The process whereby God brought the heavens and the earth, and all of their diverse contents, into existence
74
votes
21answers
4k views
Can I believe in evolution and still be a Christian?
It would seem that the first part of the book of Genesis contradicts what science teaches about the origin of life on earth. If I am to reconcile evolution and Genesis, it seems that I have a number ...
29
votes
7answers
2k views
How do young earth creationists reconcile the age of the universe with the speed of light, and visible distant objects?
I am not trying to be argumentative, this is an earnest question, as this question got me in huge trouble when I was growing up attending a southern baptist Christian middle school. This question (and ...
26
votes
9answers
1k views
What is the specific meaning of “day” in Genesis 1?
In the Creation account in Genesis 1 (and 2), God's work of Creation is famously split into 7 "days". For example, the first "day" occurs in verse 5:
Genesis 1:5 (NLT)
God called the light "day" ...
26
votes
7answers
938 views
How can the sun be created after day and night?
"Light" was created on day 1 - Genesis 1:3-5. However the sun was created on day 4 - Genesis 1:14-19.
How is this possible?
17
votes
17answers
2k views
Who created God?
The question of man's creation is addressed quite thoroughly in the Bible (whether you believe it is metaphorical or not). Does the Bible (or other relevant references) in any way answer who created ...
15
votes
1answer
200 views
In Theistic Evolution, when did the alleged evolutionary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins?
One answer to this previous question asks,
One of the problems I have with theistic evolution is: when did this alleged evolutinary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins? [sic]
It would ...
14
votes
6answers
971 views
Did God create darkness?
Without Light, there is darkness. Darkness is not made, it is just there. However, before the creation there was nothing. Does that mean that darkness was also not there?
Let us look at Genesis 1:5:
...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
Did God create the serpent in the Garden of Eden?
If God created everything in the world then did he also create the serpent who tempted Eve?
Why would he do this? Why would he create something to contended with himself and tempt others to disobey ...
13
votes
6answers
530 views
What is the Biblical evidence for Old Earth?
According to a comment by another user in this question Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?, apparently there's Biblical evidence for an Old Earth. As a Young ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the significance of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden?
If Adam and Eve were created perfect and without death (immortal), then what is the significance and purpose of the Tree of Life in the middle of the Garden of Eden?
12
votes
3answers
303 views
Why did God create such complexity in man?
During Creation, God created man:
Genesis 2:7 KJV
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Why ...
12
votes
2answers
310 views
According to the Mormon doctrines, who created the universe?
This may be related to a previous question about the first god who began eternal progression. This is something I've really been wondering for a while.
If the Almighty God began life as a man, he ...
12
votes
6answers
322 views
What does “in the image of God” mean?
Genesis 1:26:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild ...
12
votes
3answers
205 views
What is the case for interpreting the Genesis creation account literally?
I think we can all agree that the entire Bible is not meant to be taken literally. Consider the Song of Solomon (what would his lover look like if we take it literally?) or the book of Revelation.
...
12
votes
2answers
85 views
Is it given by God in human nature to be a creator too?
We humans have a significant ability to create using our fantasy. Was this ability given to us by God, a Creator as He created man in His image, according to His likeness, or was this ability ...
11
votes
3answers
239 views
Is the age of the earth in the Bible?
Early scientists thought that the age of the earth is proven by the genealogical tables in the book of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. Other than this observation, is there any reference to the direct ...
11
votes
4answers
282 views
Intelligent design - Creationism by a different name?
I've heard that many believe that intelligent design is creationism by a different name.
However, if my understanding of intelligent design is correct, it does not deny the the big bang or evolution ...
11
votes
4answers
234 views
11
votes
2answers
252 views
Should Genesis 1:2 be translated “And the earth became without form…”?
The Gap theory seems to be based largely on translating Genesis 1:2 differently from the usual translations, eg. KJV:
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 And the ...
10
votes
2answers
269 views
Are there two different creation accounts in the bible?
There are two seemingly contradictory accounts of creation in the Bible.
The first is in Genesis 1:1-2:3.
The second is in Genesis 2:4-25.
Why the differences in the accounts?
10
votes
1answer
527 views
Trichotomous vs Dichotomous views of Man
There are generally two* views of Man
the Dichotomous (Soul & Body)
the Trichotomous (Soul, Spirit, & Body)
Notably, A W Pink ascribes to the Trichotomous view (or Tripartite).
Also ...
9
votes
2answers
210 views
What was the purpose of creating the world?
Why did God create a world?
Was the act of creation for some profit, or did God in His grace create world only because it was good?
Genesis 1 (KJV)
And God called the dry land Earth; and the ...
9
votes
1answer
121 views
What is old earth creationism?
What is old earth creationism? What support does it have from the Bible? What mainstream denominations or groups, if any, support it?
8
votes
5answers
719 views
Why did God create man?
Genesis 2:7 KJV reads,
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Why do this?
There must be a ...
8
votes
4answers
951 views
Where does the belief that the Earth is relatively young (6000 years) come from? [closed]
Some christians believe the Earth is only 6000 to 12,000 years old. Where does this age originate from?
8
votes
3answers
320 views
Why would God create beings with the capacity to sin?
Life on earth is filled with the horrible effects of sin. Why did God create mankind with the capacity to sin? Was there a higher purpose in this or was there a specific reason for it?
I'm ...
8
votes
1answer
255 views
Who was first, men or angels?
I know of the angel guarding over the entrance gate of the Eden preventing man from entering. Also, the devil, an angel, deceives the woman. It seems to me angels preceded man but I'm not so sure.
...
8
votes
2answers
276 views
Why and how do Creationists agree with microevolution but disagree with the idea of macroevolution [closed]
We had the question about the speed of light. But why do Creationists agree with microevolution and disagree with the idea of macroevolution at the same time?
Macroevolution is thought of as the ...
8
votes
2answers
181 views
Before anything was created, did God already know the events that would unfold?
Before anything in our world was created, God was already there. Also, there is biblical evidence for omniscience.
However, did God, prior to the creation of everything, already know the events that ...
8
votes
1answer
272 views
How do Old-Earth Creationists explain Romans 5:12-19?
Old Earth Creationism incorporates evolution, which requires natural selection, which requires death. If death pre-dated Adam, then death pre-dated sin. How then do Old Earth Creationists explain ...
8
votes
1answer
78 views
What is the role of the three persons of the Trinity in Creation?
In the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed, the three persons of the Trinity each seem to have their own role in creating the world:
The Father is "maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and ...
7
votes
4answers
245 views
What Did God Make The Universe From?
What did God make the universe from? It seems Himself, since before Creation, only God is.
This seems to me to be the most important question for Christianity. NOT why, how, where or who, but what. ...
7
votes
3answers
178 views
Does Christianity give a reason for life experiences, such as in Hinduism?
In Hinduism, there is a concept of past life karma.
Meaning if someone is born into an unfortunate situation (in a slum, for example) it is because they are paying for sin from a past life.
Does ...
7
votes
4answers
179 views
What is theistic evolution?
Theistic evolution sounds similar to Old Earth Creationism. Both ideas start with the premise that God created. After this, I've heard tale of wars fought between the two camps. What is the gist of ...
7
votes
2answers
403 views
Why did the Catholic church stop supporting Genesis creation?
I read that cardinal Ratzinger stated the story in Genesis 1 and 2 should not be interpreted as a literal account of the beginning of things. In spite of recent events like this, they have always been ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did God rest on the 7th day?
It seems that, to an omnipotent and omnipresent being, the concept of rest would be academic. What would have happened if he hadn't rested?
7
votes
3answers
143 views
How and when did the water come into being?
In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God is hovering over the face of the waters.
So this is before creation, so where does water come from? why it exist before the first day? And if there is face of water, ...
7
votes
1answer
100 views
Is gender a property of essence or existence?
In his address, the Holy Father said:
According to the biblical creation account, being created by God as
male and female pertains to the essence of the human creature.
The use of the word ...
6
votes
4answers
240 views
Has God created anything since he rested on the 7th day?
Genesis 2 indicates that on the 7th day after creation God rested.
Genesis 2:1-3 NIV
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast
array.
2 By the seventh day God ...
6
votes
6answers
1k views
How does the Bible explain the existence of fossils that are millions of years old? [closed]
People have been finding fossils for many years. Millions of fossils fill museums and storage vaults around the world, and we've yet to find a single one of a human. This suggests that the animals and ...
6
votes
3answers
430 views
When were the angels created?
I was preparing a lesson for Sunday school and came across this passage in the teaching material:
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, who ...
6
votes
1answer
55 views
Where does the idea of a water canopy come from in the Bible, and is there scientific evidence to support it?
Some Creationists have asserted that in pre-flood world that there may have been some sort of water vapor canopy that perhaps doubled the air pressure and caused things to be much healthier than they ...
6
votes
6answers
144 views
Earlier use of this argument for the necessity of evil?
I seem to recall hearing or reading that Augustine posited that perhaps evil as such did not exist, i.e., that evil is more a void or absence of existence. I think this line of reasoning is used to ...
6
votes
2answers
191 views
Significance of Genesis 1 verb choices
I was surprised recently when I read Genesis 1 again, and noticed how inactive God is during the creation process. I mean that from a literary standpoint, not a literal one... bear with me. :)
Below ...
5
votes
3answers
264 views
According to the young-earth perspective, when were races created?
From Genesis, God created Adam and Eve. How come we have so many races on earth if we came from the same parent? Is it because people changed physically by adapting to various climates? Or races were ...
5
votes
4answers
152 views
Does the Bible give us any indication of why God created such a vast universe with so much stuff in it?
We all know the universe is enormous, and this isn't the place to debate that. But why does it need to be so enormous? The only celestial bodies that could be counted as truly necessary are the sun, ...
5
votes
2answers
470 views
What is the significance of Eve being created as a “helper fit for [Adam]?”
The Bible appears to indicate that there was a specific purpose in the creation of Eve, from Adam, to be a helper fit for him. It seems, then, that the design of Adam and Eve may be distinct, while ...
4
votes
5answers
101 views
What was the light of the first day of creation?
In the Genesis account, the sun and stars are created on the fourth day:
Gen 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did God create the Heavens and the Earth?
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Why?
Does the Bible state a reason anywhere?
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Scriptures and the 'Simulated Universe'
If you were to Google "simulated universe" you'll find that major science institutions are starting to hypothesize that the universe is 'very possibly' a 'simulated environment' at the lowest level - ...
