'''Old Earth Creationism''' is the belief that God created the universe and the world billions of years ago. Most forms of old earth creationism still believe in a literal reading of the Genesis creation account, though their interpretation differs from that of young earth creationists. Modern science is an important element, which provides extensive evidence for an old Earth. Though many theologians have disputed this position, there are others, such as famous author [[C. S. Lewis]], who have supported it.
== General ==
Old Earth [[Creationism|Creationists]] hold to a view of the Biblical book of Genesis that allows for an old earth .<ref>http://www.answersincreation.org/question.htm</ref>.
Dr. [[Norman Geisler]] wrote that "both young- and old-earthers who are [[evangelical]] hold to the historicity of the Genesis account: They believe that Adam and Eve were literal people, the progenitors of the entire human race."
Dr. Geisler also wrote concerning young earth creationist and old earth creationist the following: "Both groups are also agreed in their opposition to [[naturalism]], which they see as the philosophical [[presupposition]] of the [[theory of evolution]]." <ref>http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/science/SC0305W3.htm</ref>
There are many forms of this position, differing mainly by where all this time fits into the creation story. One common place, is after the creation event of Gen 1:1, describing the creation of the universe. If this event preceded the first day, as most old earth creationists believe, then any age for the universe or the Earth is compatible with Genesis. This idea is often referred to as a basic element in [[Gap theory]], and often included in other forms of old earth creationism.
There are a wide number of views of old earth creationism starting from the [[Gap theory]] and [[Day age creationism]] and ending with [[Theistic evolution]].
Old Earth creationists frequently, though not always, hold views which are more in keeping with those which are held by mainstream scientists. For example believers in the [[Gap theory]] maintain that there was a gap of billions of years between [[Genesis]] 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.
Another form of old earth creationism is the [[Day age creationism |day-age]] position which postulates that the days in the creation week represent long ages in prehistory rather than 24 hour days. Reasons for this include:<ref>http://rareuniverse.org/old_earth_creationism/index.html Old Earth Creationism at RareUniverse.Org</ref>
* An alternate interpretation of "age" for the Hebrew word yom, commonly interpreted as day.
Old Earth Creationists do not all agree on the extent of the [[Great Flood|Noachian flood]], although many maintain that it was a local flood.<ref>Ross, Hugh, [http://www.reasons.org/resources/faf/1990_v4n4_q4/index.shtml#let_us_reason Let Us Reason: The Waters of the Flood] ''Facts & Faith'', Volume 4, No. 4, Winter 1990.</ref>
Some proponents of Old Earth Creationism include [[Hugh Ross]], David Snoke, Greg Neyman, Francis Schaeffer, Norman Geisler, and many others. <ref>http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/notable_leaders/index.shtml</ref>
== Criticism ==
Meanwhile [[Young Earth creationism|Young-Earth creationists]] hold that belief in an old Earth is frequently based on extra-biblical sources, not on the Bible. For example:
{{QuoteBox|If an old earth were really the teaching of Scripture, then one claim is glaringly conspicuous by its absence, that is, any claim in commentaries that the Bible ''unambiguously teaches'' long ages. Rather, the usual claim is that the biblical text appears on the surface to teach a young earth but ''may allow for'' an old earth.—[[Jonathan Sarfati]]<ref>Sarfati, Jonathan, ''Refuting Compromise'', Master Books, March 2004, p.55. Emphasis in original.</ref>}}
{{QuoteBox|It is apparent that the most straightforward understanding of Genesis, without regard to the hermeneutical considerations suggested by science, is that God created the heavens and the earth in six solar days, that man was created on the sixth day, and that death and chaos entered the world after the fall of Adam and Eve, and that all fossils were the result of the catastrophic deluge that spared only Noah’s family and the animals therewith.—[[Pattle Pun]]<ref>Pun, P.P.T., ''Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation'' 39:14, 1987; quoted by Creation Ministries International[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4155].</ref>}}{{QuoteBox|From a superficial reading, the impression received is that the entire creative process took place in six twenty-four hour days. If this was the true intent of the Hebrew author (a questionable deduction, as will be presently shown), this seems to run counter to modern scientific research, which indicates that the planet Earth was created several billion years ago.—[[Gleason Archer]]<ref>Archer, G.L., ''A Survey of Old Testament Introduction'', Moody, Chicago, p. 187, 1985; quoted by Creation Ministries International[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4154].</ref>}}{{QuoteBox|It is of course admitted that, taking this account [Genesis] by itself, it would be most natural to understand the word [day] in its ordinary sense; but if that sense brings the Mosaic account into conflict with facts, [millions of years] and another sense avoids such conflict, then it is obligatory on us to adopt that other.—[[Charles Hodge]]<ref>Hodge, C., ''Systematic Theology'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, pp. 570–571, 1997; quoted by Creation Ministries International[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4166] (their parenthetical insertions).</ref>}}
{{QuoteBox|[C]onfessedly, it would not have been as readily deduced from the Genesis text had it not been for the evidences advanced by secular science.—J. Barton Payne<ref>J. B. Payne, ''The Theology of the Older Testament'', (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1972, p.136); quoted in Sarfati, Jonathan, "Refuting Compromise", Master Books, March 2004</ref>}}
{{QuoteBox|We have to admit here [concerning those who take the six days of Creation as literal days] that the exegetical basis [the arguments from the words of Scripture] of the creationists is strong. … In spite of the careful biblical and scientific research that has accumulated in support of the creationists’ view, there are problems that make the theory wrong to most (including many evangelical) scientists. … Data from various disciplines point to a very old earth and even older universe.’—James Montgomery Boice<ref>Montgomery Boice, J.L., ''Genesis: An Expositional Commentary'', Zondervan Publishing House, Michigan, 1:57–62, 1982; quoted by [[Ken Ham|Ham, Ken]], [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/324/#r5 The big picture], ''Creation'' 23(2):16–18, March 2001 (their insertions in square parentheses).</ref>}}
==References==
<references/>
==See also==
* [[Literalist Bible chronology]]
==External links==
===Old Earth Creationism Ministries===
* [http://www.reasons.org Reasons to Believe]
=== Criticism of Old Earth Creationism by Young Earth Creationists ===
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2080 Jonathan Sarfati addresses Old Earth Claims]
===Evidence for an Old Earth===
* [http://www.godandscience.org/youngearth/yeclaims.html Old Earth Evidence from an OEC]* [http://rareuniverse.org/old_earth_creationism/index.html Old Earth Creationism from RareUniverse.Org]==References==<references/>{{creation vs. evolution}}
[[Category:Creationism]]