The reason why he has had little influence is because Answers in Genesis and Creation Ministries have had a far larger audience well beyomd merely Southern Baptust Christians… along with the wider Evangelical community those spoken of here are able to find scientific research that supports existing religious helief…not requiring a change to new theologies.
See the thing few here understand, Biologos ideas require new theology and new doctrine…that is of great concern for the traditional Christian views. A change in theology is extremely difficult because the theology of the Bible is largely self revealing…you can simply “make up a new one”, it doesnt work like that because of the significant internal inconsistences it causes across the various biblical writers stated beliefs. Biologos beliefs are trying to change Bible history…thats never going to go well for them.
Because of that, the solution for Biologos seems to be to attempt to discredit bible writers statements where they (Biologos) dissagree. eg claiming stuff like Moses didnt exist, or there was no Exodus…despite the fact we have actual historical evidence (not merely scientific theory) of the existence of Noahs great great Grandson Eber who is well before Moses, and we have external evidejce of the conquestof Canaan via a large number of canaanite writings to Egyptian pharoah seeking helpat that time in history.
That comment started off well, and I agree with you that for many American evangelicals and off course young earthers around the world, it is difficult to see outside the bubble and accept that there are theologic interpretations other than your own, and yours may be wrong. I was listening to an Alpha series video last night, and the Nikki Gummel (sp?) stated emphatically that there is no conflict between science and Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church also holds to that position. So, worldwide, the young earth view is probably a minority view among Christians, and they in fact are the anomaly theologically. Of course, truth is not dependent on popularity, but it is untrue that biblical literalists who believe in a young earth is a dominant position worldwide, and really even in the US.
Could you provide a reputable source for this claim?
At the time of the alleged Exodus, there is very conclusive evidence that Canaan was ruled by Egypt. So fleeing Egypt to go to Canaan would be like fleeing Germany during the late1930s to go to Nazi-occupied Austria. It just doesn’t make any sense.
Yes. At least in Europe, YEC is found mainly in places and churches that receive much information from USA, either directly or through some people who translate material ‘made in USA’. That is at least my impression. When I read the ‘local’ books or watch ‘local’ programs advocating YEC, they spread the same material as AiG, it is just translated or told freely in the local language. Those starting to support YEC teaching are predominantly people who do not have any (at least not proper) theological education. Some may have other academic training but it seems that expertise in some other area does not translate into expertise in biblical matters.
I think this is understandable because the locals do not have much funding or adequate expertise to make their own ‘research’ about creation. The budget of the AiG (>40M $, IIRC) is way beyond the budget of most churches, excluding the largest ones. The large churches educate their workers in theological seminars or universities where the level of theology is academic. That level of theological understanding and education does not produce supporters of YEC, at least not in Europe.
