A common defense of the "young earth" view of the age of the world is that God created the world to look old, but it is actually young. "Old earthers" usually respond to this idea by saying that God wouldn't have created the world to look young when it is actually old... that would be deceptive.
A view I've heard recently, and for the first time, goes like this: "God intentionally created the world to look young in order to make foolish the wisdom of the wise."
I'm sure you're familiar with the first chapter of 1 Corinthians where Paul says that the cross is foolishness to the world, but the power of God for those who are being saved. This idea is then carried over to Creationism and natural revelation. I don't think the person who told this view to me thinks that it's a textual argument. Rather, I think he would say that it just seems to fit something God might do. It is a way to reconcile the "young earth" accounts in Scripture with what we find in science.
What do you think? Not necessarily about whether you're "young earth" or "old earth," but what do you think about this possibility? Are there any textual issues you can think of? Any theological implications that come from this view?
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I've been reading Poythress' Redeeming Science. He spends several pages examining the theory of a young earth created to look old - it's worth reading. He rebutts many of the criticisms made against this view, speaks very positively of it, and then in the end rejects it for the analogical view.
Had I known the book was online, I probably wouldn't have spend $15 on it! You can check out this WTS prof's thoughts here:
http://www.frame-poythress.org/
Go to the Poythress books section and look at "Redeeming Science".
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