What are the arguments for saying that the Earth is old and what are the arguments that the Earth is young? Below is a list of some that I have heard on both sides. I doubt that anyone will read this and go away having changed their mind on the position they hold. I do, however, think that if someone wishes to argue their position they will need to address the reasons that are given on the other side.
Reasons for Young Earth | Reasons for Old Earth |
The Bible says creation took six days. | The word used for "day" could be translated as "period." |
The Bible says that Adam was "in the beginning." | The word "day" is used multiple ways in Genesis 1. |
The great flood would have removed evidence of anything prior to it. | Hebrews 3 implies that we are still in the seventh "day." |
The geniologies have enough people to cover about 6,000 years. | Genesis 1:12 declares that "the Earth brought forth," implying that it took some time for the plants to grow. |
Young Earth best accounts for a world in which no death occurred. | Adam was allowed to name the animals before Eve was formed. It likely would have taken more than one day name the animals. |
The existence of fossils is evidence that the layers of rock were formed much more quickly (such as by a global flood) than would be implied by rock layers forming over millions of years. | The amount of time required for light to travel from the stars to us is more than 6000 years./td> |
Radiometric data cannot be shown to prove millions of years. | The Bible doesn't say that the animals didn't die, or anything, other than those who had access to the Tree of Life. |
| The Bible doesn't make a direct statement about the age of the Universe or of the Earth. |
Comments