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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