disciple_of_truth said:
If this was a "long evolutionary process" then how long? Are we talking millions of years, or just thousands of years? Remember, Adam was created on the sixth day along with the beast of the earth.....Safe to say that when Adam sinned he was less than 130 years old. That's not much time for any "long evolutionary process" to have taken place.
How long you ask? Radiometric dating has estimated the earth to be about 4.5 billion years old, and LIFE is estimated to have begun 4 or 5 million years ago. You mention the specific creation account.....there are two accounts, actually. In the account from Genesis 2:4-25, the order of events is quite different from the Genesis 1:1-2:3 account. I could go into the details of the differences between the two creation accounts, but I really don't think that it matters. These creation accounts are clearly metaphorical, written in hymnic, poetic, and symbolic language (like their counterparts in Revelation). The two accounts are like two parables, describing different things. The main point that God is revealing in these accounts is that
He created everything.
The Bible does not speak of any "evolutionary" process. In fact the Bible clearly states that God created living creatures and plants "after their kind". Meaning that dogs give rise to dogs, birds give rise to birds, whales give rise to whales and pine trees give rise to pine trees. This is stated in His Word several times in Genesis 1.
And as I said, Genesis 1 was written in hymnic, poetic, and symbolic language. You're right that dogs, birds, whales, and pine trees give rise to their own kind. Evolutionists would agree, as they do not claim that dogs give rise to cats. However, viruses do mutate, and people do evolve over time to adapt to the climates of their geographical locations (Africans are darker than Europeans, Alaskans have thicker blood than Jamaicans, etc.).
Since none of scripture mentions any "evolutionary" processes would it also be your opinion then that "evolution" also seems to be pure speculation?
Evolution is a scientific theory; if you wish to refer to it as "pure speculation", be my guest. Anyone who claims that evolution is FACT is dishonest, because we don't know that yet. My only point in starting this thread, however, was to make the case that evolution and God do NOT have to be seen as mutally exclusive.
Adam didn't have any ancestors. He was form from dust of the ground. (Genesis 2:7)
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Adam's not-quite-human ancestors could very well have been the "dust of the ground" to which Genesis 2:7 refers. Again, my above descriptions of the language that was used in the creation accounts apply here.
I understand where your coming from but, when such speculations are made we should be able to back these claims up with properly interpreted scripture. There are a lot of folks in the world who try to make God's Word say something that it does not. The way I see it, God said what He said, and He meant what He said. We either believe Him, or not.
Yes, God meant what He said.
He created everything. We either believe Him, or we don't. The way I see it, the best way to look at the early chapters of Genesis is that the author was explaining in language and concepts that made sense to him the divine revelation that he was receiving. To attempt to fit the creation hymn of Genesis 1 into a modern scientific framework is a fruitless endeavor. It should not be taken literally, but it should be understood as the author’s response, based on culturally-determined language of observation and put into poetic form, to the inspiration he received from his encounter with God. The abiding truths that we take from it are that God exists and that He is responsible for the existence of the universe, including us. To insist on a literal interpretation of those passages, leading to a belief in a 6000 year-old universe, is simply missing the point. The point, IMHO, is that God created everything. If He used evolution to form everything into what it is today, then so be it. It doesn't have to be seen as inconsistent with anything the Bible says, or in conflict with the hymnic, poetic, symbolic creation stories.
from earlier in the thread:
...This is my whole point. Today evolutionist everywhere are saying this. "Evolution doesn't take God out of the picture". Of course it does. That is it's only intention. It was invented by satan to do away with God. Do not be deceived.
Yes, Satan is a great deceiver; you're right about that. And we are to be ever aware of his ongoing efforts to trick us in various ways.....but let's not let that vigilance be taken too far, to the point of irrational paranoia. Now, while I can't speak for others, I can personally promise you that I am NOT a wolf in sheep's clothing, starting this thread in an attempt to trick you on behalf of Satan.
You claim that evolution was invented by Satan for the sole purpose of doing away with God.....I believe that in this thread I have spelled out, in great detail, why it was NOT.
