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Old 09-21-2003, 06:17 PM   #46 (permalink)
MuadDib
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First of all I am a follower of evolutionary theory. I am up in the air on rather or not I believe in intellectual design or not or in Christian mythology. However, my ex-girlfriend's parents are creationists and her father has written many prominent articles on creation theory so I know the arguments pretty well from talking with them and being a bible group of theirs. Now that I'm past the disclaimer here goes my answers for you.

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1. According to the bible the earth is 10,000 years old. However Carbon dating (that's with rocks) has proven that this earth is over 2 millions years old?
You can take a nonliteral approach to the Old Testament or look at it that a day of God's time is 1,000 yrs our time. These arguments aren't all too persuasive though and the more scientific answer is that there is actually a very lively scientific debate about carbon dating and its accuracy that isn't religiously based. The current fact is that by and large society thinks carbon dating is a tried and true tested method, but it is not and has very serious flaws and is wrong quite often. Also there has been evidence that rock and such can form in relatively short periods of time (like a bottle being found with a rock grown around it). In short, the scientific answer is that the evidence toward the Earth's age isn't to be taken at face value and the philosophical answer is to look at the old testament nonliterally.


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2. If God and Christians alike see homosexual behaviour as a sin then why does he make people gay? Why has it been proven that people who are homosexual have a slightly different chemical makeup or something. Like one extra of this or one less of this?
First, the bible doesn't outright say homosexuality is a sin though it is VERY implicit. Second, it goes back to a why create evil thing. Humans are all sinful regardless of sexuality. It isn't just gay folks. Every one must carry the burden of their sins and work to refrain from them whenever possible and repent when they are committed. Homosexuality is just one such sin.

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3. Why no mention of dinosaurs in the bible? How could Noah build a structure large enough to house ever single creature on the planet? When todya we couldn't build a structure so large and maintain it with all those animals for 40 days.
Because by and large the bible doesn't mention many animals at all. They were unimportant to the bible story so why bother. Also the structural design was given to Noah mind through God. I would think that with the help of God such a vessel could be built. Also, to get back to evolution, a more highly accepted argument is that there weren't as many animals then as there is today. Because of thousands of years of breeding microevolution (or speciation) talk place and now there are tons more species and genres of animals.

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4. If you have to "confess your sins" and ask for forgivness how do children under the age of 4 get into heaven. If they can't ask for forginess do they all go to hell?
Not all demoninations believe in confession. Also, children are infinitely more innocent than adults and original sin is covered through baptism.

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5. She told me some crap about some scientists actually making life out of nothing? I've tried to find that on the net but can't.
Ummm, no. She might be referring to some scientists that played with a bunch of chemicals and what not and made some amino acids (the building blocks of life). This is hardly creating life or making a sound case for evolution or big bang theory. Nor to my knowledge has it been replicated.

The post script is that I also wrestle with many of these issues and the answers I have been given. All I know is that personally I believe in evolution, equality and respect for homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered persons, and that modern Christianity is not what Christ intended.
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Last edited by MuadDib; 09-23-2003 at 11:02 AM..
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