I like to see Q & A threads from posters.
It shows they're willing to take the bull by the horns and defend their position.
If you're up to it, I made a creationism test some time ago.
Here are some highlights from it:
1. Explain the difference between creatio ex nihilo and creatio ex materia; and give two examples of each.
2. Eden in the Bible is known as __________ on a secular map.
3. What literary device reconciles Genesis 1 and Genesis 2?
4. Put the following in order that they appeared in the universe: whales, stars, trees, sun, land, sea, outer space.
5. What day was Adam created on?
6. Was the universe created a closed system and, if not, what kind of energy did it run off of? if it was created open, what closed it?
7. Photosynthesis required light from the sun prior to the Fall. true or false?
8. Explain how a 24-hour day could transpire before the sun was created.
9. Explain the difference between "miracles" and "magic."
10. When discussing Creationism, why should one never let himself stray from Genesis 1 or 2?
11. Why is "heaven" singular in Genesis 1, but plural in Genesis 2?
I don't adhere to any specific flavor of creationism, but sure, I'll answer your questions.
1. Explain the difference between creatio ex nihilo and creatio ex materia; and give two examples of each.
The first is creation from nothing and the second is creation from something, i.e. something God didn't create. I adhere to the first with respect to God's creative act in the first few verses of Genesis, though I may not adhere to it as strictly as some. That's one example. I don't know of a second.
Examples of the second kind would involve people, not God. I, as an engineer, create new machines. Jackson Pollock created new works of art.
2. Eden in the Bible is known as __________ on a secular map.
I have no idea, and though people speculate, I don't believe anyone knows.
3. What literary device reconciles Genesis 1 and Genesis 2?
I've never seen them as in conflict, and I don't get why people think they conflict. Nonlinear storytelling is a common thing. If people get Quentin Tarantino, I don't understand why they don't get Genesis.
4. Put the following in order that they appeared in the universe: whales, stars, trees, sun, land, sea, outer space.
I'm not going to speculate on that. It's fine that other people do as long as they realize it's speculation. I've done it, and have fun with it, but that's amongst people I know well and trust. In this forum it's not productive. People who think their speculations are fact produce nutty theology.
5. What day was Adam created on?
Per my answer to question #4, I will answer you this way: Genesis 1:26-31
6. Was the universe created a closed system and, if not, what kind of energy did it run off of? if it was created open, what closed it?
Is this the thermodynamic argument? The order can't come from chaos argument? I'm not sure what you mean by "open" and "closed" systems. God created everything that exists, and everything that exists is, by definition, a closed system.
[edit] I'd better amend this. God didn't create himself, so he's not part of the created universe. In that sense, I suppose when God interacts with the universe, it is technically an open system.
7. Photosynthesis required light from the sun prior to the Fall. true or false?
True.
8. Explain how a 24-hour day could transpire before the sun was created.
I don't view time as an independent existential thing. Time is always relative to a reference. The current SI reference is cesium. Therefore, the proper number of cesium cycles can mark the passage of 24 SI hours without reference to the sun.
During the actual creation event, the reference was God's actions.
Neither of those references was available to Moses when he compiled Genesis. I believe the reference to days in Genesis is a reference to what was familiar to Moses' Hebrew audience, and a 'day' to them was not exactly the same as our modern standard of 24 hours. However, there is a rough equivalent. Moses recorded the story using references the Hebrews were familiar with.
9. Explain the difference between "miracles" and "magic."
[edit] Oops. Forgot to answer this one first time around.
'Miracle' has many meanings. I'm going to assume you mean God's miracles/Biblical miracles. In that sense, God's miracles are things that can only be done by God's power. I don't agree with the use of terms like "supernatural" that often come up in other definitions, nor do I agree miracles are a suspension of physical law.
Likewise, 'magic' has many definitions. However, in this context magic refers to the cause of an event when we don't understand the mechanism of the cause-effect relationship. Further, it usually means we believe God was not the cause.
10. When discussing Creationism, why should one never let himself stray from Genesis 1 or 2?
As I said, I don't adhere to a specific flavor of creationism, which means I probably wouldn't agree with your interpretation of Genesis 1,2. With that said, I believe in Biblical inerrancy, the final authority of the Word, and the tradition of the Lutheran Confessions as the proper normative expression of the Christian faith. Therefore, I never intend to stray from it in any discussion, creationism or otherwise.
11. Why is "heaven" singular in Genesis 1, but plural in Genesis 2?
Poetic license.
I'm sure the words Moses used were inspired by God and chosen for a reason. I just doubt I would agree with whatever theological point you're trying to hang off such a weak foundation. A key principle of Lutheran exegesis is that if your theology depends on one word in one verse, it's not revealed theology.
As a final comment on your questions, they are very leading. I tend to get snarky when people ask me leading questions, so my apologies for that.
