Old Earth Problems?

Discussion about scientific issues as they relate to God and Christianity including archaeology, origins of life, the universe, intelligent design, evolution, etc.
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

Hi Everyone, I just registered on this website, but have been studying the differences between young earth and old earth for a little while. I started researching with the mind set of being open to which side makes more sense biblically and logically with the limited ability I have to understand some of the complicated science involved. I have a question for the old earth believers. I would appreciate answers from people secure in their beliefs in old earth creationism only. What are the problems that you haven't found an answer for or feel confident about on your side. One issue that I can't find an answer for is Job 40:17. I'm not confident with the behemoth being a hippo or elephant because of the "tail sways like a cedar" part of the verse. Is it possible that the behemoth is an extinct animal? Sorry for the long opening post. I'm looking forward to your answers. Thanks
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

Oops, I may have posted in the wrong forum. I just noticed a thread about walking with dinosaurs where part of my question was already addressed.
User avatar
BavarianWheels
Prestigious Senior Member
Posts: 1806
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:09 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Southern California

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by BavarianWheels »

RickD wrote:I'm not confident with the behemoth being a hippo or elephant because of the "tail sways like a cedar" part of the verse.
Ever been whipped by the tail of a Great Dane? ;)
.
.
User avatar
jlay
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3613
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:47 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Young-Earth Creationist

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by jlay »

Rick,

Like you I see this verse as creating a problem. There are certainly extinct dinos that fit the description to a T. And living animals that fit parts, but not all. Crocs don't eat grass. Elephants and Hippos don't have tails like a cedar. As a YEC who has posted here a while, you are probably just spinning your wheels with these kinds of threads. You are free to post what you like, but I'm just speaking from experience. I doubt you are going to sway anyone's opinion. I've been part of this forum for a while now, and no one has convinced me to abandon my YEC views. I find it much more edifying to find the areas where we agree and strengthen one another. Not that there will not be disagreements. There will be.
-“The Bible treated allegorically becomes putty in the hands of the exegete.” John Walvoord

"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

jlay, Thanks for the reply. Years ago I would have considered myself a yec. Until I actually started to study the subject on my own. I've come to the conclusion that the oec, especially the day-age makes the most sense to me. Saying that, I'm looking at the areas where yec's say there are flaws in the oec models to find out how the biblical translation may have been lost, or scientists may be wrong. I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, and our universe was created by God. So I have no agenda as to which side more realistically presents its case. I started my studying to find the truth, and believe as a Christian God will show me the truth on this subject as I study and pray. The behemoth question is one I had because I can't figure out the answer from an oec point of view. As far as the leviathan, I can most definitely see that as a large croc. Some people seem to lump the 2 different descriptions of behemoth and leviathan into one. As I read Job, they are two different animals. The oec/day-age view has very few questions that remain unanswered in my mind. The yec model that Kent Hovind and Ken Ham teach, have too many scientific problems. It also seems that the two of them have an agenda of some sort. Where as Hugh Ross seems to give the reason why he believes what he does with humility and honesty. Hugh Ross also makes the oec model easy to understand for someone like me with a simple mind.
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

jlay wrote:Rick,

Like you I see this verse as creating a problem. There are certainly extinct dinos that fit the description to a T. And living animals that fit parts, but not all. Crocs don't eat grass. Elephants and Hippos don't have tails like a cedar. As a YEC who has posted here a while, you are probably just spinning your wheels with these kinds of threads. You are free to post what you like, but I'm just speaking from experience. I doubt you are going to sway anyone's opinion. I've been part of this forum for a while now, and no one has convinced me to abandon my YEC views. I find it much more edifying to find the areas where we agree and strengthen one another. Not that there will not be disagreements. There will be.
jlay, nowhere in Job 41 does it describe leviathan as eating grass as you have stated. Job 40 describes behemoth as eating grass, and I don't think anyone would think that the rest of behemoth's description is talking about a croc. I'm searching for the truth on this subject, so I don't think I'm spinning my wheels. I don't know how my post makes you think I'm trying to sway anyone's opinion. I'm just asking for opinions. If I came across as trying to cause a disagreement, that's not what I intended. I'm trying to solve the disagreements in my own mind. Thanks
User avatar
jlay
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3613
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:47 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Young-Earth Creationist

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by jlay »

You sited job 40.

Sorry if I misunderstood earlier croc references as applying to 41.
I said spinning your wheels because initially your posts came across as a YECer trying to argue against OEC. Since you explained your position, it is much more clear what you are driving at. Please continue.
-“The Bible treated allegorically becomes putty in the hands of the exegete.” John Walvoord

"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious
User avatar
Furstentum Liechtenstein
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3295
Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 6:55 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: It's Complicated
Creation Position: Young-Earth Creationist
Location: Lower Canuckistan

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by Furstentum Liechtenstein »

There is a middle ground between YEC and OEC. Well...it isn't middle ground in the sense of compromise and «I'll meet you half way». Schroeder's creation perspective allows you to have your cake and eat it too, allows you to step through the looking glass and reconcile a lot of the puerile YEC/OEC disputes.

http://www.geraldschroeder.com/AgeUniverse.aspx

FL
Hold everything lightly. If you don't, it will hurt when God pries your fingers loose as He takes it from you. -Corrie Ten Boom

+ + +

If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.

+ + +
touchingcloth
Senior Member
Posts: 589
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:37 pm
Christian: No
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by touchingcloth »

Maybe it's possible, just possible, that Job is wrong?
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

I guess I'm just looking for things that oe creationists see as flaws in their own old earth model. I guess I'm looking for opinions from people secure enough to give me truthful answers about supposed flaws or apparent flaws in their own position.
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by RickD »

touchingcloth wrote:Maybe it's possible, just possible, that Job is wrong?
Wrong about what?
touchingcloth
Senior Member
Posts: 589
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:37 pm
Christian: No
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by touchingcloth »

RickD wrote:I guess I'm just looking for things that oe creationists see as flaws in their own old earth model. I guess I'm looking for opinions from people secure enough to give me truthful answers about supposed flaws or apparent flaws in their own position.
Do you believe in a young earth? If so then you are so, so wrong.
User avatar
zoegirl
Old School
Posts: 3927
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:59 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: Female
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: east coast

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by zoegirl »

He's already said that he leans towards OEC
"And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus Christ"
touchingcloth
Senior Member
Posts: 589
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:37 pm
Christian: No
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by touchingcloth »

zoegirl wrote:He's already said that he leans towards OEC
Old or young creationism is a crock of unscientific nonsense...YEC more so.
User avatar
Canuckster1127
Old School
Posts: 5310
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:31 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Theistic Evolution
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada

Re: Old Earth Problems?

Post by Canuckster1127 »

touchingcloth wrote:
zoegirl wrote:He's already said that he leans towards OEC
Old or young creationism is a crock of unscientific nonsense...YEC more so.
Why? Because you say so?
Dogmatism is the comfortable intellectual framework of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is more decadent than the worst sexual sin. ~ Dan Allender
Post Reply