Yellowstone National Park — Another bad answer from Answers in Genesis

This brief article on Yellowstone National Park from Answers in Genesis is exceptionally bad. https://answersingenesis.org/creation-vacations/yellowstone-national-park/ Answers in Genesis -- "The volcano that left the enormous crater at Yellowstone was far greater than anything we observe today. While modern craters measure barely 20 square miles (52 km2), the crater at Yellowstone covers about 1,500 square miles …

Continue reading Yellowstone National Park — Another bad answer from Answers in Genesis

Six Books to Understand Genesis — Old-Earth Edition (updated: eleven books)

The web site of the young-Earth creationist documentary Is Genesis History has listed "Six Books to Understand Genesis," all written from a young-Earth perspective. As a counterweight, here are six old-Earth books written by highly-qualified, Bible-believing, inerrancy-affirming, theologically-conservative scholars. As old-Earth Christians, these academics believe in the truthfulness of Scripture just as much as any …

Continue reading Six Books to Understand Genesis — Old-Earth Edition (updated: eleven books)

Earth Day 2018 — Good News for Earth Day

There is a perception among conservative Reformation and Evangelical Christians that placing a high priority on Earth care is for theological and political liberals, new age pantheists, and "tree huggers," and has little to do with Christian discipleship. In response, environmentalists often view Evangelicals as being opposed to many environmental causes, and therefore as enemies. …

Continue reading Earth Day 2018 — Good News for Earth Day

Three Young-Earth Students

The web site for the young-Earth documentary Is Genesis History? has posted a video following three young-Earth creationist (YEC) students from Wheaton College as they tour the Ark Encounter replica of Noah's Ark in Kentucky (see How did Theistic Evolution Bring 3 Wheaton College Students to the Ark?). These students had formed a YEC group …

Continue reading Three Young-Earth Students

Short Answer — Mt St Helens and young-Earth creationism

Here is my standard short answer to the young-Earth creationist claim that the deposits formed by the 1980s eruptions of Mt St Helens demonstrate that Noah's flood could be responsible for the sedimentary rock record. The deposits of Mt St Helens (MSH) demonstrate that volcanoes can do a lot of geologic work in a short …

Continue reading Short Answer — Mt St Helens and young-Earth creationism

Six theological reasons why Christians do not have to embrace six-day young-Earth creationism

A vocal set of Christians believes that the book of Genesis requires the age of the universe and Earth to be something like 6000 years. This belief is being reinforced by the release last year (2017) of the documentary Is Genesis History?, which was narrated by Del Tackett, and produced by Thomas Purifoy. The film …

Continue reading Six theological reasons why Christians do not have to embrace six-day young-Earth creationism

“Genesis: Paradise Lost” — A film review by an old-Earth Christian

On two nights this past week (Nov 13 and 16, 2017), the young-Earth creationist (YEC) documentary Genesis: Paradise Lost was shown in select movie theaters across America. I spent $15 (the most I have ever spent for a movie) and sat in the upper corner of the theater where there was a little light that …

Continue reading “Genesis: Paradise Lost” — A film review by an old-Earth Christian

Attempting to respond to hostility with grace

I get called all sorts of names by some of my young-Earth brothers and sisters in Christ: Liar, Compromiser, Rabid Theistic Evolutionist, So-Called Christian. I am accused of listening to the hissing of the serpent, of following Baal rather than Yahweh, and of denying the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sorry that …

Continue reading Attempting to respond to hostility with grace

Book Review – Dictionary of Christianity and Science

My ignorance will always exceed my knowledge. This is true even in subjects in which I have a considerable level of expertise. I have been studying various science-faith topics for more than three decades, and have substantial depth of knowledge in some areas. Over the years, I have focused most intensely on the relationship between …

Continue reading Book Review – Dictionary of Christianity and Science

GeoScriptures – Psalm 133:1 – Deep unity in Christ despite our disagreements

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" – Psalm 133:1 (ESV) There is only one church on Earth, and it is composed of those who, by God’s grace, have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We put different labels on ourselves, such as Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Nondenominational, Roman Catholic, and …

Continue reading GeoScriptures – Psalm 133:1 – Deep unity in Christ despite our disagreements

How can I say I believe the Bible if I don’t believe it all “literally?”

Someone on a social media site recently asked me, "How can you say you believe the Bible and then in the same breath declare that [Genesis 1] may not be literal?" My answer: "Is everything in the Bible literal? I would say that not even everything in Genesis 1 is literal, and I say this for …

Continue reading How can I say I believe the Bible if I don’t believe it all “literally?”

RTB review of Earth Science textbook

Reasons to Believe (old-Earth Christian apologetics organization of Hugh Ross et al.) has a nice review of my new textbook Earth Science: God's World, Our Home. "Overall, Earth Science: God’s World, Our Home is an outstanding textbook to add to an old-earth science curriculum. Compared to a few years ago, we now have a rich …

Continue reading RTB review of Earth Science textbook

Biologos interview

The folks at Biologos.org have interviewed me regarding Earth Science: God's World, Our Home, my new middle school textbook published by Novare Science and Math. http://biologos.org/blogs/chris-stump-equipping-educators/new-science-textbook-celebrates-ancient-age-of-earth-from-christian-perspective

An old-Earth Christian at the Creation Museum Part 1 —  Rescuing souls but sinking the ship

I recently spent about seven hours at the Creation Museum run by the young-Earth creationist (YEC) organization Answers in Genesis in northern Kentucky (I visited the museum, not the new Ark Encounter). As I anticipated, the exhibits at the museum are all of the highest quality. Whether the displays were animatronic dinosaurs, dioramas of the …

Continue reading An old-Earth Christian at the Creation Museum Part 1 —  Rescuing souls but sinking the ship

Anticipating the Creation Museum

I have the unexpected opportunity to visit the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum in Kentucky in a few days. Positive Expectations High quality -- Skeptics and AiG fans alike acknowledge that the museum experience is at a high level. The displays and presentations are all professionally done. This isn't a mom and pop roadside museum. …

Continue reading Anticipating the Creation Museum

Another old-Earth Christian scholar – Michael Horton

Many highly-regarded, Bible-believing scholars, pastors, and other Christian leaders see no incompatibility between the teachings of the Bible and acceptance of an ancient Earth. In the past, I have highlighted J. Gresham Machen, Charles Spurgeon, Francis Schaeffer, John Piper, and others.  The scholars I just mentioned all adhere (or adhered, many of them are deceased) …

Continue reading Another old-Earth Christian scholar – Michael Horton

Book review — The Grand Canyon: Monument to an Ancient Earth

The Grand Canyon: Monument to an Ancient Earth (2016), edited and written by a number of highly-qualified, predominately Christian authors, is a devastating critique of the geological arguments of young-Earth creationism (YEC). The subtitle of this new book asks the question, “Can Noah’s Flood Explain the Grand Canyon?” which is an appropriate question, being that …

Continue reading Book review — The Grand Canyon: Monument to an Ancient Earth

Welcome to The GeoChristian

The Earth. Christianity. They go together. Welcome to The GeoChristian, a blog primarily about the relationship between the Earth sciences and Christianity. My name is Kevin Nelstead, and I have been writing at geochristian.com since 2006. The most important thing about me is that I am a Christian. The passage of Scripture that opened up my …

Continue reading Welcome to The GeoChristian

Bozeman creation conference – Does Genesis Really Matter?

AN OLD-EARTH CHRISTIAN AT A YOUNG-EARTH CONFERENCE This is the second in a series of articles about a young-Earth creationism (YEC) conference held in Bozeman, Montana in April, 2016. 1. Bozeman creation conference preview and expectations 2. This article – Does Genesis Really Matter? - Yes Genesis does matter, whether a Christian believes in a young …

Continue reading Bozeman creation conference – Does Genesis Really Matter?

Bozeman creation conference preview and expectations

AN OLD-EARTH CHRISTIAN AT A YOUNG-EARTH CONFERENCE This is the first in a series of articles about a young-Earth creationism (YEC) conference held in Bozeman, Montana in April, 2016. 1. This article – Bozeman creation conference preview and expectations 2. Does Genesis Really Matter? - Yes Genesis does matter, whether a Christian believes in a young Earth …

Continue reading Bozeman creation conference preview and expectations