How do Christians explain the dinosuars?

Question

Like, I don't think they're mentioned at all in the bible, so.. if they supposedly came before humans, but God created humans practically right after Earth, how do churches explain this? Or do they even?

I'm not anti-Christian or anything, I've wanted to ask like youth group leaders but I didn't want to look stupid.

Answer 1

Get ready for the thumbs down on this one...

Dinosaurs are not explained in the Bible because the Dinosaurs existed well before the Bible did. Large reptiles are mentioned, but not called actual "dinosaurs." Did cavemen exist? Yes. So where do Adam and Eve fit in?

I am not going to say anything else -- other than, yes, I am a Christian, yes, I know the answer, and no, not too many people can bring themselves to accept what I am refraining from saying next...

Answer 2

Well it really is quite simple. The Bible mentions dinosaurs. There is actual proof that man and dinosaurs lived at the same time on the earth. There may still be dinosaurs living about today. The Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, The Gila Monster...

Christians do not disbelieve that there were dinosaurs, they just believe that they co-existed. What happened to the dinosaurs. I believe that the massive weather change that took place after the flood probably killed off most of the dinosaurs.

There is a museum in Ohio called the Creation Museum. It shows that indeed there were dinosaurs living at the same time as the humans.

All things are true to those who believe

Answer 3

Silver is absolutely right, dinosaurs certainly did exist. I believe they roamed the earth the same time humans did and that the Bible does mention them, but just does not specifically call them dinosaurs. Also you should never hesitate to ask a youth leader anything, that's why they became youth leaders. They are there to help you and answer all your questions, no matter what they are. And if you do feel slightly embarrassed by a question you can ask them in private or perhaps e-mail them. Trust me they want to help you understand the Bible fully.

Answer 4

Nothing God created is without benefit.

So ask yourself:

If dinosaurs had a benefit, a purpose, what would that be.
The answers are numerous, but the simplest forces itself to my mind, which takes form in the question: What is the source of petrol oil?

The answer is that it is what the remains of huge creatures, including dinosaurs, turned into after being burried under the earth for thousands of years.

How would Chtistians explain that?

It definately depends on the Christian in question. But I would say that they existed to benefit mankind.

What the bible doesn't clearly talk about doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Did the bible talk about the sympathetic nervous system? Nope! Does it exist? Yes! Why wouldn't the bible mention it? To make it readable.

If God wished, he could sent down a book that describes every tiny atom in every single structure in the world. But how would you be able to read something that huge? And what would the role of scientists be if the bible answers every single question?

Hopefully you got my point.

Answer 5

That's quite understandable. The word dinosaur was not used until the 19th century. The bible was written way before that. The bible uses the word behemoth in Job. Also the bible mentions dragons many times in the bible. Sometimes it symbolically represents satan as in revelation.. Dinosaurs coexisted with humans and most ancient cultures have depictions on caves or pottery of humans and dinosaurs. In a very oxygen rich environment animals can heal very quickly and even grow very large. Plants give off oxygen so a rich vegetation environment could produce large species of animals. In the amazon there are giant spiders and an anaconda was photographed that was estimated to be 150 feet long. A japanese fishing trauler once hauled in a giant corpse of what was thought to be a prehistoric sea creature. For more on this go to answersingenesis.org.

Answer 6

The account given in Genesis of creation states that the world "was" without form and void. It is my understanding that the word "was" actually reads "became" in the Greek which implies that the world was at one time as we know it today and that the Lord renewed the earth. This being the case, Dinosaurs would have certainly roamed the earth which some scientists have dated to be about 4.5 billion years old. This could possible explain many things however we will all have the chance to ask the Lord when we stand before Him face to face in judgment.

Answer 7

There is nothing in the Bible that says the universe was created by God in 1 day or 1 billion days.No one can say how long day one and two etc. were. It is not a book of history but a book of faith. Except for the first few books there are not even in chronological order. Yours is a very good question and it helps one understand how current theories, like Darwin, can fit into what the bible states. Peace

Answer 8

Well, the bible says that God created man in seven days - but what if a day to God is like a million? I mean, he has been around for all eternity, so what if time is completely different to him? What if a lifetime is the blink of an eye?
I toy with the idea that God did create the sea creatures first, then a million years (or a day to him) he created animals, then a million years later humans?

I find with youth teachers (I am one, but I mean, that I find with the ones that teach me) that they just tell you to believe blindly. I was told not to read the whole bible because it'd confuse me, but I felt that to understand my religion I have to study it.

Answer 9

In my house (a very Christian household), we try to incorporate everything together. My mom would just say that God created the dinosaurs with other creatures and and they either evolved or became extinct. I believe that although God just created organisms, they evolved and became differentt organisms or they became extinct because they were not fit to survive. I'm pretty sure some Christians wouldn't agree with it, but it's the only way I could justify my religious beliefs while in school.

Answer 10

God created humans practically right after earth?
Do you appreciate that each creative 'day' was thousands of years long?
Dinosaurs could have had a rich, long, happy life and produced generations of other dinosaurs BEFORE man ever was scheduled to be created.
And yes, dinosaurs are not mentionned in the Bible.
Neither is the yellow-bellied sap-sucker.
Therefore......?

Answer 11

We explain dinosaurs by reading about them in the Bible.
The word "dinosaur" was only coined in modern times. The scriptures refer to them by several names, "dragon" being just one. The Book of Job has a very clear description of both land and sea based beasts that sure do fit the overall description of what we now call dinosaurs. In Job, they are called "leviathan" and "behemoth" in chapters 40 and 41.

"Dragons" are referred to in Psalms, Isaiah, and other books also.