# Water is older than the Sun--agreeing with Genesis Chapter One **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482 "2018-05-02T23:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/101 "2018-05-03T23:56:52Z")
If you decide to worship the Gods of Men, then yeah, you get to deal with the history of where they came from, what they started out as and how they evolved. If you want to worship an Ineffable Creator God, then ascribing that being to being one individual tribal patron god from a bronze age foreign culture is a bit strange. Then there’s the whole Ineffable part. in·ef·fa·ble inˈefəb(ə)l adjective too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. “the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades” synonyms: indescribable, inexpressible, beyond words, beyond description, begging description; not to be uttered. “the ineffable Hebrew name that gentiles write as Jehovah” _ **"God can’t be defined or described, so let me do exactly that…"** _ ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/102 "2018-05-04T00:15:59Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Dinosaurs are not reptiles. > And Chapter 1 is contradicted by Chapter 2, (they were written by different authors to make separate theological points), so trying to claim a physical truth by quoting a work that was not written as a physical description is doomed to failure. Definitely. They taste like…er…well, in fact, they are chicken… ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/103 "2018-05-04T00:50:05Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Definitely. They taste like…er…well, in fact, they are chicken… everything tastes like chicken, except for, well - the chicken, it tastes like fish. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/104 "2018-05-04T00:54:08Z")
An old (more than 30 years old!) documentary on [reptiles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCPC_5j1Few). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/105 "2018-05-04T01:13:28Z")
> [@ned12](#): > > In most likely only the Septuagint version of Genesis Chapter One reptiles are referred to as being created on Day 5. Dinosaurs were before man. I’m looking in my bible, and I can’t find that reference. Could you cite a chapter and verse where dinosaurs (which are not reptiles) are _specifically_ mentioned, in unambiguous language? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/106 "2018-05-04T14:07:35Z")
First he says dinosaurs and humans lived at the same rime, now he says dinosaurs lived first. So which is it? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/107 "2018-05-04T14:25:03Z")
There was a difference of a day. Even over the span of Shallow Time (researching…dammit! somebody else beat me to that term!) that makes them contemporaries, and that is far from the best snag to catch our host on. It’s a target-rich environment. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/108 "2018-05-04T14:36:50Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I’m looking in my bible, and I can’t find that reference. Why the hell is our new friend even referring to the septuagint? What point was he making with that? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/109 "2018-05-04T15:20:28Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Why the hell is our new friend even referring to the septuagint? What point was he making with that? He…has heard the word somewhere, and was told that using it makes one sound authoritative? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/110 "2018-05-04T15:21:04Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Why the hell is our new friend even referring to the septuagint? What point was he making with that? I dunno. Gish stroll? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/111 "2018-05-04T15:22:18Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Why the hell is our new friend even referring to the septuagint? What point was he making with that? When you don’t have facts, gish-gallop. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/112 "2018-05-04T15:59:46Z")
I still want to know how old the planet is. I’m planning a birthday and need to know how many candles to get for the cake. (I’m getting the impression I won’t need too many.) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/113 "2018-05-04T16:34:11Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > I still want to know how old the planet is. > > I’m planning a birthday and need to know how many candles to get for the cake. (I’m getting the impression I won’t need too many.) Just get one of those candles with a big number ‘4’ on it. And if the planet whines that it’s actually 4 and a half (billion) years old, that it needs to put it’s big boy pants on…adults round down until they get to whole numbers. It can have a cake with a big number ‘5’ soon enough… ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/114 "2018-05-04T16:59:34Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Just get one of those candles with a big number ‘4’ on it. And if the planet whines that it’s actually 4 and a half (billion) years old, that it needs to put it’s big boy pants on…adults round down until they get to whole numbers. It can have a cake with a big number ‘5’ soon enough… Two significant digits and exponential notation should be pretty straightforward. “4.5E9” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/115 "2018-05-04T17:43:36Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Two significant digits and exponential notation should be pretty straightforward. > > “4.5E9” Good luck finding a kids party candle like that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/116 "2018-05-04T17:51:37Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Good luck finding a kids party candle like that. 😛 I think the idea would be to get individual candles for each letter/digit. (I’m not sure who sells a decimal point candle, though.) But in any case I consider digit candles cheating - I use one candle per timespan, so the older you are the more candles you get. I suppose that to save on costs I don’t need to use a one-candle-per-year timescale, though. Perhaps one candle per century would be better. I suspect that our dear OP would say that requires less candles for the earth’s birthday than I had on _my_ last cake. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/117 "2018-05-04T17:54:42Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > I think the idea would be to get individual candles for each letter/digit. (I’m not sure who sells a decimal point candle, though.) > > But in any case I consider digit candles cheating - I use one candle per timespan, so the older you are the more candles you get. > > I suppose that to save on costs I don’t need to use a one-candle-per-year timescale, though. Perhaps one candle per century would be better. I suspect that our dear OP would say that requires less candles for the earth’s birthday than I had on _my_ last cake. Well, the fact that we have candles proves the bible is true, to be sure. I think it agrees with Book of Leviticracks, Chapter Three, Verse…um…something… It’s hard to keep them all straight, but I’m pretty sure it’s about gluttony, so it must deal with birthday cake and candles. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/118 "2018-05-04T17:56:23Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > (I’m not sure who sells a decimal point candle, though.) Meh… saw the tittle off a [lowercase _i_](https://previews.123rf.com/images/whitebarbie/whitebarbie1801/whitebarbie180100371/92794476-birthday-candle-letter-i-lowercase-3d-render-of-red-cake-candle-font-with-wick-and-flame-isolated-on.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/119 "2018-05-04T17:56:39Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Well, the fact that we have candles proves the bible is true, to be sure. I think it agrees with Book of Leviticracks, Chapter Three, Verse…um…something… > > It’s hard to keep them all straight, but I’m pretty sure it’s about gluttony, so it must deal with birthday cake and candles. Sounds legit. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482/120 "2018-05-04T19:22:39Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > But in any case I consider digit candles cheating - I use one candle per timespan, so the older you are the more candles you get. You could use the _Alautun_, in which case you would need about 72 or 73 candles. I think I have that many left over from chanukah or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-is-older-than-the-sun-agreeing-with-genesis-chapter-one/813482.md?page=7)