"Depends on if you think someone's interpretation of an aspect of the Bible is right, or that God is going to grade you on your understanding of cosmology."
Interpretation of the bible is always used to create doubt. The bible (NT) can be traced back to the original texts which were written, in many cases, by the witnesses of events. Interpretation really isnt an issue as hundreds of scholars have been involved with recent translations without significant changes. We are supposed to mistrust the biblical scholars translation but encourged to trust the modern liberals translation.
How does cosmology have anything to do with this? Again, if you read the bible its pretty clear what God is going to grade us on.
That's true. Of course, the issue is can someone express doubts, or even disbelief, in events described in the first book of the OT that happened long before they were recorded, yet be a Christian.
I think yes, because what is required be a Christian is belief that Jesus is the Risen Savior and proved by following His commands, and this does not include allegience to a particular view of the age of the Earth.
Now think this through -- when you witness to someone do you argue the age of the Earth or do you describe how Jesus changed your life and delivered you from your sins?
yeah, what you believe about his son and have done about it...not what you believe about the earth
(Again, if you read the bible its pretty clear what God is going to grade us on.)
The Bible is very clear about salvation. The New testament is devoted to Christ teachings. Creation in Genesis is limited to 37 sentences in Chapter one, and one very long sentence in chapter two. There is a lot of room for interpretation. I believe that if we were to be judged on whether our interpretation is correct or not, it would be far more detailed. The point of Genesis is that God did it, and we should have faith in that. How, is not spelled out.
( The bible (NT) can be traced back to the original texts which were written, in many cases, by the witnesses of events.)
There was no original witness to creation other than the Creator. Authorship of Genesis is thought to be attributed to Moses. I believe the Bible to be God's inspired word. Moses would have to have been inspired through some sort of revelation, perhaps a vision or a dream. What would this have looked like? If the Earth, and life took many years to form, would the vision have reflected that, or might it have been interpreted spontaneously? One thing I find very curious in Genesis is that on four occasions it mentions life being formed out of the Earth. What did Moses see in his revelation that he would interpret in this way?