DrNoGods wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 3:41 pm
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Replying to Sherlock Holmes in post #218]
Right that's all fair enough but think - science cannot show that the universe was not created six thousand years ago with inbuilt appearance of great age. If it was then our science would never reveal it to us, because we reason on the basis of uniformitarianism - an assumption.
And what other assumption is more reasonable to advance our understanding of nature and how it works?
That's a matter of opinion I think. If assuming X benefits you more than assuming Y then you'll assume X, if assuming Y benefits me more than assuming X then I'll assume Y, it's all about the results, the utility, the benefits that one perceives.
For some the view that God did exactly that - created the universe a few thousands years ago - is more meaningful, has more value than assuming uniformitarianism - that's the reality, where there are alternative assumptions each one of will choose based on some measure we make of the benefit.
If God really did create the entire material realm, life, matter, laws and I accept that then surely it is I who has the more advanced understanding?
DrNoGods wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 3:41 pm
If god magic is allowed (what else could be responsible for an "inbuilt appearance of great age"?) then anything goes and there is no point in trying to explain nature via science and natural events. We may as well just give up on that and go back a few thousand years to attribute everything to the actions of deities and spend our time worshiping them and praying they don't punish up with another volcanic eruption or famine.
But there are people who do not see it as you describe. Firstly there is no deception or trickery on God's part. The Bible says plainly what God did and to believe it is billions of years old is your choice, you reject God and so use a different basis, it may appear very old but that's because you pay more credence to your way of perceiving reality than a Bible believing person. You interpret it as being ancient because the plain truth it is six thousand years ago is unpalatable.
I personally do not think the earth is young, but I fully respect many of those who do because I recognize that I do not have any more insight than they do, I recognize that everything I believe is based on assumptions not facts.