caritas

My sister is a creationist. She is a YEC of the "appearance of age" view also known as Omphalos. Of course the Omphalos idea is exasperating. Can't disprove it by looking at the evidence because the claim is that god made the world we see look as if it were really old with life connected by common descent. Nontheless, my sister appears to have no problem with evolution being taught, with scientists freely working, with the salvation status of liberal, evolution accepting christians (like me). So her creationism, however silly, simply poses no problems for me.

I am wondering what others' experiences with this kind of YEC may have been.
Does it make a difference if the omphalos YEC is an activist or, like my sister simply a quiet yet firm believer?

Lobstrosity

Of course it makes a difference. I don't care what other people believe so long as it doesn't affect me. YEC activists actively attempt to impede scientific discoveries and prevent our children from learning true science. It is this I cannot stand. In short, if you wish to be intellectually bankrupt, so be it...just don't try to force everyone else to be intellectually bankrupt along with you!

Doubting Didymus

If she tried to use the omphalos argument to actually advance her cause, I fear she would find her very silly arguments mercilessly dismembered. Seeing as she keeps it to herself, its no different from any other stupid faith, of which there are many.

The question of personal respect is slightly different. I could not knowingly respect someones judgement and intellect if they held such a patently absurd veiw as the omphalos proposition without thinking of its other implications (namely: What Happened Ten Minutes Ago).

caritas

Just to clarify, the word "respect" in the thread title refers to my being able to respect a holder of this exasperating view and, more important, she being fully able to respect me inspite of our stark differance. Nothing in her creationism has forced her to put on a set of blinders other than those inherant in the omphalos idea itself (eg, no lying for Jesus, through purposeful misquoting of scientists) Of course I am distressed by her weak science background. But it is no weaker than that of my other 2 sisters who are not creationists.

caritas

Of course "actively impeding scientific discoverings " is going to arouse legitamate defense of science. Any creationist activist of any subgroup who works toward that goal must be opposed (and all who I know of to one degree or another have precisely that goal). It seems to me though that an activist of omphalos creationism- if there are any- would have no reason to impede scientific discoveries. No point in trying to hyjack science ala Duane Gish for a person convinced god made the evidence point toward long age/ life connectivity.

dd, I think it is the mental compartmentalization which my sister has created which allows her show what seems like good judgement and intellectually integrity in many areas while holding this "patently absurd" idea too.

Oolon Colluphid

Caritas, I’m just wondering if this ‘appearance of age’ she sees in the created world includes the deliberate creation of signs of history in living things’ bodies (ie stupid designs), and the deliberate creation of Plasmodium and ichneumon wasps...?

Cheers, Oolon

ps418

Why, sure! Appearance of age has a partner in crime called appearance of evolution. Anything else you'd like explained?

Patrick

Oolon Colluphid

Erm, yeah. Like why an allegedly intelligent and loving god would create stupid designs and monumental suffering, just to deceive us into thinking evolution’s the real answer!

Oolon

ps418

God's just f___ing around. Can't you take a joke?

ps418

Caritas,

I have a brother who is a YEC. In fact, hes the one who got me interested in YEC. He doesnt like arguing with me about YEC anymore, so he converts to 'appearance of age' when hes around me, and then deconverts when hes not around me. Its remarkable.

Patrick