[Lurking Libertarian]

There is a fourth option (to young-earth Creationism, traditional Evolution, & ID) it is known as Theistic Evolution. It is not a "God in the gaps" theory. Kind of complex to go into depth here, but simply put that evolution is the vehicle God created to activate creation, he didn't need to step in from time to time and change things, before time, all events were set in motion.

That is, I understand, the teaching of the Catholic Church, and of many Protestant denominations. It was what I learned as a child in an Orthodox Jewish religious school, and is what most Jewish authorites teach today.

[mnehring]

Exactly, I am surprised it isn’t given much relevance in the debate. It is either young earthers, evolution only, or God in the Gaps ID.. yet, theistic evolution is what is most accepted by believing scientists and has far older roots than traditional evolution or young-earth creationism (which really started in the 18th century)