Christians, if the bible is true, why is it that you all can't agree on how old the Earth is?

Question

I find it interesting that most christians say that all of the bible is true, but they can't agree on how to interpret that "truth."

You don't need to take leaps of logic or add any special interpretation to "1 + 1 = 2," as that is true regardless of religious belief. Muslims believe it, Jews believe it, Pagans believe it, atheists believe it, and so does anyone else that speaks any language of any culture through all of time since man has been around. The linguistics may change, but the concept is accepted universally as undeniably true.

So, if the bible is undeniably true, why is it that not even the followers of the bible can agree on something as simple as how old the earth is? I'm not even bringing other cultures, nations, peoples, and religious belief systems into account, as they all disagree with the history of the earth's creation as presented in the bible. I'm simply asking why chrisitans themselves don't agree on when it happened. It's true as 1+1=2, right?

Sisterzeal, I love you, but the earth has been struck by many meteorites over the course of it's history. Here's a few references you can check out.
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/meteorcrater.html
http://geology.com/meteor-impact-craters.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_Crater

Here's one for North America by itself. http://geology.com/meteor-impact-craters.shtml

Answer 1

Do we read a poem and take it literally? Or do we try and understand the true meaning the poet intended. Do we look at a painting and take it at face value? Or do we attempt to discern the artists intention and meaning? The Bible is a literary work. We have to do our part to interpret the real message.

Answer 2

Because the bible was written in a day and age when people didn't know the world was round. It's a story full of morals, not to be taken literally. Why would anyone try to find out the age of the earth, or the universe, from a book written so long ago. We have much better dating methods to answer that question. Radio carbon dating, nuclear physics, geology, all agree through different methods that the universe is at least 13 billion years old, and that the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Christians will tell you that universe is 5,000 - 10,000 years old, based on the lineages they trace down through the bible. That's a huge difference. Can you really honestly say that all the scientific evidence is wrong, and that the bible, written so long ago, is right, without sounding like an idiot?

Answer 3

The Genesis account and scientific evidence of Earth's origin are compatable.

Billions of years could have passed (and probably did, considering the scientific evidence) between the statement "In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth" (Gen. 1:1) and the next sentence in Gen. 1:2. The ORIGINAL creation of the "heavens and earth" should not be confused with the completely seperate time period of earth's fomation described in Genesis.

Scientists are skeptical of the Genesis account precisely because the scientific evidence shows that the earth could not have formed in 6 literal days. Therefore, if it is demonstrated that the "day" mentioned in the Genesis account was not meant to mean a literal 24 hour period, but rather a figurative period of time (i.e. "the day of the dinosaurs"), then the Genesis account is lended more credibility to all.
By further examination, Gen. 1:9-13 tells us that dry land appeared within the third creative "day" or stage.

For a decent comparison, the islands of Hawaii used to be all under the ocean's surface an extremely long time ago. Due to volcanic activity, these islands slowly built up with time. The Big island is still growing. Compared to the continents we see today, Hawaii is relatively small. The time it took for the natural process for all of this dry land to appear must have been much longer than a literal day or two.

Also after this land slowly appeared, it is hard to imagine that grass can shoot forth, vegetation can bear seed and fruit trees yield fruit in just one single literal 24 hour day. (Gen. 1:11-13)

So, when Moses was writing about the "days" mentioned in the Genesis account, it clearly was not meant to mean a literal 24 hour period, but rather a figurative period of time.

Answer 4

What the Bible dose no longer say. a million) what's defined as happening on each of the six days, it dose no longer say it replaced into performed. 2) beginning with the morning of the 8 day till the expulsion from the backyard of Eden, is a unknown variable interior the equation of the age of planet Earth. 3) The chronological order of progression of the Universe, and planet Earth are not from now on wisely listed, besides the undeniable fact that they're all listed. And performed lengthy formerly present day technology listed them. 4) The time of Abraham, matches into different files. consisting of Gilgamesh which has a narrative of the flood. And dates from round 4,000 to 6,000 BC or BCE. which inserts right into a extra perfect time line. 5) A flood got here about some 10,000 to 13,000 years in the past because the planet. again to known following some 30,000 years of being locked in an ice age that lined some 60% of the earth in miles intense glaciers. the sea element replaced into some three hundred ft decrease than this is present day element. Archeology has got here upon cities and temples in one hundred ft of water nevertheless intact no longer damaged by utilizing earth quakes.

Answer 5

I don't see what difference it makes how old the earth is. The point to me is, are you right with God when it falls apart? I believe it's only by the grace of God this planet is still here and hasn't been hit with thousands of Meteors. You know it's odd that some scientists think a bunch of meteor showers happened to "help create the planet" but then it's never happened again? Why? Chemicals and objects and "matter" have no feelings or capability to make a decision.......the only thing I can see is God made the heavens and the earth because nothing else makes sense. I honestly don't know how old the Earth is and I think at some point Christians will agree to just lift up the name of Jesus and shut their mouths about everything else.......it will come to that in the end.

Answer 6

Well the Bible does not teach the age of the Earth. And when people try to date the Bible chronologically there are a lot of assumptions that are made.

We don't disagree on the Bible. The Bible does not talk about the age of the Earth.

Answer 7

I believe the Biblical account is pretty straight forward about when and how the earth came to be. It is therefore primarily an issue of whether or not one believes it to be true or not.

That said, understanding Scripture is not like understand math. It requires revelation which only comes from God. This explains the varying interpretations of the perfect and true word of God. There is one true interpretation, but man often does not understand it.

Answer 8

How is the age of the earth a simple topic?

The age of the earth is detailed...where?

What concept is accepted universally as undeniably true by the way?

Answer 9

Why, would what all of the power-hungry backwoods religious leaders be doing if there were no denominations? Leading a 14-member church (created by a slightly different translation) is the only way these people can have meaning in their lives.

Answer 10

1+1does equal 2. So, if you single out Christians you are not an atheist, you are an anti-Christ. Right?