[_ Old Earth _] The Day-Age Theory?

[Lewis]

What is the Day-Age Theory?
http://www.gotquestions.org/Day-Age-Theory.html

 

[jeff77]

The way I see it is that there is no reason to believe that God couldn't have used a regular 24 hour day.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I was taught that they were 24 hour days.
I was taught that scholarly Rabbis interpreted it this way.
It sees that man's worldly wisdom now wants to change Scripture to fit their worldly beliefs.

 

[reba]

I was taught that they were 24 hour days.
I was taught that scholarly Rabbis interpreted it this way.
It sees that man's worldly wisdom now wants to change Scripture to fit their worldly beliefs.

me too

 

[Barbarian]

It remains true that mornings and evening without a sun to have them, would certainly tell us that these were not 24 hour days.

 

[turnorburn]

Well said Rollo "It sees that man's worldly wisdom now wants to change Scripture to fit their worldly beliefs"

tob

 

[Barbarian]

"It sees that man's worldly wisdom now wants to change Scripture to fit their worldly beliefs"

Can't think of a better definition of YE creationism.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Can't think of a better definition of YE creationism.

You can call it whatever you want.
I call it the truth.

 

[Barbarian]

"It sees that man's worldly wisdom now wants to change Scripture to fit their worldly beliefs"

Barbarian observes:
Can't think of a better definition of YE creationism.

You can call it whatever you want.
I call it the truth

We'll just have to differ on that. I'll take His word as it is, without the YE additions.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

So this thread looks like it has come to an end.
Nobody can debate the 6 day 24 hour theory effectively, and rightfully so.
I have no idea what really happened in those days but I'm not about to tell God he's wrong.

 

[Barbarian]

If the precise timing and method by which He created was important to our salvation, He would have made it clear and unambiguous.

 

[Sinthesis]

THAT creation was done is the primary miracle, while HOW creation was done is secondary.

 

[Barbarian]

Right. Nature is a rather impressive miracle in itself, as St. Paul and St. Augustine noted.

 

[Sparkey]

It remains true that mornings and evening without a sun to have them, would certainly tell us that these were not 24 hour days.

What? God determines length of days from the sun? You're kidding, right? He knows how many hairs are on YOUR HEAD right now -AND- He knew it before He made you.

If the precise timing and method by which He created was important to our salvation, He would have made it clear and unambiguous.

It would be better to assume that God knows what He's talking about even if what He says is inconceivable to us. That's what he said to Job. But I'm sure He's used to being blamed for what others do. It's a central theme of the life of Jesus, after all.

A quote from the article Lewis cited:

But, if you cannot understand how this could have been done in six days, then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of being more learned than you are…since God is speaking..."

 

[Sparkey]

Was God unclear? Did He speak in an ambiguous manner? No. Our own epistemological limits are to blame for any apparent irreconcilable point. Even the root word for "world" in the Hebrew language—עולם (Olam)—means hidden—נעלם (Neh-Eh-Lahm).

Adam was created in his adult state. He was created on the 6th day. The sun was there on that day. We know because God told us so.

 

[Barbarian]

Barbarian observes:
It remains true that mornings and evening without a sun to have them, would certainly tell us that these were not 24 hour days.

What? God determines length of days from the sun?

Words mean things. Once you abandon the accepted use of words, than anything is possible.

You're kidding, right? He knows how many hairs are on YOUR HEAD right now -AND- He knew it before He made you.

But "morning" and "evening" still have specific meanings. And if taken literally, those passages are logically absurd.

If the precise timing and method by which He created was important to our salvation, He would have made it clear and unambiguous.

It would be better to assume that God knows what He's talking about even if what He says is inconceivable to us. That's what he said to Job. But I'm sure He's used to being blamed for what others do. It's a central theme of the life of Jesus, after all.

But, if you cannot understand how this could have been done in six days, then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of being more learned than you are…since God is speaking..."

Could have been done in an instant. But the text clearly does not say it was done in six literal days. But to repeat whoever said what is in red, if it was important, God would have made it very unambigous.

 

[Edward]

It remains true that mornings and evening without a sun to have them, would certainly tell us that these were not 24 hour days.

What? I think that the reference of, and the evening and the morning were the first day and so forth was to clarify for us that He's speaking of being on earth time, i.e., 24 hour days.

Hey Sparrowhawk, that's you?! Good to see ya' brother! :yes

 

[Sparkey]

But the text clearly does not say it was done in six literal days.

It is easy to understand that you refuse to be persuaded otherwise no matter what. Further, it is clear that your position demands this refusal. Why, how else could the earth be billions and billions of years old? Clearly, it could not.

Those who allege that the days of Genesis 1 may have been long geological ages, must accept the absurd hypothesis that plant-life survived in periods of total darkness through half of each geologic age, running into millions of years (1976, p. 17).

Contrary to your assertion, the language is very simple and very clear. If you wanted to speak about a single day -- is there a way to say it any clearer than a day consisting of a morning and evening??? But you've declared that God spoke in an unclear manner. Pray, tell us what could He have said to convince you that he meant a single day (given that is what He meant)?

Your challenge then is to go ahead and teach how to speak more clearly? I'm listening.

Having separated the day and night, God had completed His first day’s work. “The evening and the morning were the first day.” This same formula is used at the conclusion of each of the six days; so it is obvious that the duration of each of the days, including the first, was the same.... It is clear that, beginning with the first day and continuing thereafter, there was established a cyclical succession of days and nights—periods of light and periods of darkness. ...The writer not only defined the term “day,” but emphasized that it was terminated by a literal evening and morning and that it was like every other day in the normal sequence of days. In no way can the term be legitimately applied here to anything corresponding to a geological period or any other such concept.
Morris, Henry M. (1976), The Genesis Record pp. 55-56

((Hi Edward))

Oh, and as a Post Script, don't get too hung up by having days without the sun. Not only do we find them in Genesis we also find them in the Revelation given to John:

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.…

God does not need the sun to know how long a day is. Frankly, neither do you.

 

[Sparkey]

The challenge to speak more clearly aside, there is a more significant problem with your refusal to believe what has been clearly said. A theological problem. The Holy Spirit teaches that death entered into the world through the sin of one man.

Your view demands that Moses spoke in an unclear fashion when he mentioned the creation week. BUT did Paul? Look to his letter to the Romans. The Romans were taught, quite clearly and with great care that, "... through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin..."

Do the Romans reject this teaching also?

But it wasn't just those in Rome who were taught this truth, nor is it just a simple matter of how many hours were in the day. Even the resurrection is involved.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.…

I take the promise of resurrection literally. And I thought you did too?

 

[Sparkey]

Jesus said:

I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
John 3:12