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SPECTRUM OF CREATION BELIEFS
From Flat Earthism to Atheist Evolutionism
This Spectrum shows some of these
differences between major types of creationism. Beliefs in the table
are listed from most conservative to
most liberal biblical
interpretations.
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1.
Flat Earthism
Flat Earthism is more than a type of creationism; it
is an extraordinarily conservative worldview holding
to strict biblical literalism held by a very small
number of people. In addition to believing in
an exact interpretation of Genesis, Flat Earthers believe the earth is a circular disc rather
than a sphere.
This belief is based on
scriptural references such as angels standing at the "four
corners" of the earth.
Most
modern creationists consider flat earthism absurd and
founded on a misinterpretation of scripture, so it's doubtful the movement will long
survive the eventual passing of its modern leader, Charles
Johnson and his International Flat Earth Society.
[G] [+] |
2.
Geocentrism
Geocentrism is a belief that the sun rotates around the
earth, which is itself at the center of the universe.
Like Flat
Earthism, this is based on a literal interpretation of
certain biblical passages,
particularly the following (from
www.bible.com):
-
Joshua 10: 12-13: "Then
spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD
delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel,
and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou
still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of
Ajalon. And
the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the
people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not
this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood
still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down
about a whole day." (emphasis added)
-
Isaiah 66:1:
"Thus
saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the
earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye
build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?"
(emphasis added)
Most
modern creationists consider Geocentrism less than credible and
founded on a misinterpretation of these and other scriptural
readings. As noted on
Answers in Genesis,
"While geocentrists
present some interesting scientific results, their
scientific arguments are often based upon improper
understanding of theories and data. Much of their case
is based upon a misunderstanding of general relativity and
the rejection of that theory. While geocentrists are well
intended, their presence among recent creationists produces
an easy object of ridicule by our critics."1
(emphasis added).
This
rational is very similar to the arguments made centuries
earlier by
Saint Augustine in opposition to biblical literalism. In
De Civitate Dei (The City of God), he
says, "But as to the
fable that there are Antipodes, that is to say, men on the
opposite side of the earth, where the sun rises when it sets
to us, men who walk with their feet opposite ours, that is
on no ground credible... For Scripture, which
confirms the truth of its historical statements by the
accomplishment of its prophecies, teaches not falsehood..."
(Book 16, Chapter 9, emphasis added). In other words,
St. Augustine argued against general biblical literalism in
much the same way modern creationists argue against
Flat
Earthism and Geocentrism.
[G]
[+] |
3.
Young Earth
Creationism (YEC)
Also known
as
Creation Science
or Scientific Creationism,
YEC is a belief
that the earth is roughly 6,000 years old—as
determined by literal interpretation of biblical timelines.
One commonly cited timeline was published by
Bishop James Ussher's
Annals of 1650, where he claims the earth was created on
the evening before October 23, 4004 BC.
YEC is commonly
associated with Henry Morris, founder of the
Institute for Creation
Research, and with
fundamentalist
Protestantism. Creation Science as been part of an
historical effort to frame creationism in scientific terms
so that these Christian beliefs can be taught alongside
evolution in public schools. The very limited success of this
effort appears to be one of the main drivers behind the
development of
Intelligent Design.
[G] [+] |
4.
Old
Earth Creationism (OEC)
This is a
type of creationism that
allows for a very old age for the earth, as determined by
geology and other sciences, while remaining doubtful about
evolution and, particularly,
macroevolution.
There are several variations of OEC, including
Gap Creationism,
Day-Age Creationism,
Progressive Creationism
and Intelligent
Design. [G] [+] |
4a.
Gap Creationism
Gap Creationism—also known as Gap Theory, Restitution Creationism, and
Ruin-Resurrection Creationism, Gap Creationism—represents an efforts to bring science and religion together by looking
between the lines of
Genesis to see where geologic (but
not
evolutionary) science might fit.
Geological exploration and
research exploded in the 1800s, providing almost limitless proof
that the Earth is older than the 6,000+ years allowed for by
biblical timelines. Gap Theory addresses this by inserting much of
geological time (millions or billions of years) between either
(1) Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 or (2) Genesis 1 and 2 (the creation of Adam
and Eve).
Because Gap Theory allows for an almost literal reading
of the bible, retains the 24-hour days of creation, and rejects
evolution, it is considered one of the more conservative
interpretations of Genesis—but is still ejected by biblical
literalists. Gap Theory is easily
confused with the distinct term, "God
of the Gaps". [G] [+] |
4b.
Day-Age Creationism
Day-Age Creationists believe that the days of
Genesis
are not 24-hour days and can be read more accurately as
years (thousands, millions or billions of years). This
is considered a more liberal interpretation of Genesis
because of this change in the length of the days of
creation; however, Day-Age Creationists are not necessarily
any more receptive to evolution. [G] [+] |
4c.
Progressive Creationism
This is a somewhat
liberal interpretation of
Genesis
that allows billions of years for
cosmic evolution,
including the Big Bang. Progressive Creationists
also allows some roll for natural development of life forms
(microevolution),
but only after God has stepped in to create the major
species at various points in time—culminating with the
creation of man.
Intelligent Design
restates many
Progressive Creation ideas in scientific terms. [G] [+] |
4d.
Intelligent Design
Intelligent Design, a modern adaptation of
Paley's
Argument from Design
and slight variant of
Progressive Creationism,
supposes that some biological systems are so complex and/or
unlikely that the randomness of evolution cannot explain
their existence or function. To solve this problem, ID
offers up an unknown
Intelligent
Designer, but offers no related scientific research or
experimentation to help define this designer or how
he/she/it acts on the natural world.
Intelligent
Design, like Progressive Creationism, is generally accepting
of microevolution. The science of ID
(described as pseudo-science by many evolutionary scientists) is
brought to bear in a direct attack on macroevolution. This attack
comes in three main forms:
irreducible complexity,
specified complexity and the
anthropic principle.
Opponents of ID contend that it is just Creation Science in
scientific clothes, which is why ID is often called
stealth creationism or
Neo-Creationism. This
position is strongly supported by ID's history, the creationist beliefs of many ID
advocates, and the
Wedge Document
of the
Discovery Institute.
[G] [+] |
5.
Theistic Evolution
Evolutionary
Creationism
and
Theistic Evolution
proper are both forms of Theistic Evolution. |
5a.
Evolutionary CreationismThis is a conservatives take on
Theistic Evolution.
EC holds that evolution and
Genesis can
both be true, with biblical events taking place
outside of normal time. Because natural events are
held to be fully controlled by God, EC retains
teleology
(direction in evolution)
without requiring any evidence within the
material world. [G] [+] |
5b.
Theistic Evolution
This is a belief that evolution is just like any other
science and is completely compatible with Christian beliefs,
but not with a literal interpretation of
Genesis. Theistic
evolutionists tend to believe that God set the wheels of
cosmic and
biological creation
rolling at the dawn of creation and then stepped back,
letting things unfold as they may. This lack of
teleology
(direction) to theistic evolution is one major reasons for
its rejection by conservative creationists. [G] [+] |
6.
Deistic Evolution
A subset of
theistic evolutionary belief wherein God started the
universe off (with a Big Bang, if you will), and let it run
on its own without further interference. The outcome
of evolution and other processes are not, therefore,
deterministic (they lack teleology). Some deists believe God
ceased to exist or otherwise distanced himself from the
material world after setting the universe in motion. [G]
[+] |
7.
Agnostic Evolutionism
A somewhat
arcane term, this refers to the evolution-related beliefs of
those who, like
Thomas Huxley, support evolution but (1) do not wish to
take a position on related issues of faith and
Genesis or (2) don't think there is any necessary
relationship between evolutionary science and religious
issues. Agnostic evolutionists may be atheists,
agnostics or have strong religious beliefs; they are simply
"agnostic" with respect to any connection between scientific
and religious realms. See also
Non-Overlapping Magisteria. Agnostic evolutionists
are sometimes contrasted with supporters of
atheist evolutionism. [G]
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8.
Atheistic Evolutionism
Also known as
humanist evolutionism or
materialist evolutionism, this is
a belief
that evolutionary science is the only correct "story" of
biological creation and specifically obviates the need for
God. The infamy of some atheist evolutionists such as
Karl Marx has led many to assume that evolution is
synonymous with atheism and evil. Atheist
evolutionists are sometimes contrasted with supporters of
agnostic evolutionism. [G]
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Notes
Dr. Eugenie Scott and the
National Center for Science Education (NCSE) offer a different
take on this spectrum, called "The
Creation/Evolution Continuum".
1 Danny Faulkner, "Geocentrism and Creation,"
Answers In Genesis, Nov 29, 2005.
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