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To: narby

"That's what I was taught in a Southern Baptist Church camp sometime around 1972."


Funny. I heard that in a Presbyterian church camp. I guess the Presbyterians and Southern Baptists aren't "true" Christians according to the YECcers. I clearly remember one of the speakers at that camp (back in 1961) explain Genesis as an allegory, linking the various verses to the science of the day (before black holes, BTW.)

It's so funny that the denominationalism of Christianity has led to such wide gaps in basic understanding. Even the Roman Catholic Church rationalizes evolution with its teachings.

I'm afraid that we're in a discussion with a tiny minority that takes Genesis as an actual account of the day-to-day creation of the universe and all that is in it. I've always been puzzled by that belief. At the time Genesis was first written down, its audience was herding sheep across a desert. It was a simple story, told to people with simple understanding of the world around them. It must have made sense then.

Now, we understand a few more things than those nomads did, and its allegorical message is pretty obvious. Oddly, it's not all that difficult to link it, still, to scientific knowledge, if you are inclined to do that.

For me, the beauty of Genesis is in how well it explains the inexplicable to both the nomads of its day, while retaining some sense a many centuries later.


147 posted on 10/05/2005 11:18:36 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan
I'm afraid that we're in a discussion with a tiny minority that takes Genesis as an actual account of the day-to-day creation of the universe and all that is in it.

The problem is that the same church where I was taught that Genesis and evolution did not conflict now teaches that it does.

ID theology and Biblical literalism has been preached widely in the last few decades, often by the large non-denominational "mega churches" like the one attended by our new Supreme Court nominee.

My theory is that they're using literalism and anti-evolution theology as a filter to bring in the more gullible into the congregation. Someone who can be persuaded to deny obvious things like the age of the earth, that has massive amounts of evidence from many disiplines, can be persuaded of anything. Tithe religiously, for instance.

These mega-churches are high energy places, and the pull of "belonging" to such a group of people gives a great deal of power to the preachers. I'm sure it's addictive.

175 posted on 10/05/2005 11:58:23 AM PDT by narby
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