Creationism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Old Earth creationism=== {{Main|Old Earth creationism}} Old Earth creationism holds that the physical universe was created by God, but that the creation event described in the Book of Genesis is to be taken figuratively. This group generally believes that the [[age of the universe]] and the age of the Earth are as described by [[astronomer]]s and [[geologist]]s, but that details of [[Neo-Darwinism|modern evolutionary theory]] are questionable.<ref name="Scott1999" /> Old Earth creationism itself comes in at least three types:<ref name="Scott1999" /> ====Gap creationism==== {{Main|Gap creationism}} Gap creationism (also known as ''ruin-restoration creationism'', ''restoration creationism'', or ''the Gap Theory'') is a form of old Earth creationism that posits that the six-''[[yom]]'' creation period, as described in the [[Book of Genesis]], involved six literal 24-hour days, but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, which the theory states explains many scientific observations, including the [[age of the Earth]]. Thus, the six days of creation (verse 3 onwards) start sometime after the Earth was "without form and void." This allows an indefinite gap of time to be inserted after the original creation of the universe, but prior to the [[Genesis creation narrative]], (when present biological species and [[human]]ity were created). Gap theorists can therefore agree with the [[scientific consensus]] regarding the age of the Earth and universe, while maintaining a literal interpretation of the biblical text.<ref>''Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction'', [[Eugenie Scott]], pp61-62</ref><ref>''The Scientific Case Against Scientific Creationism'', Jon P. Alston, p24</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/wic.html|title=What is Creationism?}}</ref> Some{{which|date=November 2013}} gap creationists expand the basic version of creationism by proposing a "primordial creation" of biological life within the "gap" of time. This is thought to be "the world that then was" mentioned in [[2 Peter]] 3:3β6.<ref>{{Bibleref2|2 Peter|3:3-7|NRSV}}</ref> Discoveries of fossils and archaeological ruins older than 10,000 years are generally ascribed to this "world that then was," which may also be associated with [[War in Heaven|Lucifer's rebellion]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Formless and Void: Gap Theory Creationism {{!}} National Center for Science Education|url=https://ncse.ngo/formless-and-void-gap-theory-creationism|access-date=2021-10-30|website=ncse.ngo|language=en}}</ref> ====Day-age creationism==== {{Main|Day-age creationism}} Day-age creationism, a type of old Earth creationism, is a metaphorical [[Biblical exegesis|interpretation]] of the creation accounts in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]]. It holds that the six days referred to in the Genesis account of creation are not ordinary 24-hour days, but are much longer periods (from thousands to billions of years). The Genesis account is then reconciled with the [[age of the Earth]]. Proponents of the day-age theory can be found among both theistic evolutionists, who accept the [[scientific consensus]] on [[evolution]], and [[Progressive creationism|progressive creationists]], who reject it. The theories are said to be built on the understanding that the Hebrew word ''[[yom]]'' is also used to refer to a time period, with a beginning and an end and not necessarily that of a 24-hour day. The day-age theory attempts to reconcile the [[Genesis creation narrative]] and modern science by asserting that the creation "days" were not ordinary 24-hour days, but actually lasted for long periods of time (as day-age implies, the "days" each lasted an age). According to this view, the sequence and duration of the creation "days" may be paralleled to the scientific consensus for the age of the [[age of the earth|earth]] and the [[age of the universe|universe]]. ====Progressive creationism==== {{Main|Progressive creationism}} Progressive creationism is the religious belief that [[God]] created new forms of life gradually over a period of hundreds of millions of years. As a form of old Earth creationism, it accepts mainstream [[geological]] and [[cosmology|cosmological]] estimates for the [[age of the Earth]], some tenets of [[biology]] such as [[microevolution]] as well as [[archaeology]] to make its case. In this view creation occurred in rapid bursts in which all "kinds" of plants and animals appear in stages lasting millions of years. The bursts are followed by periods of stasis or equilibrium to accommodate new arrivals. These bursts represent instances of [[God]] creating new types of organisms by divine intervention. As viewed from the archaeological record, progressive creationism holds that "species do not gradually appear by the steady transformation of its ancestors; [but] appear all at once and "fully formed."<ref>Gould, Stephen J. ''The Panda's Thumb'' (New York: W.W. Norton & CO., 1982), page 182.</ref> The view rejects [[macroevolution]], claiming it is biologically untenable and not supported by the [[fossil record]],<ref>Bocchino, Peter; Geisler, Norman "Unshakable Foundations" (Minneapolis: Bethany House., 2001). Pages 141β188</ref> as well as rejects the concept of [[common descent]] from a [[last universal common ancestor]]. Thus the evidence for macroevolution is claimed to be false, but microevolution is accepted as a genetic parameter designed by the Creator into the fabric of genetics to allow for environmental adaptations and survival. Generally, it is viewed by proponents as a middle ground between literal creationism and evolution. Organizations such as [[Reasons To Believe]], founded by [[Hugh Ross (creationist)|Hugh Ross]], promote this version of creationism. Progressive creationism can be held in conjunction with [[hermeneutic]] approaches to the Genesis creation narrative such as the [[day-age creationism]] or [[Framework interpretation (Genesis)|framework]]/metaphoric/poetic views. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page