trillian

Couple of nagging questions that I (remarkably) have not come across before...anyone feel free to answer what the Christian take on this would be.

1. (applies to YEC's only) If an Earth day of 24 hours is measured specifically by our planets rotation and exposure to the light of the sun, why would this measure of time exist before the sun was created? and the first "day" occurs even before the earth itself is supposed to exist.

I assume here that the YEC holds that everything was created in six 24hr time periods (which is what I see being claimed).

I'm thinking "God knew what a day would turn out to be" is a kind of lame answer but I've never asked it so I might be surprised by a more creative answer.

2. The following passages where god says to be fruitful and multiply seem to give a reason: to fill the earth. Haven't we filled enough already? How many billions of people more should we make before it's "filled" and a Christian can use contraceptives? Isn't it irresponsible as a species to multiply beyond our means of sustaining that population? Would we not describe our population as "abundant" today?

If you can find a thread where this was discussed (as most things have been) please point the way!

trillian

Magus55

While i'm sure this is just another promo to bring the insults from the peanut gallery...

The Earth was created at the beginning. Following the earth being a dark, void, God created light that formed the days. God created the light from nothing, the sun was created later to serve as the permanent source of light. But in the beginning, there is just light energy cast on the Earth, splitting the hemispheres into light and dark, morning and night. That is the first day.

Approximately, give or take a few minutes.

What do you mean? God created the Earth and its rotation speed. Why wouldn't He know how long a day is?

Well God said that to Adam and Eve, and Noah. Its a mystery as to whether that still applies today. Abortion is not the answer to keep the population from increasing though.

EGGO

I don't think abortion is really used as a way to keep a balance (ignoring the overpopulating countries like India)

Magus55

Well, i've heard that used here as justification for allowing abortion, so we don't continue to overpopulate the world.

trillian

Magus,

Thanks for the reply. I guess if you accept the miracle of creation, then the "day" having 24 hours before a round earth and sun are formed really isn't too much of a stretch. It just doesn't make any cosmological sense. Moses didn't know anything about modern astronomy so I guess its written as we would expect it to be for those times.

"give or take a few minutes" lol, I had to smile at that (so you DO have a sense of humor!)

As for being fruitful, do you think it might be a good idea to provide contraceptives to those countries where millions of children grow up poor and starving? Not abortions, just a way for those women to have managable, planned families to end their cycle of suffering? Do you think all women (and even men soon!) should be able to do this?

trillian

RUmike

Interesting unrelated sidenote...

The length of the day increases by 1.5 milliseconds every century. About 500 million years ago the day was 22 hours long and 397 days made up a year. This is all due to the slowing-down of the rotation of the earth thanks to tidal forces created by the moon. Eventually in billions of years, this process will stop and one day will be about 47 of our current days, and the moon will always be above the same point on Earth.

Just thought that was pretty interesting. I wonder if the length of the day changing over time has any theological implications?

Doctor X

Magus:

Poisoning the Well . . . if one finds discussion of issues "insulting" perchance one should avoid such discussions?

Why have you avoided my CHALLENGE?

--J.D.

beastmaster

FWIW, this precise question famously comes up in Inherit the Wind, during Drummond's (Clarence Darrow) cross-examination of Brady (William Jennings Bryan):

http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNo...rit/summ4.html

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