Howard writes,
<< For what it's worth (and I know that will vary greatly from reader to
reader), my own experience is exactly the opposite. Discerning that Genesis
1-3 is about theology rather than chronology, discerning that the Bible is a
thoroughly human account of the authentic experience of God's presence in
the life of the ancient Hebrews and the early Christian community,
discerning that there is no good reason to participate in the biblicism
bordering on bibliolatry that characterizes a major portion of the
evangelical Christian community, discerning that God has no need for me to
prop up the biblical text with humanly crafted exaggerations regarding its
character or authority, I have no need to believe things that are countered
by empirical science performed with competence and integrity. I have no
need, for instance, to defend repeatedly discredited YEC chronology in the
name of Christianity.
Sensing God's full encouragement to use the totality of my experience and
intellect to articulate a theology that deals honestly and courageously
with the questions of this time and place, I feel closer to God now than at
any time in my life.
>>
Amen.
My experience with YEC's is that they have felt uneasy about "not believing
the Bible." In reality, they have been so indoctrinated and emotionally taken
with the extra-biblical doctrine of an "absolutely inerrant Bible" that this
is what they really find peace with when they become YEC's.
Seeking and honoring the truth is seeking and honoring Christ. Those who
choose to suppress scientific evidence and/or Scripture in order to hold on
to the extra-biblical doctrine of a scientifically inerrant Bible have put
Christ second. In addition, they have embarked on a very dangerous course of
having to suppress light again and again. Although I do not believe YEC's
have any consciousness of lying, because YECism is false, it functions as a
lie and inevitably demands more lies to keep the first lie intact. This
commitment to darkness invites demonic reinforcement.
Paul
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