I first started seriously considering Christianity after taking part in a Science vs Creation debate as part of a biology class. I was firmly on the side of science but I decided to debate on the creation side and I ended up convincing myself that, at the very least, all kinds of things are possible. It was only then that I began to investigate the person and claims of Jesus. It was only then that I read the gospels and discovered that they made sense.
These days, I think both the standard seven-day creation model and the evolution model are flawed. Both have some elements of truth but neither quite fits the evidence.
This side of eternity, I don't think we'll ever know for certain exactly what happened. It is impossible to re-run creation in a laboratory to test hypotheses. The best that can be done is to extrapolate backwards in time using the currently observed laws of physics. Unfortunately, the Biblical record implies that at some point the world (and quite possibly the whole universe) changed. The world was cursed. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and the consequences will not be finally corrected until Christ's return. Consequently, the usefulness of extrapolation is limited.
On the flip side, the first couple of chapters of the book of Genesis are not a textbook and all kinds of silliness can result from assuming that they are.
Suffice to say, when all things are revealed at the end of time, the details of the start and development of the universe are going to be quite surprising... and more wonderful than we can imagine.
The conflict between science and religion is an artificial construction resulting from mistakes, defensiveness, cockiness and just plain rudeness on both sides. It has become a stumbling block of the churches' own manufacture. By painting evolution as an obviously stupid idea (which it is not) in order to back up some sketchy interpretation, Christians have alienated large numbers of people from Christ on an issue that simply is not that important. Who cares how God created the Universe so long as it's here?
Christ is the central issue of Christianity. His death brought us new life, his life shows us how to live that life, and his resurrection gives us hope for the life to come. That's a big enough stumbling block without making new ones.
These days, I think both the standard seven-day creation model and the evolution model are flawed. Both have some elements of truth but neither quite fits the evidence.
This side of eternity, I don't think we'll ever know for certain exactly what happened. It is impossible to re-run creation in a laboratory to test hypotheses. The best that can be done is to extrapolate backwards in time using the currently observed laws of physics. Unfortunately, the Biblical record implies that at some point the world (and quite possibly the whole universe) changed. The world was cursed. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and the consequences will not be finally corrected until Christ's return. Consequently, the usefulness of extrapolation is limited.
On the flip side, the first couple of chapters of the book of Genesis are not a textbook and all kinds of silliness can result from assuming that they are.
Suffice to say, when all things are revealed at the end of time, the details of the start and development of the universe are going to be quite surprising... and more wonderful than we can imagine.
The conflict between science and religion is an artificial construction resulting from mistakes, defensiveness, cockiness and just plain rudeness on both sides. It has become a stumbling block of the churches' own manufacture. By painting evolution as an obviously stupid idea (which it is not) in order to back up some sketchy interpretation, Christians have alienated large numbers of people from Christ on an issue that simply is not that important. Who cares how God created the Universe so long as it's here?
Christ is the central issue of Christianity. His death brought us new life, his life shows us how to live that life, and his resurrection gives us hope for the life to come. That's a big enough stumbling block without making new ones.
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