Reading Between The Fossil Lines: The Origin Of Progressive Creationism

Experiences, circumstances and values shape the way we think, and give us a foundation for what will become our “worldview.” In order to make a decision on what these beliefs are, we can make judgments based on both faith and scientific knowledge. The origin of Progressive Creationism brings lessons from the Bible into balance with evidence from contemporary science. Progressive Creationism makes room for explanations to scientific findings by interpreting a much longer time frame for creation, but it does not negate an God as being present at every stage, and responsible for the miracles of the creation of life. Influences that have led me to consider this position come from family, church, science classes, and my own personal interpretation
In the article, “Reading Between the Fossil Lines,” by Gleason L. Archer (reasons.org, 1 October, 2001), the author states that one of the biggest arguments against the literal validity of Genisis 1 comes from the evidence of the age of fossils and minerals as studied and proven in geology. Fossils are preserved remains of plants, animals and organisms that existed in the past. Paleontologists have recorded significant amounts of data to support that fossils are tangible proof of an earth that has been around longer than 10,000 years. In Progressive Creationism, there is room for rhetoric, allegory, metaphor and hyperbole in interpretations of the Scripture. Fossils’ strong scientific evidence defines an existence of
Morris, Ph.D. (icr.org, 1989), the author states that dinosaurs are all too often taught under the theory of evolution, yet hold a strong presence in Biblical references as well. Much like the evidence of age old fossils, dinosaurs have a significant role in interpreting the age of existence, and also help support the beliefs within the origin of Progressive Creationism. A balance and explanation between Scripture and science is necessary with the geological evidence that there was an era of dinosaurs walking the earth. The topic of dinosaurs then lends itself perfectly to the philosophy of Progressive Creationism where days described in Genesis took place over long periods of time. Dinosaurs can be categorized as one of the many species created and described in Genesis. Marine reptiles of land and air created on day five can include dinosaurs such as the plesiosaur pterodactyl. The stegosaurus and other plant eating dinosaurs fall into the land mammals created on day six. Science has assigned dinosaur eras like the Triassic period as being over 245 million years ago, which supports the idea that creation days were longer than six 24-hour periods. In the article, Morris defends the argument that the existence of dinosaurs goes against the belief that no death or sin occurred before Adam and Eve, by pointing to geological studies that those in existence before Adam and Eve were herbivores. Paleozoic eras