Actually I believe “last thursdayism” or any of its variants is principly a means to ridicule the Young Earth Creationist notion that God simply “poofed” the light from stars more than 10,000 light years distant into existence as a sad means to cling to their superstitions (and no, I’m not making this up).
I have never met anyone who believes in “last Thursdayism”, but as Lemur pointed out, there are quite a few that accept a “Young Earth Creation” theory. These theories, for the most part are unassailable by Science, as they (again, for the most part) accept such things as Evolution, Physics, etc. The dues that accept such theories laugh at the part about "well, it could as well be “last Thursday”, as they point out that “Gods own Word” says it was some 6000 years ago. ( I don’t buy this, FIY, but these dudes believe it, sincerely)
Other that silly ridicule- do you have any evidence that “young earth Creation” is NOT correct? Note; other than such ridicule, nothing has been said here which in any way “disproves” this theory. Ridiculing something only makes you look silly, not the theory you are trying to disprove.
Personally, I doubt it- but there are some serious questions that the “big bang” theory does not answer either. (Like, where did the stuff that caused the “Big bang” come from? What happened BEFORE the big bang"). Answers to these usually are along the lines of “well, it just WAS”, and “Time started with the Big Bang, there was nothing prior”- and, IMHO, these answers require a great deal of pure “belief” also. (Note- I accept no established religion’s answers, either).
I’d like to find out if there’s anyone who believes in next Thursdayism…
I often think about last thursdayism in regards to solipsism.
A theory has to be falsifiable to have any relevance in a logical or scientific discussion. In addition, negatives are borderline impossible to “prove.” You can’t “prove” that there aren’t brownies and faeries living in my backyard either, so what?
Oooh! I know.
For hard-line creationists that believe God created the Earth to look as if it had been old, they must then accept that either a) their god is cruel, or b) their god isn’t god. It comes from Descartes (I may be forgetting, but I think it’s mostly there):
- I think, therefore I am.
- Something caused me to think. We’ll call that God.
- God’s also responsible for all the other things I see around me.
- Either the things appear to be just as they are, or God has created them to appear such.
- If God created them to appear such, he is employing deception.
- If he is employing deception, either he is cruel and deceptive or he is not perfect.
- If he is not perfect, he is not God (uses the traditional Christian definition of God as perfect).
Thus, if one believes in a god who created all things, and did so to make them look as if they were really old but in fact were not, either that one must concede that his god is not necessarily all loving or not god at all. Obviously, getting such a one to concede either is difficult at best. But thanks for the opportunity for me to drag out Descartes from my philo class! Please correct any incorrect details.
Snicks
I never claimed that the theory was “scientific”, and of course, you are correct in pointing out that by definition is it not “falsifiable”. However, simply ridiculing the theory does not disprove it. “Creation Science” can be disproved- and has been. “Young Earth” has not/cannot be so disproved. It COULD be correct (although I doubt it)- and there COULD be invisible faeries living in your backyard- but I doubt that also.
Snickers- I am sure you think that arguement is original, but the folks who thought up “young earth” have an easy answer- “Free will”- The Big Dude in the Sky deceives us because He loves us. Sorry, dude.
The point is there are criteria that are used to judge claims. If you want to base your claim on “faith,” then well and good. Just don’t try and masquerade it as something else.
There is no particular evidence to suggest that UFOs visited earth, or that Odin exists, or that Jesus exists. All are claims of “faith.”