Are you a creationist?

[Seewhatimesdone]

Some creationists I've met who believe in a literal seven 24 hour days believe that dinosaurs existed when the earth was dark sort of before creation started, some believe that dinosaurs existed with humans at some point pointing to scriptures in the Bible where Laviathan (sp?) is mentioned. Some like me, don't believe in literal 24 hour days have no problems with dinosaurs existing, and that one person that I mentioned earlier believes the bones were placed here (by whom?) to deceive us. I would definitely say that's a fringe view.

They were placed here??? Uhh by who

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

I believe both actually. When Cain went out and found a wife I believe either

1. Apes had evolved either by themselves or thru breeding with humans.

2. Adam and Eve had many children, hundreds maybe thousands of years had passed and Cain married a 'relative'.

I think it's in the Bible that the answer is #2.

Tell me, if you were to re-populate the earth would you sleep with an ape or one of your hundreds of sisters?

 

[perla75]

Some creationists I've met who believe in seven literal 24 hour days believe that dinosaurs existed when the earth was dark sort of before creation started, some believe that dinosaurs existed with humans at some point pointing to scriptures in the Bible where Laviathan (sp?) is mentioned. Some like me, don't believe in literal 24 hour days have no problems with dinosaurs existing, and that one person that I mentioned earlier believes the bones were placed here (by whom?) to deceive us. I would definitely say that's a fringe view.

Could you explain what Laviathan is? Sorry, not only am I jewish & not familiar with the new testament, but I'm not very religious so I don't know the old testament in great depth either!

I didn't realize there were so many people who were sort of "in the middle" with this belief-thank you for clarifying that for me.

 

[JoyG]

Could you explain what Laviathan is? Sorry, not only am I jewish & not familiar with the new testament, but I'm not very religious so I don't know the old testament in great depth either!

I didn't realize there were so many people who were sort of "in the middle" with this belief-thank you for clarifying that for me.

"Behomoth" and "Leviathan" are actually mentioned in the OT if I recall. I'll goggle some scripture and see if I can find it.

 

[Nomi]

I have to say, I'm surprised how many people voted yes.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Could you explain what Laviathan is? Sorry, not only am I jewish & not familiar with the new testament, but I'm not very religious so I don't know the old testament in great depth either!

I didn't realize there were so many people who were sort of "in the middle" with this belief-thank you for clarifying that for me.

Leviathan was a sea monster mentioned in old testament. It was created on the fifth day. The Christians tend to interpret it more as a demon though.

 

[perla75]

What class would you have it taught in? I can see it being ok if there was a world religion class, like most schools have. Just not in science.

I think people are wanting it to be considered unit in science class, but I might be misinformed on that.

I agree that it would be nice to have a World Religions class (or unit in social studies) & expose students to a little of everything-creationism, other beliefs, etc...I think it might make kids a little more tolerant & aware of people's differences, but I don't think it should be taught by itself. Seems like that would be a large disruption in separation of church and state.

 

[JoyG]

"Behomoth" and "Leviathan" are actually mentioned in the OT if I recall. I'll goggle some scripture and see if I can find it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behemoth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan

 

[Magic Mom]

What class would you have it taught in? I can see it being ok if there was a world religion class, like most schools have. Just not in science.

I'd have to think about that one. If it were in science, it would have to be fit in as a sort of side note. I know many kids are interested in how everything began. What happened before the "big bang." This topic might fit in there. Not as fact, but only to mention that this is one of the theories some people have about where the universe started. Informing people of ideas doesn't have to mean endorsing those ideas.

 

[MrsPete]

Of course I believe that God created the Earth, the animals, Adam and Eve -- just as the Bible says.

It's interesting to note that if you believe in the theory of evolution, everything goes in the same order as the Bible story in Genesis: First there was light, then ocean, then plants and animals, and man last. It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to believe that God created the world THROUGH evolution. I don't think there's any way evolution could've "just happened" on its own.

I'm not aware of any groups who don't believe in dinosaurs -- of course there are always a few people here and there with crazy ideas -- I mean, the bones are real, and they've been found in many places across the globe. However, dinosaurs neither help nor hinders the belief in God creating the earth. Within recent history we know for certain that some animals have become extinct; that's no different from the dinosaurs.

As for who Cain married, there's another possibility: The Bible says that God created Adam and Eve, and they had children. It's entirely possible that He also created other humans, but He didn't choose to tell us about those -- He only mentioned the first ones, then He moved on to other topics. If that is true -- and it may or may not be -- then Cain could've married one of those women. The Bible does mention cities in early Genesis, so there were other people around. Had Adam and Eve lived long enough that their children populated cities? I don't know.

How we got here, however interesting, is just a curiosity. It doesn't change our lives. What really matters is how we're living our lives each day.

 

[Nomi]

I think people are wanting it to be considered unit in science class, but I might be misinformed on that.

I agree that it would be nice to have a World Religions class (or unit in social studies) & expose students to a little of everything-creationism, other beliefs, etc...I think it might make kids a little more tolerant & aware of people's differences, but I don't think it should be taught by itself. Seems like that would be a large disruption in separation of church and state.

We had a world religion class in our school as an elective, as well as a philosophy, psychology and world history. I could only fit world history in my schedule sad2: ) but it seemed like a pretty cool class.

Still, even if a school didn't have a religion class, it belongs more in social studies than science, possibly english.

 

[corndog]

Another atheist here voting no.

But at the same time, I have no interest in mocking those who believe differently than I:

No, not at all.

What I want to know is, if we are going to have to teach creationism ("intelligent design" ) in school, whose creation myths should we teach? The Navajo have some interesting beliefs, as do Hopi, the Hindus, the Zoroastrians, the Mormons, the Scientologists and the Maori, to name just a few. I think this could take up a considerable part of one's school career.

 

[perla75]

Leviathan was a sea monster mentioned in old testament. It was created on the fifth day. The Christians tend to interpret it more as a demon though.

Thank you for that explanation. I had never heard of this.

After reading all of your views, I'm now wondering if I have a little creationism in my own beliefs.....

I strongly believe in evolution, but I also believe that the tiny particles and chemicals that allowed the first living organism to be created was put here by a higher power.

I should also add that I am borderline agnostic. I go back and forth about believing in God, but I do believe there is a higher power of some form watching over us & I do believe in faith. I guess with most things, I am a very scientific fact-based kind of believer, with a little bit of faith mixed in there as well. I am semi-religious in my own faith, but I tend to believe more in the power of tradition and culture if that makes any sense to you.

 

[ead79]

I am a creationist. I believe that God is certainly powerful enough to have created the earth and all that is in it in six 24-hour days, but I think He also could've done it over a greater period of time (for the same reasons Joy mentioned about the Bible saying that to God 1,000 years is one day and one day is 1,000 years). I absolutely believe that dinosaurs existed, and I've never heard anyone that I know suggest otherwise.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I strongly believe in evolution, but I also believe that the tiny particles and chemicals that allowed the first living organism to be created was put here by a higher power.

That really is intelligent design in a nutshell. Although people on the extremes dislike it as a "theory" it really resembles what many people believe. It is the reconciling of "how can anything come from nothing" and "how can you really beleive that the earth is 2002 years old and was created in 7 24 hour days".

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Of course I believe that God created the Earth, the animals, Adam and Eve -- just as the Bible says.

It's interesting to note that if you believe in the theory of evolution, everything goes in the same order as the Bible story in Genesis: First there was light, then ocean, then plants and animals, and man last. It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to believe that God created the world THROUGH evolution. I don't think there's any way evolution could've "just happened" on its own.

I'm not aware of any groups who don't believe in dinosaurs -- of course there are always a few people here and there with crazy ideas -- I mean, the bones are real, and they've been found in many places across the globe. However, dinosaurs neither help nor hinders the belief in God creating the earth. Within recent history we know for certain that some animals have become extinct; that's no different from the dinosaurs.

As for who Cain married, there's another possibility: The Bible says that God created Adam and Eve, and they had children. It's entirely possible that He also created other humans, but He didn't choose to tell us about those -- He only mentioned the first ones, then He moved on to other topics. If that is true -- and it may or may not be -- then Cain could've married one of those women. The Bible does mention cities in early Genesis, so there were other people around. Had Adam and Eve lived long enough that their children populated cities? I don't know.

How we got here, however interesting, is just a curiosity. It doesn't change our lives. What really matters is how we're living our lives each day.

I completely agree with everything said!

Thank you for that explanation. I had never heard of this.

After reading all of your views, I'm now wondering if I have a little creationism in my own beliefs.....

I strongly believe in evolution, but I also believe that the tiny particles and chemicals that allowed the first living organism to be created was put here by a higher power.

I should also add that I am borderline agnostic. I go back and forth about believing in God, but I do believe there is a higher power of some form watching over us & I do believe in faith. I guess with most things, I am a very scientific fact-based kind of believer, with a little bit of faith mixed in there as well. I am semi-religious in my own faith, but I tend to believe more in the power of tradition and culture if that makes any sense to you.

It makes perfect sense. A lot of people hear the words evolution and creationsim and think there's no way that they can mix. Why not? You don't have to strictly believe in one or the other.

 

[GeorgeG]

When you stop and consider that the people back in "biblical" times were limited both geographically and scientifically compared to what we know today, you have to understand that in their minds the earth ended at whatever horizon they could see and travel to. What they believed certainly fit into those constraints and what little lore they had passed down to them before there was any form of written history. While not everything has since been explained, a lot has. We may not have evolved from apes, but we certainly have evolved from earliest known man and that doesn't seem to fit the traditional concept of Adam and Eve, which probably came long after.

 

[chisnpeke]

I have to say, I'm surprised how many people voted yes.

There are a lot of people who believe in God. Why would that surprise you?

 

[chisnpeke]

Another atheist here voting no.

But at the same time, I have no interest in mocking those who believe differently than I:

Thank you! I found the laughing a little rude.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

If you are really interested in creation, check out www.answersingenesis.org. Also, please watch Ben Stein's move Expelled wihich deals with intelligent design.