Young earth creationism: Difference between revisions

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The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century England. Bishop Ussher, an Anglican, in 1651 argued that Adam’s birth came at 9 AM on October 23, 4004 BC, and his chronology appeared in English bibles starting in 1701.<ref>However, the year 4004 BC was already well known to theologians.  J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," ''Earth sciences history'' 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14 </ref> The 4004 date was abandoned in the 1870s by the more liberal theologians, and in 1890-1920 was abandoned by the conservatives and fundamentalists, who concluded the Bible does NOT speak to the age of the earth or the dates of Adam. <ref> Numbers (2000)</ref>  Activists, especially in Australia, claim several supporters have credentials as scientists. <ref>See [http://www.creationists.org/outstanding.html List of Creation Scientists] </ref>  Few activists have training in biology and none in geology, let alone research experience, but they are opposed to what they call "Darwinism," and attack modern biology for its opposition to their beliefs. Viewing Genesis as the recorded word of  God, adherents to young earth creationism are sure that the truth is known to them and, accordingly  are skeptical of the need for scientific research to support those views.
The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century England. Bishop Ussher, an Anglican, in 1651 argued that Adam’s birth came at 9 AM on October 23, 4004 BC, and his chronology appeared in English bibles starting in 1701.<ref>However, the year 4004 BC was already well known to theologians.  J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," ''Earth sciences history'' 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14 </ref> The 4004 date was abandoned in the 1870s by the more liberal theologians, and in 1890-1920 was abandoned by the conservatives and fundamentalists, who concluded the Bible does NOT speak to the age of the earth or the dates of Adam. <ref> Numbers (2000)</ref>  Activists, especially in Australia, claim several supporters have credentials as scientists. <ref>See [http://www.creationists.org/outstanding.html List of Creation Scientists] </ref>  Few activists have training in biology and none in geology, let alone research experience, but they are opposed to what they call "Darwinism," and attack modern biology for its opposition to their beliefs. Viewing Genesis as the recorded word of  God, adherents to young earth creationism are sure that the truth is known to them and, accordingly  are skeptical of the need for scientific research to support those views.


In the United States, particularly in rural regions, traditional Christian beliefs were widespread until the latter part of the 20th century. Rural areas of the southern states were known for evangelical and passionate brand of such beliefs, and also were areas without a strong public educational system. The early years of the 20th century saw a revolution in thinking about biology and science, and there was a particluarly wide gap between the more educated and less religious populations of the cities and towns, particlularly in the North, and the less educated and more traditionally religious populations, particularly in the rural south. National public attention towards the [[Scopes trial]] in 1925) had spotlighted the gap between these social groups and turned those individuals who supported literal interpretations of the Bible into laughing stock in the eyes of the more urbane and sophisticated Americans. Such public ridicule alienated some of the religious fundamentalists who declared Darwinism was a profound source of evil. For these people, the result of the Scopes trial was further polarization away from contemporary norms of the more educated Americans.
In the United States, particularly in rural regions, traditional Christian beliefs were widespread until the latter part of the 20th century. Rural areas of the southern states were known for evangelical and passionate brand of such beliefs, and were also areas without a strong public educational system. The early years of the 20th century saw a revolution in thinking about biology and science, and a wide gap in scientific literacy between the more educated and less religious populations of the cities and towns (particularly in the North), and the less educated and more traditionally religious populations, (particularly in the rural South) became increasingly pronounced. National public attention towards the [[Scopes trial]] in 1925) had spotlighted the disparity in world view between these social groups and turned those individuals who supported literal interpretations of the Bible into laughing stock in the eyes of the more urbane and sophisticated Americans. Such public ridicule alienated some of the religious fundamentalists who declared Darwinism was a profound source of evil. For these people, the result of the Scopes trial was further polarization away from contemporary norms of the more educated Americans.


Young earth creationism was developed by two American theologians in the early 1960s, John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry M. Morris, in ''The Genesis Flood'' (1961).  They in turn borrowed heavily (without attribution) George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of ''The New Geology'' (1923). Price was not trying to interpret the Bible; he was trying to justify the visions of [[Ellen G. White]], the founder of Seventh Day Adventism. Whitcomb and Morris modified Price's work by  dropping references to Adventism and adding a Baptist interpretation to Price's theory that a great flood had created all the fossils. The young earth creationism movement in the United States draws on a traditional Southern rural evangelical culture and exhibits a passionate embrace of a , seeing alternative interpretations, in some cases, as being proposed by minions of Satan.  Thus the creationists excommunicated adherents of the idea that "days" in Genesis meant epochs, not 24-hour units. The movement is largely confined to Protestant [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]], especially in the United States and Australia. The theory is most popular among militant [[Southern Baptists]] and [[Missouri Synod Lutherans]].  Adherence to these beliefs have separated the yound earth creationism  proponents from more moderate fundamentalist Christians in internecine theological battles.<ref> Numbers 2006</ref>   
Young earth creationism was developed by two American theologians in the early 1960s, John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry M. Morris, in ''The Genesis Flood'' (1961).  They in turn borrowed heavily (without attribution) George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of ''The New Geology'' (1923). Price was not trying to interpret the Bible; he was trying to justify the visions of [[Ellen G. White]], the founder of Seventh Day Adventism. Whitcomb and Morris modified Price's work by  dropping references to Adventism and adding a Baptist interpretation to Price's theory that a great flood had created all the fossils. The young earth creationism movement in the United States draws on a traditional Southern rural evangelical culture and exhibits a passionate embrace of a , seeing alternative interpretations, in some cases, as being proposed by minions of Satan.  Thus the creationists excommunicated adherents of the idea that "days" in Genesis meant epochs, not 24-hour units. The movement is largely confined to Protestant [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]], especially in the United States and Australia. The theory is most popular among militant [[Southern Baptists]] and [[Missouri Synod Lutherans]].  Adherence to these beliefs have separated the yound earth creationism  proponents from more moderate fundamentalist Christians in internecine theological battles.<ref> Numbers 2006</ref>   

Revision as of 19:26, 29 May 2007

Young earth creationism is a fundamentalist Christian belief that the origin of the universe and life on earth was revealed in the book of Genesis in the Bible. Taking a literal interpretion, proponents argue that the earth is only 6000 - 10, 000 years old.

The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century England. Bishop Ussher, an Anglican, in 1651 argued that Adam’s birth came at 9 AM on October 23, 4004 BC, and his chronology appeared in English bibles starting in 1701.[1] The 4004 date was abandoned in the 1870s by the more liberal theologians, and in 1890-1920 was abandoned by the conservatives and fundamentalists, who concluded the Bible does NOT speak to the age of the earth or the dates of Adam. [2] Activists, especially in Australia, claim several supporters have credentials as scientists. [3] Few activists have training in biology and none in geology, let alone research experience, but they are opposed to what they call "Darwinism," and attack modern biology for its opposition to their beliefs. Viewing Genesis as the recorded word of God, adherents to young earth creationism are sure that the truth is known to them and, accordingly are skeptical of the need for scientific research to support those views.

In the United States, particularly in rural regions, traditional Christian beliefs were widespread until the latter part of the 20th century. Rural areas of the southern states were known for evangelical and passionate brand of such beliefs, and were also areas without a strong public educational system. The early years of the 20th century saw a revolution in thinking about biology and science, and a wide gap in scientific literacy between the more educated and less religious populations of the cities and towns (particularly in the North), and the less educated and more traditionally religious populations, (particularly in the rural South) became increasingly pronounced. National public attention towards the Scopes trial in 1925) had spotlighted the disparity in world view between these social groups and turned those individuals who supported literal interpretations of the Bible into laughing stock in the eyes of the more urbane and sophisticated Americans. Such public ridicule alienated some of the religious fundamentalists who declared Darwinism was a profound source of evil. For these people, the result of the Scopes trial was further polarization away from contemporary norms of the more educated Americans.

Young earth creationism was developed by two American theologians in the early 1960s, John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry M. Morris, in The Genesis Flood (1961). They in turn borrowed heavily (without attribution) George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of The New Geology (1923). Price was not trying to interpret the Bible; he was trying to justify the visions of Ellen G. White, the founder of Seventh Day Adventism. Whitcomb and Morris modified Price's work by dropping references to Adventism and adding a Baptist interpretation to Price's theory that a great flood had created all the fossils. The young earth creationism movement in the United States draws on a traditional Southern rural evangelical culture and exhibits a passionate embrace of a , seeing alternative interpretations, in some cases, as being proposed by minions of Satan. Thus the creationists excommunicated adherents of the idea that "days" in Genesis meant epochs, not 24-hour units. The movement is largely confined to Protestant fundamentalists, especially in the United States and Australia. The theory is most popular among militant Southern Baptists and Missouri Synod Lutherans. Adherence to these beliefs have separated the yound earth creationism proponents from more moderate fundamentalist Christians in internecine theological battles.[4]


The scientific community as a whole rejects young earth creationism. In addition, religious creationists who believe in old earth creationism also reject the assertion that the earth is only approximately 6000 years old.

Young earth creationists allege that the evidence supporting their theories has been suppressed by mainstream science, and occasionally have brought lawsuits alleging censorship, one of them by Robert V. Gentry. Believers in 2007 opened the Creation Museum theme park near Cincinnati, Ohio, showing early humans at play alongside vegetarian dinosaurs.[5] Other groups in the United States have had similar plans. The "Creation Discovery Center, a museum with exhibits on Noah's flood, the Ice Age and the dinosaurs (featured in the antediluvian room in a mural with Adam and Eve)" was opened by Creation Studies Institute, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based ministry that promotes young earth creationism (Creationism 'lite'; 'Intelligent design' proponents marry God and evolution, The Record (Bergen County, NJ), August 28, 2005 Sunday, All Editions, OPINION; Pg. O01, 1680 words, By ALEXANDRA ALTER, Wire Services).

Notes

  1. ↑ However, the year 4004 BC was already well known to theologians. J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," Earth sciences history 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14
  2. ↑ Numbers (2000)
  3. ↑ See List of Creation Scientists
  4. ↑ Numbers 2006
  5. ↑ Associated Press, "New Bible-Based Museum Has Dinosaurs," in New York Times May 26, 2007 at [1]

Bibliography

  • Numbers, Ronald L. The Creationists (2nd ed. 2006)
    • James D. Bratt, "History of Brief Time" Reviews in American History, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp. 335-339. (review of Numbers, 1992 edition. online at JSTOR
  • Numbers, Ronald L. "The Most Important Biblical Discovery of Our Time": William Henry Green and the Demise of Ussher's Chronology," Church History, Vol. 69, No. 2 (Jun., 2000), pp. 257-276 in JSTOR

External links

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