Post Published on September 4, 2009.
Last Updated on November 29, 2017 by davemackey.
I’m going to throw my respectability to the wind – at least in the eyes of many – when I suggest that Answers in Genesis is a great resource ministry. Why would that be? Because I am thereby endorsing at least the option of youth earth creationism. Yes, that most radical of all heresies (to the scientist) – above and beyond even those “pseudo-sciences” of old earth creationism and intelligent design.
Think I am hyperbolizing? Read Steven Pinker‘s introduction to What Is Your Dangerous Idea? – a tome that encourages scientists to verbalize hypotheses they have and believe will some day be established. Pinker argues for this freedom and yet at the very same time offers a damning condemnation of intelligent design.
The idea that an intelligent person could look at the evidence and believe in youth earth creationism seems unfathomable to many scientists and the lambasting of individuals who do is rampant. So, anyways, I’m stepping out on a limb here. I’d like to think I am fairly intelligent. I also believe that I do not have a preexisting commitment to a six-day, young earth, creationist viewpoint. I find that such a commitment is not necessary to my personal faith (though Answers in Genesis would argue differently – suggesting that the abandonment of a literal six day creation has gravely negative results)…Still, I find myself more convinced (I like to think) on a scientific and logistical level by creationist/intelligent design theories than by evolutionary theories.
Answers in Genesis is one of the premier institutions if you want to learn about young earth creationism. If you need resources or are simply interested in exploring what those of us who are readily characterized as religious fanatics and ignoramuses think – AiG is a great resource.
AiG offers numerous resources online for free – including articles and ebooks. They have a massive collection of videos, books, and magazines available covering every aspect of this debate and resources that more generally address scientific and christian topics. They also have built a simply magnificent museum in Kentucky – one I highly recommend visiting.
So, go give them a look. I’m not going to say I agree 100% with everything they say – but I do think they are doing good work in trying to offer an alternative to evolutionary theory.
hey hey. somehow i stumbled upon your site and saw your posting on Answers in Genesis. I thought you may appreciate what Reasons to Believe also contributes to the investigating of Young Earth and Old Earth and other versions of creationism. maybe this book would be of interest too. http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Days-Resolving-Creation-Controversy/dp/1576833755/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top (you will notice people are quite fired up over it, and on different sides of the issue…) I do think some basic points of ancient Hebrew’s vocabulary and word meanings can make a HUGE difference in how people understand the Bible today. the 21st century English reading of scripture certainly needs to take into account the language the Bible was first written in, and what it’s words meant. (case being, a literal understanding of the Hebrew word YOM has multiple possibilities, but often Young Earth Creationists like to pick just a 24 hour day take, when it can mean a portion of a day, 12hrs, 24hrs, or a finite period of time. anyway, i hope you get a chance to hear some of Reasons to Believe’s take, i think its a respectable one, with much investment to support it Biblically and scientifically. You can also find some debates online with Hugh Ross (reasons to believe) and Ken Ham (answers in genesis) online that are helpful.