Question for Christians?

Question

I would REALLY rather only Christians to answer this question, please. It isn't that I don't respect the opinions of others, it's just that I need a Christian perspective on this.
I really have two questions, but they're related.
1. If it is a fact that human civilizations are recorded in history as far back as at least 12,000 years, wouldn't that fact alone completely destroy the possibility of being able to take the Creation account literally?
2. And if it's true that that would destroy the idea of being able to take the Creation account literally, then where do we draw the line in the Bible? How do we know which parts to take literally, and which parts to discount as metaphors?

I am a Christian, but I've been having trouble with this, especially since I've used history and archaeology to support my faith.

Problem is, I'm not talking about carbon dating. I'm talking about recorded history.

Answer 1

You have to start with the proposition that the proper way to try to understand the Bible is to know that traditionally it has not been required to take it literally from cover-to-cover. When something is not literal, that doesn't mean that it's not true. There is truth in figurative language (metaphor, allegory, parable, etc.).

Next you have to understand the basic idea that the Bible is not just a recitation of facts and events. It is a set of different Books that were created for different purposes (some are historical, some are prophetic, etc.).

To answer your questions directly, I do not think that the recording of human history back 12,000 years would have anything to do with taking the creation account literally. There's no dating of the events in Genesis. Whether one interprets Genesis literally or figuratively is a matter of opinion, and it is NOT required that all Christians profess a "literal" interpretation.

So, on to question number 2. How do we know which parts to take literally and which to take figuratively. I will start by stating that your use of the phrase "discount as metaphors" is unfortunate and inappropriate. Metaphors are not to be "discounted." They should be understood just as any literal text should be. Much of what Jesus said, as recorded in the Gospels, is metaphorical. Yet, they convey truth.

Example: Matthew 5:13: "You are the salt of the earth..." The people aren't literally salt. They are metaphorically salt. You don't "discount" that metaphor at all. Unless you understand the metaphor, then you don't get what Jesus was saying.

So then, how do you tell what is metaphorical and what is literal -- by the way it is written. There may be some areas where there is reasonable difference of opinion, but for the most part one can tell a metaphor when one sees one. I mean, if it says, like in Solomon 4:1 "...Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats...." Then don't you have to take that as a metaphor followed by a simile? Her eyes are not doves - they are metaphorically like doves (beautiful, fluttering). Her hair is not like a flock of goats - I can only surmise that Solomon thinks her hair is beautiful.

So, first - understand that figurative language conveys MORE truth, not less, than literal language and is not to be "discounted." Second, understand what figurative devices are used and how they are used in writing. Third, actually READ the Bible carefully. Ask yourself what the story you are reading is about - who is saying and doing what, and why? And come to your conclusions as to what it means.

Answer 2

Creationists often say that the entire universe was created in six literal 24-hour days some 6,000 years ago. With teachings like this, they misrepresent the Bible, which says that God created the heavens and the earth "in the beginning"—at some unstated point before the more specific creative "days" began. (Genesis 1:1) Significantly, the Genesis account shows that the expression "day" is used in a flexible sense. At Genesis 2:4, the entire period of six days described in the preceding chapter is spoken of as only one day. Logically, these were, not literal days of 24 hours, but long periods of time. Each of these epochs evidently lasted thousands of years.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2004/6/22/article_03.htm

Answer 3

In studiying the Bible, you also have to study the language of the culture and the time it was written. And even the original language it was used. The Bible is full of metaphors, similes, symbolisms becase 1. It is how the authors espressed their faith and 2. There were times in the Bible that they have to use symbolisms so that the enemies will not destroy it or prevent the message of God from reaching his people. That's what Bible scholars have to go through aside from the fact that they have to pray alot while working on it.

But for the ordinary Christian, he can study the Bible with the guidance of a pastor/teacher/priest and most importantly, prayer and discernment.

Answer 4

Question 1) ok. I don´t know your sources but I guess those are accurate data. The awnser is, probably yes.

Question 2) I'm no theologist but when i read the Genesis I could clearly see that its first chapters were not meant to be literal, many would disagree. I believe you have to read each part of the Bible very very carefully and take out of it what God is triyng to tell you.

The fact that creationists are probably wrong dosent change what I believe: that the Bible is The Truth, there is not one lie or missinformation in the book of Genesis. Only, its a story about men relation with God and how it went astray when men choose so, IT IS NOT a biology/ geofisics/ history class. God knows we don't have a problem with those things, we have a problem with our souls and the Genesis is there to tell us Why....

Answer 5

The 6,000 or so years relating to the Adamic race starts from Gen 1:2. In the beginning mentioned in Gen 1:1 can mean millions of years ago when God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:2 described in the Hebrew of the earth which had undergone destruction so any earlier life forms had been destroyed before the creation of Adam.

Answer 6

In my humble opinion, it really doesn't matter how long ago the world was created. I don't care if it's 12 million, 12 thousand or 12 hundred years old. I believe in evolution - I just also happen to believe that there is a 'master scientist', if you will, behind it.

I think that the earliest authors of the books of the Bible explained creation in the only way they could, to get the point across. And that point being that God is Creator.

The message is the important part.

That's my answer to the first part of your question. :)

Answer 7

No. Because I've never seen anywhere in the Bible the statement "God created the earth X# of years ago."

Answer 8

Please read this link:

http://bythebible.page.tl/Creation.htm

As far as your 12000 years. Have you checked that it is correct? I thought that RECORDED history was less than that?

Wikipedia states about recorded history,"It starts in the 4th millennium BC, with the invention of writing."

It would seem that your 12000 doesn't quite fit this explanation!?

Answer 9

Christians don't believe that the scientific method used for time measurement is accurate. Carbon dating and other methods are not necessarily correct...the older the object is the dating usually gets very lengthy and inaccurate.

Answer 10

science can't prove everything. Talk to your pastor about it. I believe that Jesus knew how we would think when we read the Bible, and i think everything should be taken literally.