Re: [asa] Youth leaving churches because of old earth

I'd agree/suspect that a large part of the problem with children leaving the
church because of "old earth" is due to it being drummed into them
repeatedly that Christianity absolutely demands a "young earth" view. When
they end up believing the earth is old (due to evidence, abundance of
scientific opinion, etc) - combined with quite a lot of social pressure to
leave the Church for just about any reason whatsoever anyway - it helps to
push them out the door.

On the other hand, I think those who believe in an "old earth" need to do
more than they are as well. In particular, I think there's a need to get
past mere compatibility (Christianity is compatible with the findings of
science) and stressing, even on a purely philosophical level, why nature
itself indicates the work of a creator. I'm hesitant to endorse them, but I
think Biologos may actually be moving in this direction - I've liked some of
what I've seen on their site as far as discussing faith and evolution is
concerned. But far more needs to be done.

Of course, there are also considerations that have nothing to do with
natural science topics either - it's a big issue, after all.

On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 5:43 PM, Jon Tandy <tandyland@earthlink.net> wrote:

> If people are leaving the church because of "old earth" according to the
> subject line, then think about it -- they are not leaving church because of
> being taught old earth creationism by thoughtful Christians, but it's
> because they have been confronted with the scientific evidence of old earth
> and can't reconcile their faith to scientific discovery. If there is truth
> to Ken Ham's statement, it's more likely because their faith has been built
> a false gospel of scientific creationism. I believe the fact of an old
> earth didn't take God by surprise, and the truth of the gospel of Jesus
> Christ is not threatened by truths from the physical world.
>
> However, as you imply, I think this proposition needs to be seriously
> questioned, because youth are surely leaving YEC churches just the same as
> others, for reasons not having to do with old earth or even evolution, but
> for a variety of reasons. It may be spiritual rebellion (manifest in
> drugs,
> illicit relationships, worldliness, etc.), and it may also be because the
> church is seen as disengaged from the reality of the world around us
> (science denial might play a part in that?). Maybe their spiritual needs
> just aren't being met.
>
> Jon Tandy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
> Behalf Of Ted Davis
> Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 2:44 PM
> To: asa@lists.calvin.edu
> Subject: [asa] Youth leaving churches because of old earth
>
> You read that subject line correctly. According to Ken Ham (surprise?),
> this is the bottom line reason why young people are leaving churches in
> droves. Amazing. But true -- that is, it's true that Ham thinks this is
> the reason.
>
>
> http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2009/05/19/a-shock-to-the-c
> hurch/<http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2009/05/19/a-shock-to-the-c%0Ahurch/>
>
> I saw a copy of this book today, browsed it a bit, and that's the bottom
> line for him.
>
> I guess the youth just don't leave those churches where they're taught the
> YEC view. That's certainly what Ham wants you to think. He's not about to
> admit that his rigidity on this issue is one of the reasons why people
> won't
> give Christianity a second look -- not those on the inside, but those on
> the
> outside looking in, who might otherwise go further with their spiritual
> curiosity.
>
> Ted
>
>
>
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Received on Wed Aug 5 18:37:48 2009