Creation Science
Some Christians have locked themselves into young earth creationism. Judging by the series of anti-Charles Darwin lectures being organized in the Parliament’s lecture theatre, it seems the Christian Democratic Party has officially locked themselves into this viewpoint. Only a miniscule number of Australians would accept this viewpoint.
Such people believe our world is only 6000 years old. They have adopted the chronology of Bishop James Ussher (1581–1656). He was Anglican Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–1656. He is best remembered because he worked out the date and time of creation as recorded in Genesis 1. He argued that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them commencing the night preceding 27 October 4004 BC.
His dating was included in the centre column on some King James Version of the Bible (1611AD). To many Christians troubled by the evolutionary debate after the 1880’s, this became an authorative statement believed by many to be part of the inspired and authoritative Word of God when in fact it was only one man’s opinion containing all the limitations of his historical era and knowledge.
But Christians today, 400 years later, have much better scientific, geological and archaeological knowledge. Yet some still cling to Bishop Ussher’s chronology. These Christians are in danger of belonging to congregations where young people, young adults and most thinking adults believe them to be out of touch with reality and normal scientific understanding.
Evangelical magazines are encouraging Christians to read a new evangelical academic book The Bible, Rocks and Time by Davis A. Young and Ralph F. Stearley.
These two authors, both evangelical Christian geologists, seek to clearly define distinctions between evolutionary scientific positions on ‘origins’ (man, the Earth and the Universe) and the biblical position (young-earth Creationism). In The Bible, Rocks and Time (IVP Academic) the two geologists examine the evidence from the view of secular science to make their determination of a very old earth, culminating in an attack on young-earth creationism. The authors’ presentation is broad enough to fit many parts of the old-earth spectrum of origins beliefs (theistic evolution, Intelligent Design, progressive creationism, etc.).
The Bible, Rocks and Time geologists, and Reformed Christians Davis Young and Ralph Stearley, try to convince young-earth creationists to abandon their position. Many such Australians would profit by reading this book and re-thinking their position.
The authors argue that the Creation account in Genesis 1 need not be understood as a historical narrative documenting the creation of the universe and its inhabitants in six normal (rotational) days. They argue that the data from geology point unwaveringly to a planet of exceedingly ancient age.
There is therefore no difficulty in agreeing with modern scientific estimates of the geological dating for dinosaurs, earth formations, approximates dates of astrological events and so on without compromising their faith.
One reviewer wrote, “I particularly appreciated Young and Stearley’s historical overview of church beliefs on Genesis and Creation. Their careful documentation includes the claim that the church fathers held views compatible with an ancient earth. They likewise present the origins of modern geology well, particularly within the broader historical backdrop of Christian influences on scientific thought.”
In the authors’ discussion of Noah’s Flood they argue strongly against the Flood as a global, geologically formative event in history.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.
