CAT: Introduction - Brief Summary of Dr. Ross's Book

I just love the opening salvo from this section.

Based on its content, Creation and Time could have been titled, "Creation in a Great Deal of Time: Young-Earth Creationist are Wrong and the Bible and Science Prove It." (CAT-12)

That's pretty funny, but in all honesty its true. That is the thesis of the book. However, lets remember the door swings both ways. The VanBebber/Taylor book could have just as well been titled: Creation and Time: Old Earth / Progressive Creationism is Heresy and We Can Prove It.

The chapter then goes on to list some of the basic concepts of Progressive Creationism.

• the earth and universe are billions of years old
• the Genesis days of creation are overlapping periods of millions and billions of years
• death and bloodshed have existed from the beginning...
• Noah's flood was local, not global, although it killed all humans outside the ark

To persuade of these, Creation and Time (Ross) uses the following strategies.

• claim the moral high ground in the controversy
• attempt to show that YEC are misguided fanatics, using bad science, and over blowing the importance of a small issue
• attempt to show that the Bible allows for long Creation days
• attempt to show that historic Christianity is in agreement with non-literal days and an old earth
• attempt to show that YEC is dangerous ... making it nearly impossible for many people to accept the Bible and Christ
• reassure readers that PC is in opposition to evolution and atheism
• attempt to show evidences prove beyond doubt the age of the universe
• attempt to show there is no credible evidence for a young earth
• attempt to show that YEC are out of touch with reality
• attempt to show that the Big Bang is a wonderful breakthrough for Christianity affirming God's existence from the very beginning
• attempt to show that long ages interpretation of Genesis days is the simplest reading
• attempt to show that PC interpretation of days fits beautifully with science discoveries
• attempt to show there was death before the fall and that this doesn't impact Christ's atonement,
  faith, or morality
• attempt to show that PC is an evangelical position...

This blog, and the chapters that follow in CAT discuss these issues in depth, so we wont respond here at this point. The authors of this blog are in general agreement with these points and we will be attempting to prove to you that the Bible supports this interpretation.