Young earth creationism
Young earth creationism is a religious belief regarding the origin of the universe and life on earth. Proponents base their beliefs on their reading of the book of Genesis in the Bible. They argue that the Bible says the earth is only 6000 years old, that the Bible is always true, and that they correctly interpret the Bible, despite disagreement of a majority of Christian and Jewish theologians. Young earth creationism was developed by two American theologians in the early 1960s[1] and is largely confined to Protestant fundamentalists. The chronology was originally developed in 17th century Britain, and appeared in some English language bibles starting in 1701. Bishop Ussher, an Anglican, is often given credit for introducing in 1651 the exact date of Adam’s birth coming at 9 AM on October 23, 4004 BC. [2] The 4004 date was abandoned in the 1870s by the more liberal theologians, and in the 1890s by the conservatives, who concluded the Bible does NOT speak to the age of the earth or the dates of Adam. [3] Activists, especially in Australia, claim several supporters have credentials as scientists. [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]
Notes
- ↑ John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Flood (1961). In turn they followed George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of The New Geology (1923).
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Numbers (2000)
- ↑ See List of Creation Scientists
- ↑ 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)
- 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
General references
- Northwest Creation Network Summary of Biblical Young Earth Creationism, with numerous links
External links
- In Evolution Debate, Creationists Are Breaking New Ground Washington Post article on the Creation Museum (free registration required)
- The Young Earth Creation Club Arguments and publications from Young Earth creationists.
- godandscience.org Young Earth vs. Old Earth arguments from Old Earth creationists.