For someone to be a TE they must reject certain points of views. Namely, that of the literal interpretation of Genesis. Since Genesis is an ancient document written in a different language in a different culture with a different cosmology in mind, it is quite possible that it is not literal. We also know from many other passages in the Bible that it is possible for a verse to contain theological truth while not being literal.
For the YEC the theological rejection is that of the figurative sort. Although most YECs don't take every single passage in the Bible literally, they take Genesis literally, meaning that the same kind of interpretation used in figurative passages is a method rejected by YECs when dealing with Genesis.
But for the YECs, what they must reject to hold onto their point of view doesn't stop at theological interpreations. It extends into almost every field of science. They must reject astronomy, or at least the determined age of the universe from astronomical studies. This is a science based on a lot of math, dealing with distances, speeds, wave lengths etc. It's interesting that you never hear a YEC challenge a calculation in astronomy that doesn't threaten their point of view, but when using the same kind of math to give an old age to the universe, it becomes a threat, and then must be challenged.
YECs reject geology, or at least the geological studies that show the earth is old. This kind of science is based on observation. We observe things happening a certain way in nature and can view similar erosion marks or depositions in the deepest strata and determine age and how it formed. You never hear a YEC challenge a geologist when they try to predict landslides, calculate river deposition, predict settling of a man made island with structures on it, or any other geological issue dealing with the present. However, once the same reasoning is applied to the past and it threatens the YEC point of view, it becomes essential for the YEC to attack it.
And of course, YECs must reject biology, or at least the part that deals with common descent. When a biologist uses evolution to make cures for disease, evolve a new protien, or any other "micro" evolutionary process, there is no challenge from the YEC community. However, once biology discovers things like the human chromosone #2, ERVs, or any other biological evidence for common descent, they must be attacked.
I could go on with other fields of science like paleontology, archeology, and athropology but to avoid making this post too long I'll just mention one more. Marine biology. When studies are done on coral reef and the life in and around them, there is never a challenge. But when the same principals used to study those things are applied to how old the coral reef is, it sets off an alarm for the YEC.
Yes, there are many many things the YEC must reject to hold onto that point of view. It's no wonder they are compared to geocentrists and flat earthers.
One last comment and this is important. God gave us reason to work things out and He gave us the intelligence to study His creation. Our faith and reason shouldn't conflict with each other, but rather, should complement each other. Only the TE view accomplishes this. All the sciences, based on our God given ability to reason and use logic, lead us to believe we evolved, and at the same time TEs can accept all the theological truths of Genesis.
For the YEC the theological rejection is that of the figurative sort. Although most YECs don't take every single passage in the Bible literally, they take Genesis literally, meaning that the same kind of interpretation used in figurative passages is a method rejected by YECs when dealing with Genesis.
But for the YECs, what they must reject to hold onto their point of view doesn't stop at theological interpreations. It extends into almost every field of science. They must reject astronomy, or at least the determined age of the universe from astronomical studies. This is a science based on a lot of math, dealing with distances, speeds, wave lengths etc. It's interesting that you never hear a YEC challenge a calculation in astronomy that doesn't threaten their point of view, but when using the same kind of math to give an old age to the universe, it becomes a threat, and then must be challenged.
YECs reject geology, or at least the geological studies that show the earth is old. This kind of science is based on observation. We observe things happening a certain way in nature and can view similar erosion marks or depositions in the deepest strata and determine age and how it formed. You never hear a YEC challenge a geologist when they try to predict landslides, calculate river deposition, predict settling of a man made island with structures on it, or any other geological issue dealing with the present. However, once the same reasoning is applied to the past and it threatens the YEC point of view, it becomes essential for the YEC to attack it.
And of course, YECs must reject biology, or at least the part that deals with common descent. When a biologist uses evolution to make cures for disease, evolve a new protien, or any other "micro" evolutionary process, there is no challenge from the YEC community. However, once biology discovers things like the human chromosone #2, ERVs, or any other biological evidence for common descent, they must be attacked.
I could go on with other fields of science like paleontology, archeology, and athropology but to avoid making this post too long I'll just mention one more. Marine biology. When studies are done on coral reef and the life in and around them, there is never a challenge. But when the same principals used to study those things are applied to how old the coral reef is, it sets off an alarm for the YEC.
Yes, there are many many things the YEC must reject to hold onto that point of view. It's no wonder they are compared to geocentrists and flat earthers.
One last comment and this is important. God gave us reason to work things out and He gave us the intelligence to study His creation. Our faith and reason shouldn't conflict with each other, but rather, should complement each other. Only the TE view accomplishes this. All the sciences, based on our God given ability to reason and use logic, lead us to believe we evolved, and at the same time TEs can accept all the theological truths of Genesis.
