Over in the C&E forum, I asked the following question:
Assuming for the sake of argument that you were open to the idea of Christian belief, but did not know about a Theistic Evolution alternative, would the dogmatic teaching of Young Earth Creationism make it more likely that you would consider Christianity or less so?
I also asked What about Theistic Evolution? Being aware of Theistic Evolution (which I am sure most of you here are), would this viewpoint make you more likely or less likely to consider Christianity?
Here are some of the responses:
The introduction of dogmatic YEC teachings is one of the things that turned me away from my church and started me on the journey towards atheism.
I would think a lot less of christianity if TE was not an option.
I was in the process of reading the Bible from front to back when the YEC teachings swept through my church. I was already way past Genesis and had frankly never taken a literal approach to those texts. (Nor had my Bible teacher in the church...or others with whom I discussed Genesis.) It's like someone else here said, I really didn't give much of a hoot about the origin of species until YECism was crammed down my throat. It wasn't a question I worried about. I learned very limited basics about evolution in school and never gave it much thought until I was exposed to what I saw as flat out propaganda, junk science and false allegations. I guess what I'm trying to say, and badly, is that the only thing that caused me to have more than a passing interest in evolution at all was how horrified I was by the narrow-mindedness and often flat out lying of the YEC movement.
YECism was the large and powerful stepping stone that led me out of christianity. I have no doubt that I would still be a christian if it wasn't for YEC.
If YECism was the only option, I would reject all of Christianity as a cult. . . . Origins is a huge issue for me. TE existing as an option for belief, as an alternative to YECism, makes me see Christianity as a legitimate religion instead of a cult.
If YECism was the only option, there would be zero chance of me ever becoming a Christian again . . .
YEC and a literal interpretation of the Bible were two reasons for my eventual deconversion from Christianity. Not the only reasons and not even the most important reasons, but definitely two of the first reasons. So I'd have to say that YEC would still make me far less likely to consider Christianity again.
Considering the sheer absurdity (and the dishonesty routinely used to promote that nonsense) of "scientific" (ha!) creationism, anyone who starts to insist on any kind of creationism has a very good chance of making me reject fully whatever faith he tries to "sell" to me.
i never cared about the origins question when I first became a christian... when YEC was presented to me (and it was official doctrine of my church) i became a little confused. Then I saw Kent Hovind and realized that I could not be a Christian any longer...
if YEC was the only Christian option, then I would think of Christianity what I think of the Heaven's Gate Cult.
TE for sure. As an agnostic I am not closed to the idea that there is a higher power. So any religious view that "jives" with the actual observable universe would be highly favored.
In light of the evidence as I understand it, less so. [referring to YEC'ism].
Most said that while the TE option would be more likely to allow them to even consider Christianity, it would not likely be enough. Still, a crack in the door is better than the slamming shut that YEC'ism causes.
Assuming for the sake of argument that you were open to the idea of Christian belief, but did not know about a Theistic Evolution alternative, would the dogmatic teaching of Young Earth Creationism make it more likely that you would consider Christianity or less so?
I also asked What about Theistic Evolution? Being aware of Theistic Evolution (which I am sure most of you here are), would this viewpoint make you more likely or less likely to consider Christianity?
Here are some of the responses:
The introduction of dogmatic YEC teachings is one of the things that turned me away from my church and started me on the journey towards atheism.
I would think a lot less of christianity if TE was not an option.
I was in the process of reading the Bible from front to back when the YEC teachings swept through my church. I was already way past Genesis and had frankly never taken a literal approach to those texts. (Nor had my Bible teacher in the church...or others with whom I discussed Genesis.) It's like someone else here said, I really didn't give much of a hoot about the origin of species until YECism was crammed down my throat. It wasn't a question I worried about. I learned very limited basics about evolution in school and never gave it much thought until I was exposed to what I saw as flat out propaganda, junk science and false allegations. I guess what I'm trying to say, and badly, is that the only thing that caused me to have more than a passing interest in evolution at all was how horrified I was by the narrow-mindedness and often flat out lying of the YEC movement.
YECism was the large and powerful stepping stone that led me out of christianity. I have no doubt that I would still be a christian if it wasn't for YEC.
If YECism was the only option, I would reject all of Christianity as a cult. . . . Origins is a huge issue for me. TE existing as an option for belief, as an alternative to YECism, makes me see Christianity as a legitimate religion instead of a cult.
If YECism was the only option, there would be zero chance of me ever becoming a Christian again . . .
YEC and a literal interpretation of the Bible were two reasons for my eventual deconversion from Christianity. Not the only reasons and not even the most important reasons, but definitely two of the first reasons. So I'd have to say that YEC would still make me far less likely to consider Christianity again.
Considering the sheer absurdity (and the dishonesty routinely used to promote that nonsense) of "scientific" (ha!) creationism, anyone who starts to insist on any kind of creationism has a very good chance of making me reject fully whatever faith he tries to "sell" to me.
i never cared about the origins question when I first became a christian... when YEC was presented to me (and it was official doctrine of my church) i became a little confused. Then I saw Kent Hovind and realized that I could not be a Christian any longer...
if YEC was the only Christian option, then I would think of Christianity what I think of the Heaven's Gate Cult.
TE for sure. As an agnostic I am not closed to the idea that there is a higher power. So any religious view that "jives" with the actual observable universe would be highly favored.
In light of the evidence as I understand it, less so. [referring to YEC'ism].
Most said that while the TE option would be more likely to allow them to even consider Christianity, it would not likely be enough. Still, a crack in the door is better than the slamming shut that YEC'ism causes.
