Creation Science Commentary

Old Earth - Young Earth Debates

CSC #8

     Many people are wrapped up in debating their position about creation. People will point to specific debates to justify their beliefs.
     Debates have their place. In political debates, people who are on the edge may be convinced to vote for a candidate based on the debate. When it comes to old earth young earth debates, the lines are drawn, and the debaters and people on both sides of the issue are not going to change their minds. Just look at the Hovind/Ross debate that was aired on the John Ankerberg show. Both sides claimed victory. To me, Hovind clearly lost this debate. But to Hovind followers, Ross clearly lost.
     Debates between young and old earth proponents do serve a useful purpose. They strengthen the belief of a person’s own convictions about the age of the earth. In this respect, they are a useful tool. If you are a young earth creation science debater, then your debate will help your fellow young earth creation science believers by strengthening their beliefs. The same thing is true with old earth debaters.
     Another purpose for a young earth - old earth debate can be seen in the Presidential debates. How many candidates were present at the final debates? Two...one Republican and one Democrat. Why were the other third-party candidates not included? To include them in a debate would be to recognize them, and give them credibility. The same is true for young earth creationism. To be in a debate with an old earth debater, means that the old earth people are recognizing them as someone worthy of debating, and it recognizes their position of young earth creationism as worthy of a debate. It gives the young earth creation science position some amount of credibility. That is why they so eagerly seek out debates. For them, it is a no-loss scenario. Their followers will obviously see them as winning the debate, and they gain credibility by having their cause recognized in a public forum.
     On the other hand, old earth debaters have little to gain from debating young earth theorists. Most scientists already believe in an old earth. They are obviously not going to be swayed by the bad science of young earth creationism. The debate merely provides a public forum for the young earth view to be heard.
     There is no logical reason why we should be involved in debates. Some will say that it provides an evangelistic forum, and non-Christians who come will be presented with the Gospel. However, you can accomplish this evangelism through a speech, without giving undue attention to the young earth viewpoint.

The common tactics of YEC debaters is another reason not to debate. While an OEC debater will bring up valid scientific points that the YEC cannot answer, the YEC responds by introducing other claims, and not responding to the scientific points. In fact, they bring up so many claims, that there is no way the OEC can respond to them all. To the YEC observer, the YEC debater has stumped the OEC person, who cannot answer. In reality, there isn't enough time to answer! The winner of the debate is usually the one who presents more unanswered jabs at the other side, and this is always the YEC debater.
It is my belief that old earth believers should not be involved in any debate. Take the view of the two main Presidential candidates…why let the third party candidates have publicity that they don’t deserve. Of course, young earth proponents will immediately turn around and say we are afraid of debating them. Let them rant…nobody but their own young earth followers will be listening anyway.

If you are not a Christian, and you have been holding out on making a decision for Christ because the Church always preached a message that was contrary to what you saw in the scientific world, then rest assured that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and you can believe in Christ and receive salvation, while still believing in an old earth. Click here for more.

Are you a Christian who believes in young earth creationism? Now that we have shown the many difficulties of the young earth creation science model in this and many other articles, how does this impact your Christian life? If you are a young earth creationism believer, click here.

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