Has the evidence for evolution and an ancient earth ever made you question your faith as a christian?

Question

I am a christian who was once a Young Earth Creationist. After examining the evidence, I determined that the earth is not 6,000 years old and took on a theistic evolutionist view. In other words, I believe that God created us, but used evolution to do so. I believe that Genesis is an allegory, and is not literally accurate.

I still believe that the bible is the word of God, and was inspired by same. But that doesn't make it a science book. My faith in the bible wasn't shaken at all.

Don't respond with a plea to convince me of the literal creation story. I am very well versed with all of the creationist arguments, and they are simply bogus.

What I want to know is if there are people out there who examined the evidence with an objective mindset, like I did, but found themselves losing a little faith in the bible because the literal creationists try so hard to convince everyone that the bible must be interpreted their way, meaning literally instead of figuratively.

Why can't evolution and creation go together peacefully? Why does it have to be either/or for some people?

And PLEASE be reminded, I AM NOT AN ATHEIST!!! I AM A CHRISTIAN!!!

Those of you who wish to convince me of literal creation, go visit these two sites: http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/List_of_creationist_arguments and http://talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html. If you have an argument that is addressed on either of these sites, just keep it to yourself. I've already been there/done that.

Victor ious...
There are some things you should know about "Dr" Baugh.
His credentials...http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/degrees.html
His claims...http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CC/CC120.html, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/nbc.html, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/retrack.html, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/tooth.html, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/ce/3/part2.html
Fellow creationist opinions of "Dr" Baugh...http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/whatbau.html (CSF is in fellowship with many creationist groups around the world. We are part of a world-wide network of qualified scientists who are work ing to understand the evidence in the light of the biblical account. All the creationist scientists that we have spoken to regard Mr. Baugh's teaching as a serious embarrassment.)

Victor ious, as for your accusations that I am a false christian, that is fine. I don't have to explain myself to you, and your judgement is not the one I have to worry about. The main point of Genesis is to explain who created everything, and why. Not how or when. You can doubt by sincerity all you wish. There are no hard feelings. My salvation doesn't revolve around a young earth or life appearing from nowhere out of magic like yours does. I am a sinner. I am repentant. I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. Please tell me what I am missing.

I'm sorry, that last detail was meant for Flandargo.

As for "Dr" Hovind...
http://www.kent-hovind.com/

"Dr" Hovind has as much creibility with me as does "Dr" Baugh...Zero!!

Answer 1

Well, the short answer is, you're exactly correct, with some qualifications. When I go to my church here in Bakersfield, California, 1st Presbyterian, and I particpate in the Bible study,
which is for me the heart of my worship, the last thing I'm interested in doing is commiting Bibliolatry. Many seem to "worship the Bible" instead of worshipping the living Word.
I mean, really? Who was it that wants to contain and limit the Living Word to a box? Some fundamentalists would counter that when God gave us the Bible, he said all he had to say. I am not convinced by these arguments in the least. I believe God is continuing to reveal Himself to us, and that His Word is a PROCESS not a ROCK! --->Sincerely, UCSteve

Answer 2

What evidence? You mean the secular interpretation of the evidence, which substantially ignores such things as: polystrate fossils, wet folding in rock layers, and red blood cell in a T-rex bone, and other things which seem more consistent with the creationist model (Noah's flood is the cause of the fossil record) than with the evolutionary model? Yeah... might wanna check out this question then.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmmZy7vLCwqpuZXM7p49_Sjsy6IX?qid=20060617230534AAo7yfG

Evolutionists can't even defend their own faith.

Also, here's why Christians really lose it when they believe in evolution. In believing in evolution, you are suggesting that there was suffering and death before Adam & Eve, which would mean that death is NOT the penalty of sin, even though the Bible teaches that. It is the very reason we NEED a Savior, because as death entered the world because of Adam, so through the last Adam (Christ), we shall have access to the tree of life again. The theistic evolution model however, downplays the role of a Savior.

Also, Christ spoke of Genesis in Matthew 24:38, "For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark." Note how He spoke of the Flood as fact? Christ also mentioned Adam and Eve as real historical people.

Also consider Colossians 1:15-17, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Christ was a part of the creation of the world and those things in heaven. Not only has God testified of the account of our beginning (Genesis), Christ has testified of the account of our beginning, as did the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 118:8 should tell you if you really are with God.

Answer 3

No. Evolution has made no strides with me. Have you ever read the work of Dr. Carl Baugh? and seen his archaeological findings? The man brilliantly. logically and scientifically has rebuffed the Evolution theory with concrete evidence. Secular science and those convinced of evolution make darn sure not to give the man even a moment of public exposure.

I never bought the Evolution concept before Dr. Carl Baugh.

And lastly - if you cant believe the Biblical record, you cant believe any of it. If one is a myth then the other is a myth. So you are not a Christian except in name only and using that to deceive, con and pull others under the tow of sin with you. Nothing personal - but Satan has you lead around by the nose and very proud of you.

In my humble opinion of course.

Answer 4

I approach religion in a very logical way. A perfect god who is all knowing and all powerful and all loving who knows what man is going to do before man does it would not logically create man and then condemn man for doing the things god created man to do. Make sense? I do not believe that god is full of wrath and wants to strike us down with great vengence for being exactly what god created us to be - I believe that god transcends hate and violence - I believe in a peaceful, loving god who only challenges us in our lives so that we are stronger.

And I believe, as you do, that the bible and other religious documents are meant to be interpreted as metaphors. Think of the seven deadly sins and the ten commandments in a figurative sense. They are logical ideas, suggestions really, on how a person can live a happier more fulfilling life. When people start taking it literally problems arise. Did you know more people have been killed in the name of god because of what is written in religous documents than for any other reason? Thou shalt not kill is one of the big commandments and yet, through out history religions have justified it because they believe they are doing god's work. It just doesn't make any sense.

So, yes - I approached religion and the bible with an objective mind and found it hard to have faith in it because of all the people who take it literally. :) The whole Adam and Eve story is ridiculous because there are many different types of people on this Earth of many different colors, shapes and sizes and it is literally impossible for us all to have come from just one man and just one woman. Scientific evidence can prove that people existed on continents all around the globe at the same periods in time when people did not have the means to travel around the world.

:) And that's all I have to say about that.

Answer 5

My Bro. in Christ, the Bible dosen't say Adam and Eve were the First People on EARTH. I believe the EARTH is about 4 to 5 Billion year's old. Read Ecclesiastes chapter 1, three time's in a row and ask for Wisdom to understand. After a million or two million years, a generation would be totally forgotten in my way of thinking. Hope this help's and if you find anything else let me know. Thank's!!!!

Answer 6

What evidence do you have for an ancient earth?

Here are THIRTEEN pieces of SCIENTIFIC evidence I have for a young earth.

1. Galaxies wind themselves up too fast.
2. Too few supernova remnants.
3. Comets disintegrate too quickly.
4. Not enough mud on the sea floor.
5. Not enough sodium in the sea.
6. The earth's magnetic field is decaying too fast.
7. Many strata are too tightly bent.
8. Biological material decay too fast.
9. Fossil radioactivity shortens geologic "ages" to a few years.
10. Too much helium in minerals.
11. Too much C-14 in deep geologic strata.
12. Agriculture is too recent.
13. Recorded history is too short.

A young earth, of course, means no macro-evolution, either by chance or guided by God.

Theistic evolution is straddling the fence, trying to meet both sides. It is the worst of the three options: God OR macro-evolution OR God working through macro-evolution.

Update to your additional comments:
1. Evolution has ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE for guidance from God.
2. And you still claim to be a Christian? Take your Christianity a little more seriously.

Answer 7

No. it just made me question if I knew what it all meant. With so many different interpretations, one can easily rethink if they have interpreted it correctly. Also, I always though Genesis was rather quickly explained as if there had to be more to the story. It doesn't make me angry, it just makes me curious and intrigued.

To tell you the truth, I didn't study evolution in school, so I don't even know the whole story, therefore, I can't say whether or not I believe any of it.

Answer 8

I am not a christian, but I can say that I never understood people who equated science with a threat to their religion. You have to understand that the old testimant was written thousands of years ago, and the new testimant was written nearly two thousand years ago. You can't expect the writers to understand complex scientific concepts that they didn't even have the tools needed to observe.

When taken in context the bible makes a lot more sense. Literalists and people who misinterpreted the religion later are what has given it a bad name.

Answer 9

I don't believe the world is 6000 years old either and many believers think so too. But that doesn't weaver my faith because I have experienced God's power and presence over my life. It's not about literal creation or whatever that the Bible is here, it's because of God's saving grace through Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

There is no evidence of evolution, just theories by men who keep trying to explain God out of the universe. They have yet to come up with ONE solid fossil that shows one creature evolving into another. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does to simply believe that God created it all.

And they cannot explain the fossils in Texas that show human and dinosaur footprints together in the same riverbed. Go figure.

Answer 11

this is an intresting question. i would say that yes science and physics at this point in time will not prove or disprove christianity however i still believe in creationism. I dont think it does help save souls believing in Jesus does that and your beliefs about science wont change that but it is my personal belief. i wouldnt say i oppose evolution it is a theory but so is creation. i would prefer that they were both taught as differant views but i dont think it needs to be thrown out of schools. i just wish that more people would recognize that not believing the same things about science does not mean a you are ignorant.