A friend on holiday in Iceland has just met up with a ‘creationist’
The wiki definition of this bizarre belief system follows
Creationism is the religious belief that life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being.
As science developed during the 18th century and forward, various views aimed at reconciling the Abrahamic and Genesis creation narratives with science developed in Western societies. Those holding that species had been created separately (such as Philip Gosse in 1847) were generally called “advocates of creation” but were also called “creationists”, as in private correspondence between Charles Darwin and his friends. As the creation–evolution controversy developed over time, the term “anti-evolutionists” became common. In 1929 in the United States, the term “creationism” first became associated with Christian fundamentalists, specifically with their rejection of human evolution and belief in a young Earth—although this usage was contested by other groups, such as old Earth creationists and evolutionary creationists, who hold different concepts of creation
Young-Earth creationism fosters the belief that God created the Earth within the last ten thousand years, literally as described in the Genesis creation narrative, within the approximate time-frame of biblical genealogies (detailed for example in the Ussher chronology). Most Young-Earth creationists believe that the Universe has a similar age as the Earth. A few assign a much older age to the Universe than to Earth. Some creationist thinkers attempt with Creationist cosmologies to give the universe an age consistent with the Ussher chronology and other Young-Earth time frames. Other Young-Earth creationists believe that the Earth and the universe were created with the appearance of age, so that the world appears to be much older than it is, and that this appearance is what gives the geological findings and other methods of dating the earth and the universe their much longer timelines. However, this view has theological implications – an intentional appearance of age is form of false evidence and so a form of deception.
So to sum up it, as science grew it became apparent that the Adam & Eve story was arrant nonsense. So this idea grew up to try and keep the fantasy of a supreme being alive. Key to this is that he knocked-up the earth (and presumably the solar system) some 6,000 – 10,000 years back.
Obviously, since carbon dating can with a fair degree of accuracy take us a lot further back than that it is insupportable, yet there are still a huge number of people who in some way think this is The Truth. Echoes of the Burma Spitfire beliefs.
As the other religious discussion has proved even-tempered and interesting I thought I would chuck this one in for people’s opinion.
So. Complete fruitloops, or in some way I have missed, explicable?
Moggy
By: ZRX61 - 14th January 2014 at 20:06
Isn’t it a fact that nobody can tell for certain how the world began ?
No it isn’t, we know for certain how the world began. Planetary formation is well understood.
The religious have their idea, it suits them and they’ll stick to it.
Indoctrinated ignorance.
Why does it matter ?
For the same reason we no longer burn witches. Willfully ignorant is no way to go through life & is harmful to the continuing existence of the our species.
By: Bruggen 130 - 10th January 2014 at 23:33
I’ll ‘ave Half……:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
As you can see jim I don’t do things by half.
By: Creaking Door - 10th January 2014 at 22:55
…just explain to a mere female why you’ve been worrying away at this subject for so long.
Because we can’t have babies?
Just why is this subject so important?
Well, for science, I guess it is just academic; it isn’t really going to materially affect the lives of anybody on Earth if the universe was created in the Big Bang or by some other, currently unthought-of, way. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t try to find out; it would be nice to know but I cannot think of any practical applications for the information if we do know. The age of the Earth or the Universe is also pretty irrelevant also.
Religion, or at least ‘Young Earth’ religion, on the other hand, has a bit of a problem. The age of the Earth, at about 6000 years, is supposed to be the word of God, or rather it has been worked out from other things that are in the Bible; now the Lord may work in mysterious ways but it is a bit embarrassing if the Earth is proved to be about 750,000 times older than the Bible says it is!
The problem with ‘gods’ is that they kind-of have to be infallible…..or why would people have ‘faith’ in them?
By: Creaking Door - 10th January 2014 at 22:20
I’m surprised that for you I really have to spell it out. The people I mentioned were ‘original thinkers’…
Ah, I see…..obviously not having one of my ‘great thinker’ days today!
By: Lincoln 7 - 10th January 2014 at 19:54
Do you think he will break the 10,000 barrier before the end of the year, my monies on sept, what’s yours?:D
I’ll ‘ave Half……:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Lincoln 7 - 10th January 2014 at 19:51
I too don’t think John will either, I mean…have you seen the Membership Fees Chas charges?…………………………………:D.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Bruggen 130 - 10th January 2014 at 19:45
Another valuable contribution and judging by charliehunt’s post count, what is it they say about empty vessels?
Do you think he will break the 10,000 barrier before the end of the year, my monies on sept, what’s yours?:D
By: Bruggen 130 - 10th January 2014 at 19:39
I think that the time has come for me to apply for membership of Charlie’s ‘ignore’ list.
You know and I know that’s very unlikely, it’s just not in your make up, something tells me that you will not be able to admit your wrong, so bring it on.
By: Bruggen 130 - 10th January 2014 at 19:28
Gentlemen – ( for as far as I can tell, this has been an all -male thread up to now ) – I’d like to ask a question –
Just why is this subject so important ?
Isn’t it a fact that nobody can tell for certain how the world began ? The religious have their idea, it suits them and they’ll stick to it. Scientists have their own particular theory, and get upset when people challenge it, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY’RE RIGHT.
Why does it matter ? Each of us is only here for the blink of an eye, before you know it you’re gone and the world keeps on turning.Look around, aren’t you lucky to be alive ? Compared to my ancestors I’ve been blessed beyond measure in matters of health,education,travel and now communication. I can power up my laptop,tablet,even my phone, and hold the world in my hands.
Instead of calling each other names because you disagree, go out and look at aeroplanes, walk the dog, hug a hoodie or even give the wife a smacking kiss.Or maybe just explain to a mere female why you’ve been worrying away at this subject for so long.
The point I have been trying to get across, is that we do know when it began, one of the problems is people see the word theory and automatically think it’s just an idea. The big bang, the expansion of the universe (and the fact that
it’s speeding up), when the earth was formed, how the heavy elements were formed, the elements that you and everybody else are made of is easy to check. I do like the rest of your post so I left it alone:D
Phil.
By: Derekf - 10th January 2014 at 18:06
It isn’t massively witty though is it… using my own comment back at me. Not the sort of thing one might expect of an “original thinker”.
By: John Green - 10th January 2014 at 15:51
Re 215
You, of all people should know.
By: John Green - 10th January 2014 at 15:49
RE 213
Not everyone. Just you.
By: Derekf - 10th January 2014 at 15:10
Another valuable contribution and judging by charliehunt’s post count, what is it they say about empty vessels?
By: charliehunt - 10th January 2014 at 15:06
I think that the time has come for me to apply for membership of Charlie’s ‘ignore’ list.
😀
By: Derekf - 10th January 2014 at 14:52
I think that the time has come for me to apply for membership of Charlie’s ‘ignore’ list.
You’re just trying to cheer us all up now aren’t you.
Great idea for a discussion forum though. An “ignore list”. So you can choose to ignore those who run rings around your arguments. Brilliant.
Ignore lists for closed minds. That would make a good signature actually…..
By: John Green - 10th January 2014 at 14:41
I think that the time has come for me to apply for membership of Charlie’s ‘ignore’ list.
By: John Green - 10th January 2014 at 14:38
Re 205
CD. I’m surprised that for you I really have to spell it out. The people I mentioned were ‘original thinkers’. They had no previous research or information upon which to draw. There were no books – maybe Ptolomy – upon which they could base their ideas. Nothing had been gifted to them upon which they could develop their ideas.
They weren’t – your phrase: “Great thinkers”. They were great ORIGINAL thinkers.
By: Bruggen 130 - 10th January 2014 at 14:36
Re 198
CDEuclid, Archimedes, Pythagoras, Newton and many others were first and foremost, thinkers. For the most part they existed and fomulated their work before the age and assistance of sophisticated or even primitive laboratory equipment. They had one thing in common; they were all capable – and showed that capacity- of original thought.
Yes and every thing they said was tested and proven by other people and you should read some of those peoples work before quoting them on here, and no I won’t give up until I’ve got though to that bit of matter on top of your head which I would loosely refer to as your brain.
By: charliehunt - 10th January 2014 at 14:16
Well he deserves it!!:D But an interesting point because, speaking personally, I never experience the same rancour in face to face debate as on a few, thankfully exceptional, threads on this forum. Amongst those we know and even including strangers of a wide range of political, religious and social bents, we argue and joke in about equal measure but always conclude in good humour. Perhaps it would be the same if we were face to face with our antagonists!
By: trumper - 10th January 2014 at 14:09
:applause: Yes but it is quite entertaining at times.I wish people wouldn’t get so abusive towards each other.For all you know you may be chatting on here to someone you know and not realise,as i have met Jim i feel i have the right to abuse him [verbally that is 🙂 ]
Sign In
December 31, 2013 at 10:50 am