Here's another type of creationism that I thought I'd share with you from my research.
Gap Creationists: There is much more variability among adherents of this group than among young-earth creationists. Many members of this group accept that science has proven the earth to be very old, but they still generally want to interpret the Bible literally. The result is the concept of the “gap.” Essentially, gap believers think there has been both a creation and a “recreation,” and that the period between these two is not recorded in the Bible and could be very long. Humans appeared only in the “recreation.” There is debate about exactly when the “gap” occurs in the Bible, but it is definitely before the “fall of man,” meaning when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Gap creationism is one type of “old-earth” creationism.
20 comments:
Hi Charles,
I'm sorry this is unrelated to your post, but I wanted to ask if you could send me yours (and Lana's, or should I ask her separately?) emails?
I've missed sending you a couple of things in the past, and there is one thing I thought/hope the two of you might be interested in.
Thanks!
chriseldin@hotmail.com
Now, off to read your posts....
My kids always ask about origins. I try to be honest (which for me is scientific)
:-)
I bought a couple of lay books about this, and have wanted to read for a while.
It blows my mind how old the earth is (according to fossils, etc) and how much (or little) time man has been on the earth.
Charles, this sounds like a fascinating book!!!
Sorry Charles, for not keeping up with these posts about creationism vs evolutionism, I will try to read them.
I've just recently seen a film that supports creationism but without the Bible stuff.
Now, I have read your posts.
The film portrays a bunch of scientists who gathered together and displayed their views. They never mention 'God' or 'Bible' at all.
I'm still seraching the name of the film, I'm sorry about that.
This is something else -
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-scientists.html
The gap theory is an interesting one. Is it an attempt to bridge the discrepancies between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as well as explaining such things as fossils? I don't it succeeds in doing so, as humans are mentioned in both creation accounts
Sounds like a human way of "bridging the gap" to me. But, now I don't really discount anyone's particular belief system. I just know if I can't buy it or not. Well--"mind the gap."
Donnetta
Christine, I'll send you that info today. Yes, I think it's interesting how long the Earth has been here.
Szelsofa, it seems to me a major hang up among Creationists is whether to take the Bible literally. Some do, some don't.
Steve, as near as I can understand, most "Gap" believers think the gap happened after the first line of Genesis, but there are others who think it came later. Some gappers believe that the time between the first and second creations was very long and that the first creation included the war with Satan.
Donnetta, what some creationists argue, some young-earthers, for example, is that the Gap believers have started on the slippery slope of modifying the actual words of the Bible.
The most important point in this is that scientists do NOT rely on the Bible at all.
They do not need the Bible to support their theory.
I think this is a crucial point.
Seems like just another way to stay fundamentalist on the issue.
Interesting that people find it necessary for Genesis to be literal to be "true." I don't have such a dichotomy in my thinking.
Oh, story idea brewing.
Interesting post. I wasn't aware of this.
If it's all supposed to be very literal, then Eve was made out of Adam's rib, right? All women came from the rib of one man? So, if I have a biopsy done of any part of my body, shouldn't the results show osteoblasts, osteocytes and/or osteoclasts? How can one be made from only bone and not have bone cells still smattered throughout one's entire system? Just asking.
Never heard of this - at least I do not think I have ;-D
I'm agitating for schools to teach the alternative theory that earth rests on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the shell of a giant turtle swimming through space!
*sigh*
Ooh, this is cool.
Where's Edgar Cayce when you need him?
Charles...
This is interesting and I have to read my self into it...You write here that the earth with human have been created two times or more?...can it be that human was kicked out to nowhere and the earth stay for some reparation ...I'm just musing now...;-) ?!!!
The wonderful thing about human beings is that they have such wonderful imaginations. The universe will be here long after human beings and the Bible are gone. And perhaps another race of intelligent beings will come along, with another theory of how they were created. Until then, it's fun debating the reality vs. the fairy tale. But one is true, and one isn't. There cannot be two opposing truths. Both theories hinge on whether or not there is a higher power, and in both theories, that is a definite possibility. But there is still only one truth. It's not for human being to decide what that is.
Szelsofa, as is right. There is no reason to reference the Bible when you're talking about a scientific experiment certainly.
Billy, it's like a game of twister. But like you I don't get it.
Christina, I'm finding out many fascinating tidbits these days on the subject.
Avery, there's just no way of avoiding contradiction when you get so literal with the Bible.
Miladysa, I had heard the term but hardly knew what it was about until a few days ago.
Erik, I'm thinking there must have been some great stories in the gap, since some believers think it was the time of Satan's war and fall.
Fancy, I think much is possible, which is why the Young-earth folks see it as a slippery slope.
Josie, I have the feeling we haven't gotten very close to the truth yet.
I think my grandparents were gap creationists. I think I remember asking Gramma about dinosaurs and she believed something like this. Mom may have been as well.
I do need a recreation ;-)
actually, I am leaving for Easter holiday tomorrow.
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