Re: preposterous

From: Todd S. Greene (tgreene@presortservices.com)
Date: Mon Apr 02 2001 - 16:15:02 EDT

  • Next message: John W Burgeson: "Re: preposterous"

    Hi, Moorad.

    In my experience over the last more than 20 years, I have encountered,
    in person and in writing, dozens of young earth creationists who have
    claimed that the young earth creationism creed is a "salvation issue,"
    determining whether or not a Christian is in good standing with God.
    I have also encountered dozens of young earth creationists who, while
    admitting that they do not believe that YEC is a salvation issue, they
    still consider any Christian who rejects it (which includes "old earth
    creationists") to be "suspect" and to have "compromised their faith."
    I have *never* - I repeat, I have *never* - encountered one single
    non-YEC Christian who has ever considered this matter to be a salvation
    issue, or who has considered that a Christian's perspective *on this
    particular matter* to, in itself, has any bearing on a Christian's
    standing with God.

    We must be honest and clear about who it is who typically uses these
    particular issues by which to judge the faith of other Christians.

    While there are some Christians who still think that geocentrism is a
    live issue (Tom Willis of Kansas notoriety, for example), there is
    nothing wrong with those for whom it is a dead issue to criticize the
    idea itself (even to the extent of calling it "preposterous") and to
    further express criticism of any who would set up the doctrine as one
    measure of the faith of other Christians. In exactly the same way, for
    those who have learned about certain relevant aspects of the real world,
    YEC is simply a dead issue. For example, antiquity is a real feature of
    the world that we live in. It is agreed that there are many for whom the
    relevant information regarding this feature is just not known or not
    understood very clearly. So in their uncertainty they are equivocal
    about it. That's fine. But they have no right to measure everyone else
    according to their own uncertainty (based on their own personal
    unfamiliarity with the relevant information).

    James' discussion in the New Testament gives us a good idea of what true
    religion is, and a person's beliefs regarding young earth creationism
    isn't it.

    Sincerely, and regards,
    Todd S. Greene
    http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/7755/

    ###### Moorad Alexanian, 4/2/01 12:29 PM ######
    I want to gauge your meaning of the word "preposterous." Would you

    a) Give your life for exchange of the truth or falsehood of what YEC
       believe or claim?
    or
    b) How about your life and that of your family?
    or, better,
    c) the truth of Who Christ is?



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