Question about Creation and Dinosaurs

[LuxPerpetua]

I know that LCMS is very literal in it's understanding of the creation story in Genesis, which is very similar to the position of the Southern Baptist church that I was raised in, but I have a question that has always bothered me: Where do dinosaurs fit in? If we don't believe in evolution, can we still believe in dinosaurs and fossils and such, which, according to modern science, were around long before God created humans?

I don't believe in evolution (humans evolving from apes and such, which, even in scientific circles there is very limited proof of) but I do believe that God took a while to finish creation (like the New Testament says, a day to God is like a 1000 years and a 1000 years are like a day). Modern science seems to support this view. Regardless, I have no doubt that however long God chose to create the universe, it was definitely God and not a chance that created our wonderful world. :)

I just need help understanding the LCMS view of creation--I'm not trying to rock the boat or anything.

Thanks.

[Flipper]

Some biblical scholars believe that the Behemoth and Leviathan described in Job were actually dinosaurs. I haven't decided if I agree with that or not.

[Lotar]

As far as I know, LCMS does not have an official position on how old the earth is, only that the creation story is litteral. One view they put forth is that God may have created the earth as it would be if it had evolved to it's current state.

More than fossils and such, one of the main argument is, why can we see stars that are billions of light years away? I tend to think that the creation story was most probably not litteral, but again, it may have been and as far as theology and doctrine goes, it should be treated as if it were.

[JeffreyLloyd]

Also remember that the word "dinosaur" itself was not coined until the 17th or 18th century, so of course the Bible would not describe them that way :) Flipper is right that many people believe them to be the Behemoth.

[Lotar]

Or maybe the dragon Daniel blew up by feeding it pitch. ;) :P

[Jenna]

I can't speak for the Lutheran Church, and to be honest, I don't know that they (on a whole) have release any particular view point.

Now, what I can offer you is an interesting place to read on many subtopics all concerning the topic of creation science. There are articles on many aspects, and I've taken just a small snippet of text on an article about dinosaurs for you. I hope you have fun wading through it all. It's quite entertaining if you have the tenacity to ingest it all. Interesting stuff. ;)


What is the creationist view of dinosaurs? They are a testimony to the awesome creative genius of our Creator God. According to Genesis Chapter One they were created on day five (sea-dwelling dinosaurs) and day six (land-dwelling dinosaurs) of the creation week. They lived contemporaneously with man until the time of the Flood of Noah.

After the Flood, they were at a distinct disadvantage for survival and most of the dinosaur species became extinct during the next several hundred years. We have eyewitness accounts of living dinosaurs recorded in Job Chapters 40 and 41. Job lived about 2,000 BC, approximately 350 to 500 years after the Flood.

In addition, we have dinosaurs recorded in later portions of the Bible. The word dinosaur was not coined until 1841. The word used for dinosaur in the Bible is most often translated dragon. Dinosaurs are mentioned in Psalms 14:6, Isaiah 43:20, Jeremiah 14:6 and other verses.

It is a complete misnomer to believe that simply because a creature has sharp teeth and claws it must be a meat-eater. Many animals which are complete or partial vegetarians have sharp teeth and claws. Examples of these would bears, pandas and various bats. God designed these animals with sharp teeth and claws in order to cut through tough vegetable rinds and husks and enable them to get to the soft inner pulps.

The fossil remains of millions of dinosaurs is best understood as being caused by the rapid burial of these creatures during a worldwide flood. Fully 80% of the earths surface is covered by dried out, water deposited, sedimentary layers containing billions of dead animals and plants which all drowned. This evidence may only be explained as the result of a worldwide flood and not by a slow and gradual process of deposition over billions of years of supposed time. The evolutionary concept is simply not consistent with the physical evidence.

Lastly, a good scientist always asks these two questions. What is there? What is not there?

What is there? The rapidly fossilized remains of billions of drowned animals and plants. What is not there? Meteorites! There are no meteorites in the lower layers of the fossil record. If the evolutionary time frame was correct, there should be millions, if not billions, of meteorites in the fossil record. Their absence speaks volumes about the false presuppositions and false science of the evolutionists.

"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "science" - which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith." 1 Timothy 6:20-21

http://www.creationworldview.org/Articles/Article%2012.htm

The main site is www.creationworldview.org (http://www.creationworldview.org) if you feel the urge to check it out. :)

[Rechtgläubig]

Hi Lux! :wave: Here is a page that has lots of articles on dinosaurs...

http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dinosaurs.asp


one of the main argument is, why can we see stars that are billions of light years away?
You answered your own question Lotar! lol "One view they put forth is that God may have created the earth as it would be if it had evolved to it's current state." I think it is quite possible that God created the light in transit. This article doesn't agree, but they have an alternative possibility...

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/405.asp

Also remember that the word "dinosaur" itself was not coined until the 17th or 18th century, so of course the Bible would not describe them that way http://christianforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif Flipper is right that many people believe them to be the Behemoth.Also interesting is the Hebrew word ("tanniyn" Strong's 08577) that is translated in the KJV as "dragon".





1) dragon, serpent, sea monster

a) dragon or dinosaur b) sea or river monster c) serpent, venomous snake

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/8/1084508252-8443.html

[Flipper]

Flipper is right that many people believe them to be the Behemoth.
The problem I found with that is that the Book of Job was written in poetry form. Poetry uses lots of metaphor. I have to wonder if God was using the Behemoth as a metaphor to make his point to Job.

[Rechtgläubig]

The problem I found with that is that the Book of Job was written in poetry form. Poetry uses lots of metaphor. I have to wonder if God was using the Behemoth as a metaphor to make his point to Job.Sure, but whatever Behemoth was, I am sure it was an animal that Job was familiar with. Chapter 39 contains lots of animals that we know really exsist, I don't see any reason to think Chapter 40 and 41 would need to be read any differently. God's point to Job was, "look at my creation, I am Lord over it. I know all about my creation, what do you know??? Man, what is your strength compaired to my creation??? Yeah, that's what I though!"

[Flipper]

Sure, but whatever Behemoth was, I am sure it was an animal that Job was familiar with. Chapter 39 contains lots of animals that we know really exsist, I don't see any reason to think Chapter 40 and 41 would need to be read any differently. God's point to Job was, "look at my creation, I am Lord over it. I know all about my creation, what do you know??? Man, what is your strength compaired to my creation??? Yeah, that's what I though!"
Job may know the behemoth from stories he had heard and God was only speaking in terms Job could understand.