Question of the Week: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist?

 

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In this issue . . . Q&A: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist? Video On Demand: Flood Geology, Part 1 (Sidebar) Ken's Blog (Sidebar) News to Note Quick Look Answers ... with Ken Ham After Eden Network with Us! Q: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist? A: Many old-earth proponents in the church today try to use the Christian theologian Augustine (AD 354–430) as a support for their belief in millions of years. However, there are several problems with this view. To begin with, during the years AD 389-417, Augustine wrote three commentaries on Genesis and discussed the early chapters of Genesis in The City of God. His thinking changed in some ways in the process, and his writings are confusing, even somewhat contradictory, at points. Over the years he fluctuated between allegorical interpretations and literal views. But there is plenty of evidence that Augustine wasn't an old-earther. Rather, he believed that God created everything in an instant and that He described it for us as being completed in six normal days for the sake of our understanding. Furthermore, Augustine believed the genealogies given in Genesis to be literal chronologies and that the pre-Flood patriarchs lived to be around 900 years. He also stated, "Unbelievers are also deceived by false documents which ascribe to history many thousand years, although we can calculate from Sacred Scripture that not 6,000 years have passed since the creation of man." Continue reading to see from his own writings what Augustine really did—and did not—believe about creation. News to Note Quick Look Green dragon's new advocate: Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), is expanding NCSE's "mandate" to include the way "global warming" is taught in the classroom. Read more. "Tatooines" and three little planets: The mission of NASA's Kepler space telescope is to "find terrestrial [nearly Earth-sized] planets . . . especially those in the habitable zone of their stars where liquid water and possibly life might exist." Read more. Also: Yeast begat yeast Alphabet soup Just endosymbiosis And Don't Miss . . . Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Creation—is it a secondary doctrine? The apostle Paul—and creation evangelism! Red-letter Bibles—what's the problem? Christ's first miracle—when was it? Genesis—is it written as poetry? After Eden Network with Us! Answers in Genesis Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Creation Museum Ark Encounter Ark Encounter Answers Magazine   Note: Facebook and Twitter are both social networking sites with user-contributed content. Children should not visit the sites without parental supervision.  Free app for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad	This Week . . . Kepler's Mission: To Boldly Seek Out Where Life Could Have Evolved (Jan 20) The Enns Justifies the Means? (Jan 19) Augustine on the Days of Creation (Jan 18) Contradictions: Mother Knows Best (Jan 17) Death and Steve Jobs (Jan 16) Opportunities to Shine (Jan 15) Video On Demand Flood Geology, Part 1 Watch Video Ken's Blog Deadly Disclosures Goes Epub I Agree with Peter Enns? Syndicated Radio Host Endorses Already Compromised Book AiG Resources in Uganda Beware of What Is Not Said Previous entries Prayer Requests Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Deadly Disclosures (novel) - eBook Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - eBook Answers Magazine Subscription: United States Tower of Babel More current bestsellers Upcoming Events California Oceanside, January 21–23 New Jersey Old Bridge, January 28–30 Bermuda Hamilton, February 5–6 Kentucky Covington—Sunday Speaking, February 26 Kentucky Paducah - Not Ashamed Creation Conference, March 4–5 More events
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