of years. But I believe that he created us in his image and we are not evolved from anything else. So I guess that makes me a Old Earth Creationist then?

 

[Atlantians]

No. Any evolutionary creationist will tell you that we were created, too. The difference is that evolutionary creationists believe God used natural means to bring about the human race; OECs believe He used magic.

How did God create nature?

 

[Mallon]

How did God create nature?

Again, that depends on who you ask. Evolutionary creationists will tell you God created nature via the natural processes He established at the beginning of the universe. OECs will largely agree with this, I would imagine. YECs will tell you God poofed everything into existence.

 

[keyarch]

What exactly is the difference between old earth creationism and theistic evolution? I'm confused.

To distinguish between the models, you need to know a little about them. This is a very general outline:

World View / Creation Models.

YEC: Young Earth Creation. Ministries like ICR and AiG are an example, where based on their literal interpretation of the Bible, the Universe and everything in it was created less than 10,000 ya. (more like 6,200).

PC: Progressive Creationism. In this theory, each day of creation is equated to a long period of time, and represents a specific portion of God's creative work which may overlap the other days of creation. Even though Progressive Creationists believe in an old earth, they do not believe in evolution, but rather that each species was created a unique creation, from nothing, without evolving from an earlier species.

GT: The Gap Theory. This theory proposes that there was a 'gap' of time, of billions of years, between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. This theory claims that the earth of old somehow became ruined (some blame Satan and his fallen angels), and was later repaired by God as described during the six 24-hour days of creation.

DA: Day-Age. is a type that holds that the six days referred to in the Genesis account of creation are not ordinary 24-hour days, but rather are much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years). The Genesis account is then interpreted as an account of the process of cosmic evolution, providing a broad base on which any number of theories and interpretations are built.

EC or TE: Evolutionary creationism, or Theistic evolution, is the general belief that some or all classical religious teachings about God and creation are compatible with some or all of the scientific theory of evolution. The term evolutionary creationism is used in particular for beliefs in which God transcends normal time and space, with nature having no existence independent of His will. Some or most of Genesis is treated as allegory.

YBC: Young Biological Creation. (also called Two-Stage Creation by the SDA Church; Young Biosphere Creation by Gorman Gray) This is another literal interpretation model that interprets Genesis 1:1-2 as a prior creation of the universe and the core elements of the earth. That the earth was in an unfinished state (covered with water and cloud layer) when the events of the six literal day creation week took place. It holds that all biology was created and the shaping of the earth and atmosphere for habitation took place appx. 6,180 ya.

FH: The Framework Hypothesis. "The Framework Interpretation of Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 is the view which maintains that, while the six days of creation are normal solar days, the total picture of God's completing His creative work in a week of days is not to be taken literally, but functions as a literary framework for the creation narrative; and that the eight creative historical works of God have been arranged according to other than strictly sequential considerations, and that where there is sequential order it must be determined by factors other than the order of narration alone."


FYI, I am in the YBC camp.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Very nice summary, keyarch. Thanks.