RE: Geometric evidence of an old galaxy

Merv wrote:
 
I recently read "Faith, Form, and Time" by Kurt Wise (a YEC) -- and
while I disagree with his theological arguments, I found several aspects
of his work refreshingly different from more typical YEC literature.
He did not follow the usual strategy of trying to make it sound like
'true' science is independently confirming everything the YEC would like
it to show. He pretty much states outright that his theology informs
his science (not vice-versa) and that his main motivation for thinking
of the earth as young is his straightforward (as he views it) reading of
scripture. He even states that from a scientific perspective there does
seem to be an 'appearance' of age which, of course, necessitates the
awkward or unconvincing explanations which themselves become a source of
levity for so many. But I found in all this a refreshing honesty; it's
as close to a concession as I've heard from a young earth writer that
science offers a lot of opposing evidence. Usually one hears how all
the ancient earth evidence is flawed or any young-earth evidence is
dismissed a priori or even ignored in a conspiracy. But Wise just lays
it out like it is -- a theological conclusion for which much of science
would have to be re-interpreted or even ignored.
 
In an article I did for the Washington Post I stated that: "Creation science should be banned from the classroom not because it was religion, or because it was bad science, but because it was bad religion." Nineteen years later it’s still true.
 
Scripture has no more tolerance of the young earth view than science does. If the days of creation are God's days and not man's days there is no other reason from Scripture we could assume a young earth. YEC is both scientifically and theologically bankrupt.
 
One word of importance in Gen. 2:4 is toledah, translated as “generations.”
According to Hebrew lexicons, this word always pertains to a long time period. Plus, the word is plural. Therefore “generations” refers to numerous time periods, each of which would be longer than one calendar week, the YEC basis for a short time frame.
 
Adam exclaims excitedly in Gen. 2:23, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh …” The word “now” is the Hebrew happa’am usually translated “now at length” or “at last.” This Hebrew word is appropriate after a long wait or a lengthy search, but it would be entirely inappropriate had Eve been presented to him only a few hours after he was created as YECs believe.
 
In Hab. 3:6, the mountains are described as “everlasting”; the hills are “perpetual.” The Hebrew words ‘ad and ‘owlam mean “long duration,” “ancient,” “forever,” and “continuous existence.” Maybe YECs don’t read minor prophets?
 
Consider Eccles. 1:10: “Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” Could “any thing” include an earth?
 
After Peter declares that false prophets and false teachers will come in the last days. He warns in 2 Pet. 3:5, “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old …” Who says the earth and heavens are young? Those who are “willingly ignorant.”
 
Number Kurt Wise among the “willingly ignorant.”
 
~Dick Fischer~ Genesis Proclaimed Association
Finding Harmony in Bible, Science, and History
www.genesisproclaimed.org
Received on Mon Dec 12 14:45:58 2005