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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BereanSpirit/message/37224

From: Steve Heiden
Date: 10/26/01
Subject: A Dangerous Implication of YEC - for Gene

Dear Gene,

Happy to serve...

My wife sometimes tells me that my skull is pretty thick, so perhaps you have some competition!

Let me try restating the elements of my criticism in a step-by-step manner, and see if this makes it any clearer.

Element 1: The universe has been in existence far longer than just 6,000 years. (This is known by direct observation.)
Element 2: Some Christians (and many atheists also) argue that the Bible teaches that the universe was created about 6,000 years ago (meaning that the Bible teaches that the universe did not exist more than about 6,000 years ago).
Element 3: The idea that the universe did not exist more than about 6,000 years ago is an erroneous idea (since the universe has in fact been in existence far longer than 6,000 years as is known by direct observation of the universe; see element 1).
Element 4: God is not the author of error, since error is not consistent with God's nature. (I am assuming this element as a fundamental theological axiom; if we don't agree on this element, then we would need to have a very different discussion.)
Element 5: If the Bible teaches the erroneous idea that the universe did not exist more than about 6,000 years ago, then God is not the author of the Bible (see element 4).
Element 6: Young earth creationists argue that the Bible teaches the erroneous idea that the universe did not exist more than about 6,000 years ago.
Conclusion: Thus, young earth creationists are implying (just like atheists argue explicitly, in fact) that God is not the author of the Bible.

Does this clear up for you this particular criticism that I have stated against the doctrine of young earth creationism?

There are other related concepts that could be discussed (such as regarding different conceptions of divine inspiration of scripture in which biblical inerrancy is not considered fundamental), but they would be outside of the scope of what we're specifically discussing here (since here we're not dealing with anyone who believes that the Bible is inspired by God but who at the same time does not believe that biblical inspiration entails biblical inerrancy; all of us here, I believe, accept that biblical inspiration implies biblical inerrancy).

Sincerely,
Steve Heiden 

--- In BereanSpirit, Gene West wrote:
> In a message dated 10/26/2001 6:24:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> steveheiden@c... writes:
>
>> Since it is an established fact (established by direct
>> observation) that the universe has been in existence far longer
>> than just 6,000 years, then those who argue that the Bible
>> teaches that the universe has not existed for more than 6,000
>> years are implying that the Bible teaches error. Since God is
>> not the author of error, and since the Bible teaches error
>> (according to YEC doctrine), then the Bible is not authored by
>> God.
>
>
> Hello Steve:
>
>    I know that I am a thick skulled old man, but I really missed
> the meaning of this paragraph. Yes, I read it twice. Would you be
> kind enough to expand your though a bit for a dull old man? Thank
> you. Fraternally, Gene
>
> Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
> acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
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