What about the fact that the Earth is dated as 4.5 billion years old?

Question

Does that not contradict the Bible? It's our dating technilogy that must be wrong, right? Not our interpretation of the good book.

Answer 1

Only a small, vocal minority of Christians stick hard to the 6,000 year dating of the world.

Most are reasonable people who accept that the Genesis account could be written largely as a metaphor, just as many stories from the Old Testament.

Like myself.

I don't see any problem as a Christian with a 20 billion year old universe or a 4.5 billion year old earth. Personally, I think it just makes the whole thing more awesome and complex, and it doesn't change the present day and our relationship with Him or His Son.

Answer 2

Obviously, if science indicates the Earth is old and a literal interpretation of Genesis indicates that it is young, either science or that interpretation of the Bible is in error. Since the evidence that for an old Earth comes independently from such diverse fields as geology, astronomy, and biology, I think it is unlikely that it's our science that is off.

Many Christians accept that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old and the universe as a whole is around 14 billion years, give or take two billion. You might want to check out the following two sites, both have lots of information coming from an Old Earth Christian perspective:

http://www.reasons.org/
http://www.answersincreation.org/

It is important to note that those Christians who insist that the Genesis creation account must be taken literally are in the minority in their own faith. Here is a list of Christians who either believe in an Old Earth or are open to the idea:

http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/notable_leaders/index.shtml

It contains such heavy-hitters as C.S. Lewis, William Lane Craig, and Billy Graham. You'll probably recognize a few other names as well. I actually can't think of any first class theologians who currently advocate for a Young Earth view, they tend to be a small but vocal minority.

Finally, you may want to take a look at some of scientist and theologian John Polkinghorne's writings. He is both an ordained priest in the Church of England and an eminent particle physicist. His views may be valuable to you. He has lots of Q&A's on his website:

http://www.polkinghorne.org/

I hope this answer has been useful.

Answer 3

If you read the Genesis account, it says that "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth" It doesn't specifically say when or how long the beginning was. So the bible speaks of man's creation not the Earth's. And with regard to man's creation, 2 peter 3:8 says that 1 day with God is as 1000 years and 1000 years as 1 day. So man was not created in 7 literal 24 hour period days.

Answer 4

the dating could be wrong .... and the fact of the matter is the present creation was 7 days and several thousand years old .... in the beggining God created the heavens and the earth .... theres no time limit between that and when He said let their be light and the first day of the present creation .... so im saying the earth could be billions of years old .... there could have even been a previous creation on the earth that was destroyed including the dinosaurs .... that has nothing to do with the present 7day-7thousand year creation.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Actually, carbon dating is not reliable past a few thousand years. If you have an open mind, and aren't just a bigot who thinks he's right about everything, you'll check out the links below. Don't be a lemming, we have too many of those as it is.

Answer 7

The Bible is not a book of science it is the book of God. A science book is a book of method not of purpose.

If people (on both sides) would stop confusing the two we will see that they are not mutually exclusive.

- A true Christian

Answer 8

perhaps the bible is incorrect or measured time differently? I wasn't around way back then even though my grandkids swear they invented dirt so I could have something to play with.

Answer 9

i agree with smack