# Ask the Creationist **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 12, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555 "2005-05-12T13:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/41 "2005-05-12T16:26:11Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > [Creationists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism), of whom you are not (but that’s okay!) Not being a Creationist doesn’t mean you don’t believe in Divine Creation–simply that you don’t believe in divine creation as described in Genesis. I fear I might have made myself look stupid. When I say ‘I’m a creationist,’ I mean that I believe God created the universe. That’s all–not any of that literal ‘six days’ stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/42 "2005-05-12T16:28:24Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > Yes, I do. Am I correct in my assumption that since you accept evolution, you must not believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, as other creationists believe? Or do you feel that because God guided evolution, it took a much shorter period of time to get to today’s forms, so the Earth may be only a few thousand years old? ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/43 "2005-05-12T16:29:56Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Am I correct in my assumption that since you accept evolution, you must not believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, as other creationists believe? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/44 "2005-05-12T16:35:17Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > I fear I might have made myself look stupid. On the contrary, you have made yourself look gracious, with a good sense of humor and humility. Welcome to the boards. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/45 "2005-05-12T16:40:23Z")
When God was dictating the bok of Genesis (so he would recieve proper credit for his deeds one presumes) to whoever it was that was writing it down, why did he leave out information about all the really cool dinosaurs? Alternativly, What purpose would be served in burying a bunch of bones to give the scientific among us the silly notion that fantastic animals, never mentioned in the bible, ruled the earth for a significant period of time? ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/46 "2005-05-12T16:44:42Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > When God was dictating the bok of Genesis (so he would recieve proper credit for his deeds one presumes) to whoever it was that was writing it down, why did he leave out information about all the really cool dinosaurs? > > Alternativly, What purpose would be served in burying a bunch of bones to give the scientific among us the silly notion that fantastic animals, never mentioned in the bible, ruled the earth for a significant period of time? :dubious: Please read the other replies I have made. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/47 "2005-05-12T16:47:36Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > I fear I might have made myself look stupid. When I say ‘I’m a creationist,’ I mean that I believe God created the universe. That’s all–not any of that literal ‘six days’ stuff. Sage Advice #1: It is physically impossible to ask a stupid question (per new question.) Sage Advice #2: It is better to shoot your mouth off and have it corrected (by wiser people) than keep shut about it. Sage Advice #3: It is better to _look_ stupid than be. Sage Advice #4: Until you have researched something, what you think on any subject is still only an opinion. Admittedly, these opinions will never become facts–but at least you can cite grenade the guy who hasn’t done any research. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/48 "2005-05-12T16:47:37Z")
**Stone Girl** , while you’re free to call yourself whatever you like, your beliefs on creation are about as mainstream American as it gets. If we are to preserve the meaning of “creationist” from the average manifestation of theism, I’d suggest the word you’re using is better applied to certain conservative theists who believe in a fair degree of scriptural literalism and infallibility. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/49 "2005-05-12T16:47:50Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > I can’t imagine NOT believing in God. The thought of not believing in God literally boggles my mind. I can relate to that. I tried to be an atheist in college, but gave it up when I realized that I still believed in God. Sometimes you just believe what you believe, whether you want to or not. PS: Welcome to the boards, **Stone Girl**! ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/50 "2005-05-12T16:53:53Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > **Stone Girl** , while you’re free to call yourself whatever you like, your beliefs on creation are about as mainstream American as it gets. If we are to preserve the meaning of “creationist” from the average manifestation of theism, I’d suggest the word you’re using is better applied to certain conservative theists who believe in a fair degree of scriptural literalism and infallibility. If that’s the case, I’m not sure what to call myself. I’m not a Christian, or affiliated with any other religious group. I’m not a theist either. I just believe that God exists and that He/She/It created the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/51 "2005-05-12T16:55:24Z")
Ok, now that we’re just about through with the OP, what’s up with the username, **Stone Girl**? ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/52 "2005-05-12T16:57:04Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Ok, now that we’re just about through with the OP, what’s up with the username, **Stone Girl**? It’s from a book by Tad Williams. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/53 "2005-05-12T17:04:28Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > If that’s the case, I’m not sure what to call myself. I’m not a Christian, or affiliated with any other religious group. I’m not a theist either. I just believe that God exists and that He/She/It created the universe. I would recommend [Deist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism). I might note that I recently read something about how most of the founding fathers were Deists–so it certainly seems to have done us well. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/54 "2005-05-12T17:05:49Z")
Oops. Missed that “I’m not a Christian” part. Deist does seem to fit. ---
**Author:** ![Gaius.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gaius.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaius.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/55 "2005-05-12T17:16:55Z")
**Stone Girl** , Welcome to the boards. I don’t think that your point of view sounds like creationism in the usual sense, as many have already pointed out. So, I have a follow up question for you: [list=a] [li]Do you believe **anything** as a matter of faith that is contradicted by current established science?[/li][li]Do you believe **anything** as a matter of faith that could, in principle, be contradicted by a scientific finding in the future?[/li][/list] So, for example, if you belive in a moment of creation but the scientific view shifted to “the universe is infinitely old” (a distinct possibility according to some) would your views shift with the evidence or would you stick with your faith-guided perspective. I realise the questions are provocative and I don’t want to seem rude, but this is a question I have long wanted to ask somebody who takes your philosophical position. ---
**Author:** ![Gaius.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gaius.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaius.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/56 "2005-05-12T17:19:00Z")
I see now that I took too long with my earlier post. Not only are you not a creationist, you are not a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/57 "2005-05-12T17:21:11Z")
> [@Gaius.Cornelius](#): > > So, for example, if you belive in a moment of creation but the scientific view shifted to "the universe is infinitely old I’m not quite what you mean here. Are you talking about the ‘steady-state universe’ concept? ---
**Author:** ![Gaius.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gaius.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaius.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/58 "2005-05-12T17:40:48Z")
> [@Stone Girl](#): > > I’m not quite what you mean here. Are you talking about the ‘steady-state universe’ concept? I think the steady-state universe theory is pretty dead now, but some think that maybe the universe has, for example, repeatedly expanded and contracted and that we just happen to be living in one of an infinite number of such cycles. However, that was just an example. The real question was can **you** give us an instance of something you belive that contradicts scientific findings now or might in the future. I was hoping that your answer would reveal something about you attitude to revealed religion versus science. However, looking at some of your earlier responses it seems that while maintaining that God exists, you don’t adhere to any revealed religion. So, I guess that makes my question irrelevant. Still, if you are here for the [python] full half hour argument [/python] perhaps I might try to carry the discussion forward a little: [ul] [li]If you (or a person generally) profeses a belief that does not contradict anything in verifiable experience (i.e. science) then does that belief really **mean** anything?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Stone\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Stone\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stone_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/59 "2005-05-12T17:43:24Z")
> [@Gaius.Cornelius](#): > > If you (or a person generally) profeses a belief that does not contradict anything in verifiable experience (i.e. science) then does that belief really **mean** anything? Welll, yes, I think it does. Because not everyone agrees with that belief. ---
**Author:** ![Gaius.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gaius.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaius.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555/60 "2005-05-12T17:57:54Z")
Stone Girl, it is only fair that I should tell you that my own position is that of [weak atheism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_atheism). Would you care to tells us what your beliefs do mean to you? For example, do they affect your views on moral questions. Or, do you simply think that God is logically necessary but does not otherwise influence you opinions or behaviour? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-creationist/303555.md?page=4)