The Old-Earth Vs. Young-Earth Debate

        No one wants to be on the losing end of an argument. In order to be the successor of a debate, one needs to enter into the discussion with at least as much if not more knowledge pertaining to the subject matter as their opponent. In some cases, the individual who is most persuasive in presenting their case will be victorious, even if their views are not completely supported by the facts. Being equipped with little knowledge and half-truths is often better than not being prepared at all! Entering a debate in this manner is equivalent to taking a major test after studying little or none of the appropriate material. With so little knowledge to work with, one is ill-prepared to present and defend their views to others, and as such, subjects themselves to failure. So, what can one do to ensure that their worldview is not only correct, but also able to hold up against scrutiny from others? The best way to prepare for such a scenario is to be well versed in the subject at hand, and from all perspectives. We all have varying opinions, whether right or wrong, pertaining to all aspects of life.  But what are those opinions based upon? Is the worldview in which one believes in based on facts, or is it merely a philosophy that one follows simply because they were told that it is true, or that the view is in line with the majority? It is my belief that only when an individual obtains all relevant facts available to them pertaining to a situation can they form a viewpoint that is not only reliable and accurate, but will also weather scrutiny and opposition.

        I believe that God is the Divine Creator of all things. That being said, I also held the viewpoint that while the Bible is always true and that modern science oftentimes will contradict Scripture, there must be a loophole or common ground in which both views could be validated. I also found myself believing that one could and should use science to prove that what was written in the Bible is true. I now realize that this line of reasoning is unattainable, inaccurate, and will not be able to withstand the test of time or opposition. As such, there is a great deal more that I need to learn in order to fully understand and defend the viewpoint which I have held most of my life. Without a doubt, I believe that by the end of this course I will have either revised my current viewpoint, or will have developed a new point of view that incorporates the vast amount of new data I hope to obtain by classes end. Below are just a few things in which I would like to learn regarding both the Young-Earth and Old-Earth views within the scientific community.

        There are a few questions regarding the views held by Young-Earth Creation scientists in which I hope to get answers for. Fist, I am looking forward in discovering their explanations regarding dinosaurs. Dinosaurs have always been a fascination of mine, but all that I really know about these magnificent creatures are what the secular scientific community has put forth. Some questions I would like to have answered are: 1) What period in time did they live in; 2) What caused their extinction; and 3) Why (to the best of my knowledge) is there no recordings of such creatures in Scripture? Next, I would like to learn more about their position regarding the Great Flood. Why do they feel this event was the cause for worldwide dispersal of rocks and fossils, as described in the textbook The Young Earth (Morris, 2013, p. 8)? Is there verifiable evidence that supports this position?

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