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Creationism
Topic Started: Feb 17 2005, 08:42 AM (29 Views)
cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
We've argued about Evolutionary Theory and described Intelligent Design. Now I'd like to turn to another alternative, Creationism.

I cannot of course control discussion but make the following requests.

One, let's describe what creatioism is and what it claims rather than argue pro and con. We need to know what it is in order to argue about it. It is possible to do this whether you accept creationism or not, though certainly if you accept creationism, you should feel free to point out what you agree with and disagree with, that will help in understanding what it is.

Two, let's avoid what it is not. For example, I would reject any argument fashioned on the common argumentum ad ignorantiam: Not evolution therefore creationism. In other words, arguments against evolution, which we've heard plenty already, and arguments as well against various versions of creationism by creatrionists themselves, do not tell us what creationism is. Let us stick to what it is.

Three, let's clearly distinguish as well that creationism and Intelligent Design. Creationists in their arguments against Evolution may, mistakenly believing ID does not accept Evolution, borrow a narrow number of ID arguments, but that is arguing what it is not, not arguing what it is.

Now, to begin with, restricting myself to those criteria, I was somewhat hard pressed to find any material on Creationism. Most of it is argument against Evolution. But I found a few.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Creationism

I use What is Creationism? and Creationism for the following paraphrases and quotes.

Generally, creationism is the belief that the universe was created by a deity or deities. The Creator is usually held to be the God of the Abrahamic religions, who created living organisms "after their kind", as described in Genesis. Creationism is a theistic interpretation of nature.

Creationism consists of a number of often disparate categories: Flat Earthers, Geocentrics, Young Earth Creationists and Old Earth Creationists. It is interesting to note that these subcategories from a continuum that begins with literal biblical interpretation and extends into acceptance of evolution, at least an Intelligent Design version, it is historical evolution, if you will, of thought.

Flat Earthers

Flat Earthers believe the earth is flat and covered by a dome or firmament. Waters above the firmament were the source of Noah's flood. This belief is based on a literal reading of the Bible.

Geocentrism

Geocentrists accept a spherical earth but deny the sun is the center of the solar system or that the earth moves. The water of Noah's flood came from above a solid firmament. The basis for it is a literal reading of the Bible.

Flat-earthers and geocentrists reflect the cosmological views of ancient Hebrews.

Young Earth Creationists

Young Earth Creationists believe the Earth was created by God around 6,000 years ago. It is a literal interpretation according to Genesis. They reject radiometric or isochron dating of the age of the Earth, arguing that they are based on debatable assumptions. Instead, they interpret the geologic record largely as a result of a global flood.

Old Earth Creationists

Old Earth Creationists maintain that the physical universe was created by God, but that the creation event of Genesis is not to be taken strictly literally. This group generally believes that the Universe and the Earth are as described by astronomers and geologists, but that details of the evolutionary theory are questionable.

Young Earth Creationists argue Old Earth Creationists cling to geological and astronomical evolution.

Old Earth creationism itself comes in three types:

Old Earth/Gap Creationists

Gap Creationists, also called Restitution Creationists, believe life was immediately created on a pre-existing old Earth. They hold creation was preceded by destruction of the original creation by some unspecified cataclysm.

Old Earth/Day-age Creationists

Day-age Creationists believe the "six days" of Genesis are not ordinary twenty-four-hour days, but rather much longer periods, each "day" could be the equivalent of millions of years of modern time. Some hold the Hebrew word means seven ages.

Old Earth/Evolutionary Creationists

Evolutionary Creationist believe evolution was a tool used by God. It can synthesize with gap or day-age creationism, although most adherents deny that Genesis was meant to be history at all. Evolutionary creationism has no dispute with the scientific theory of evolution either, only disputes materialistic evolutionism which denies God. Many creationists refuse to accept this as creationism and call it theistic evolution.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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