I direct these questions to Christians, but any may answer. As a preface to your answer please tell me if you are or are not a Christian. FYI, I am a Christian.

1. Do you believe in evolution?

2. Do you believe in the "gap theory?"

3. Do you believe the 6 days of creation were 24 hour days or longer periods of time?

You may answer one, two, or all three of these questions if you desire. I am very interested in your answers and why you believe as you do.

Thank you,

Phil Debenham

Fr_Chuck

1. Only to the point that things within its species evolves slightly.

2. gap, sorry not up on that one, but I believe in a young earth idea not the old earth. If the earth is that old, which I don't beleive it is, the only result was adam and eve was in the garden alot longer than I would have beleived

3. Yes, God created the time, day and night, so why not
Phil Debe

nymphetamine

I am a child of God.

1. My answer to that would be about the same as chucks.

2. What is the gap theory?

3. I guess it could have been a whole day. I wasnt there.

phildebenham

Fr. Chuck,

1. While changes within the kinds is often referred to as "evolution," but that is not truly evolution in the Darwinian molecules to man sense of the term. I agree that there are changes within a kind, but not changes from one kind to another.

2. The gap theory is a theological invention which states that there is a gap of an indeterminate period of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. The theory was developed to account for the so called geologic ages which set the earth as millions of years old.

3. There are many good theologians who believe that the days of creation stand for ages rather than normal days. Like you, I disagree with them.

Thanks for your reply,

Phil Debenham

PS: While you did not state it, I assume you to be a Christian.

phildebenham

Crankiebabie,

I am afraid that I do not understand what you mean by "I am a child of God."

Please see my response to Fr. Chuck on questions 1 and 2. As to question 3, I know you weren't there. My question concerned your undersanding of the word "day" in Genesis 1. Perhaps you should read it before attempting an opinion?

Thank you,

Phil Debenham

orange

I hope I don't sound rude, as that is not my intention at all, but why do you need people to tell you whether they are a Christian or not? Just curious, because the questions you're asking about the gap theory, 6 days of creation... are based on the Judeo-Christian Bible anyhow. Orthodox Jews and I imagine many Muslims believe similar things (since their scriptures are similar), but people of faiths that don't use this Bible would believe their own creation stories rather than those of Genesis. And of course atheists wouldn't believe in any kind of divine intervention at all. But maybe I'm missing the point?? I don't know, just curious... hope you aren't offended.

nymphetamine

Well i mean just that I am a child of God. But, if I must put a lable on it then you could call me a Christian. From what I can remember being told is the days back then were not 24 hr days but I think the days were shorter or were they longer? Im really not a bible reader for certain reasons but I guess I better get to studying because I dont know too much about genesis except for some things were created and god took a lunch break on the sabbath.

orange

LOLL!! That's great, haha! I was feeling kind of blah tonight and that's really funny!

Genesis actually covers a LOT of ground... creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the story of Noah's Ark, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Esau... and a bit of Joseph and his coat of many colors I think too. But then after Exodus (which has stuff on Moses and Egypt) it gets pretty dull... all those laws in Leviticus really put me to sleep.

Anyways thanks for making me laugh.

phildebenham

This simple reason for telling me whether you are a Christian or not is so that I may understand where you are coming from prior to reading your answer. If you are not Christian (perhaps I should have included the Jewish faith as well) then I know right off the bat that you do not hold the book of Genesis as the word of God. It was not meant to judge another, but to understand ones bias and, therefore, better understand their answers. We all have biases. I am a Christian. Therefore you, knowing my faith, will know that I approach the subject of evolution from a particular bias. Consequently you will better understand my viewpoint.

Questions 2 and 3 concern the bible. Knowing how one views the bible is to better understand that persons answer.

As I said at the beginning of the question, this question is directed at Christians, primarily. Christians today have been "evolutionized." That is to say that their belief systems, by and large, have been influenced by the religion of science. I am interesed in understanding those who have been "evolutionized."

I pray that I have not offended you, I certainly did not mean to.

Phil Debenham

rkim291968

1 for me. I used to be a Christian but no longer.