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THE CREATIONISM DEBATE

By Cristian Vasquez Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Niko Knigge | Flickr (Creative Commons)

How exactly did we come to be? The debate about Creationism continues to stir the hearts and minds of individuals since it first became a hotly discussed topic in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Creationism is the belief that human life, the Earth, and/or the universe as a whole was created by a supreme being (namely God) or by other forms of supernatural intervention.

Oftentimes the term Creationism specifically describes belief in a literal interpretation of the biblical account of God creating the universe. But such a view of Creationism (see Young Earth Creationism) is just one of many. Here you’ll find the many variations of Creationism among Christians

“Nature is too thin a screen; the glory of the omnipresent God bursts through everywhere.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Young Earth Creationism

Definition: The belief that the Earth was created by God within the last ten thousand years, literally as described in Genesis, within the approximate timeframe of biblical genealogies. It also interprets geological records largely as a result of global flood (Genesis 7).

Because of the description in Genesis of divine creation of every “kind” of plant and animal during a week about 6,000 years ago, this view disputes parts of evolution which describes all species developing from a common ancestor, independent of divine intervention, by random chance and over a much longer time.

Old Earth Creationism

Definition: The view that the physical universe was created by God, but that the creation narrative of Genesis is not to be taken strictly literally. Old Earth Creationists generally believe that the age of the Universe and the age of the Earth are as described by astronomers and geologists but that details of evolutionary theory are questionable.

Day Age Creationism

Definition: A type of Old Earth Creationism, this is the view that the “six days” of Genesis are not ordinary, twenty-four-hour days but rather much longer periods (for example, each “day” could be the equivalent of millions, or billions of years in human time). This theory often states that the Hebrew word “yom”, which has been interpreted as “day” in the context of Genesis 1, actually means “age.” Some claim we are living in the seventh age (“seventh day”).

Gap Creationism

Definition: Another type of Old Earth Creationism, also called “Restitution creationism,” this is the view that life was immediately created on a pre-existing old Earth. This group generally translates Genesis 1:2 as “The earth became without form and void,” indicating a destruction of the original creation by some unspecified large-scale event.

Progressive Creationism

Definition: A third type of Old Earth Creationism, Progressive Creationism believes that species have changed or evolved in a process continuously guided by God, with various ideas as to how that guidance operates—maybe at precise moments, maybe through a pre-set plan. This view accepts most of modern physical science, including the age of the earth, but it rejects much of modern evolutionary biology or looks to it for evidence that evolution by natural selection alone is incorrect.

Theistic evolution

Definition: Also known as “evolutionary creationism”, this is the general view that, instead of faith being in opposition to biological evolution, it is compatible with some or all of modern scientific theories, including evolution. It generally views evolution as a tool used by God and maintains that divine intervention brought about the origin of life or that divine laws govern the formation of species. In the creation-evolution controversy, its proponents generally take the “evolutionist” side.

Intelligent Design and Neo-Creationism

Definition: Intelligent design (ID) is the concept that “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected, chance-based process such as Darwinian evolution.” says Ideacenter.org.

Its proponents claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, other current scientific theories regarding the origin of life. Intelligent Design is the most recognized form of Neo-Creationism, the goal of which is to restate creationism in terms more likely to be well received by the public, education policy makers, and the scientific community. It aims to re-frame the debate over the origins of life in non-religious terms, without scripture, and to bring the scientific debate before the public.

THE CREATIONISM DEBATE - New Identity Magazine

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Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on ou Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on our own is in vain. We can never hope to achieve the same level that Jesus was on while we are still here on Earth. We’re like little kids, struggling just to walk. But that’s why Jesus gave us an example of redeemed followers in the form of the Apostles, who were his close group of students here on Earth. He chose a group of broken, sinful men, and ultimately shaped them into the group responsible for continuing his ministry here on Earth. ⁠
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✍🏽: Tim VanDeWalker in "Running By Example" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's th "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." –Desmond Tutu
The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not t The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not to become like it. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2a). Some have interpreted this as an instruction to reject anything that isn’t explicitly Christian. But I don’t think that’s what this verse is getting at. I think it means much more.⁠
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✍🏽: Lindsey Beharry in "Choosing Wisely" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
If you desire to serve, seek to form groups withou If you desire to serve, seek to form groups without age distinction. Maybe you want to form a group in your church. Avoid just inviting members from your age group. Seek out people older and younger than you to invite to meet together. Find that person who sits alone and talk to her or him. Instead of a focus on building groups that have the same characteristics to “relate” with one another, you center your discussion in the work of Christ. He will bring the group together. ⁠
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✍🏽: Russell Almand in "Community and Age Diversity" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"If we put our faith in temporal things, they will "If we put our faith in temporal things, they will inevitably let us down. They were never meant to be enough for us. Not alone. When Barnum finally does hit bottom, he recognizes that his heart has been led astray, fooled into thinking that fame or fortune could satisfy him."⁠
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✍🏽: @slimkeman in "The Greatest Showman" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the ex "Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the extent of its effects on the brain, relationships, and society at a time when sexually explicit content is just a click away. Christians have recognized pornography’s negative impact for decades, yet it is still often considered a “male” problem within the Church. This can leave women who struggle with porn addiction feeling isolated and alone. The organization SheRecovery (formerly Dirty Girls Ministries) aims to change that and has become a resource for women with porn addiction. You can read more about their ministry at the link in our bio. ⁠
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✍🏽: Lisa Gagnon in "Dirty Girls Ministries" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The presence of my sin reminds me of my great nee "The presence of my sin reminds me of my great need for grace, and good works are the outpouring of a grateful heart; being a good child is not a means of earning the favor of God."⁠
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"As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by "As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by how we handle our daily lives, much like those around us, but also by an added component: our faith. How we pray and worship and spend time with our fellow followers provides additional meaning to our lives."⁠
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Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others an Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others and not to judge. I forget that when he said, “Come follow me,” he wasn’t just inviting us to a strict set of rules but to a real and exciting life whether you turn out to be a pastor, a doctor, designer or simply “Dad.” Sometimes I forget one of his main messages was that he came to give us a better life than we could ever dream of—life to the fullest. Jesus wasn’t locking us down to a vocation or job title. It’s as if he was saying, “Real, vibrant life is available to you now. Following me, loving me and living like me is your real calling…the rest is just there to aid you in following, loving and living.”⁠
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✍🏽: Wendy Van Eyck in "Living For A Purpose" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” There is yet another parallel between the Christian story and The Matrix, simultaneously the most foundational and the most captivating. It’s that something which is missing, something which is not quite right with the world. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that it’s there. At the outset of the first film, Neo is searching for it. Trinity asserts that “it’s the question that drives us.” Morpheus claims that “you can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes.” The question is: What if I’ve only ever scratched the surface of all that life has to offer? What if there is a deeper, truer current of reality, ever-present behind all of my life’s experiences, to which I might awaken at any moment?⁠
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✍🏽: @slimkeman in "Tumbling Down The Rabbit Hole" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because "I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because we all struggle with temptations to sin. And we all struggle to live in a way that honors God. Like Augustine we all feel the tug of our past sins that say, 'Don’t you want to enjoy us?' And Augustine’s story relates to Galatians 5:16-26 where Paul tells us about how the Christian life is like a walk. In a way, walking is a metaphor for the Christian life." ⁠
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✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like livin "The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like living, and for serving others." Where in your life or in what ways has the Spirit enabled you this week? We'd love to hear, tell us in the comments below!⁠
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