Old Earth creationism facts for kids

Old Earth creationism is a way of understanding how the Earth and life began. It suggests that God created everything, but over a very long time. This idea often fits well with what scientists have discovered about the age of the Earth and how the universe works.

Old Earth creationism is different from Young Earth creationism. Young Earth creationists believe the Earth is only a few thousand years old. But Old Earth creationists agree with scientists that the Earth is billions of years old.

What Old Earth Creationists Believe

There are several ways people understand Old Earth creationism:

• Some believe God created things in "days," but these "days" were very long periods of time, not 24-hour days.
• Others think that God created life gradually over millions of years. This might involve long breaks between each step of creation.
• Some Old Earth creationists believe in theistic evolution. This means they think God guided the process of evolution to create all living things.

These different ideas all share the belief that God is the creator, but they accept the scientific understanding of a very old Earth. They often find that their beliefs work well with what we know from physics, chemistry, and geology.

How it Differs from Young Earth Creationism

The main difference between Old Earth and Young Earth creationism is the age of the Earth.

• Old Earth creationists believe the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. This matches what most scientists say.
• Young Earth creationists believe the Earth is only about 6,000 to 10,000 years old.

Old Earth creationists often try to find ways that their religious beliefs can agree with scientific discoveries. They might interpret parts of the Bible in a way that allows for a much older universe.

Understanding Creationism

Creationism is the belief that the universe and life were created by a divine being, like God. It's a broad term that includes many different views. Old Earth creationism is just one of these views. It tries to bridge the gap between religious faith and scientific findings about the age of the Earth and the universe.

See also

In Spanish: Creacionismo de Tierra vieja para niños