Young Earth Creationism has been the historic position of Biblical Christians.

10 Myths Related to Science and Christianity

Comments by Glen Leckman

Origen of Alexandria (185 - 254 A.D.) regarded as most important theologian of early Greek Church - opposed idea that creation story must be interpreted as literal & historical account

St. Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430) - most important Latin church father - wrote Confessions, his spiritual autobiography, wrote several articles including The Literal Meaning of Genesis. He argued that the first two chapters of Genesis are written to suit the understanding of the people at that time, called the accommodation theory. He stated that the creation story was told in a simple, allegorical style that everyone could understand. He also believed that God created the world with the capacity to develop - a view that fits with biological evolution

Some used Psalm 90:4 & II Peter 3:8 "with the Lord one day is as 1000 years, and 1000 years as one day." to conclude 6 days of creation = 6000 years

John Calvin (1509 - 1564) - accepted the accommodation theory as reasonable

John Wesley (1703 - 1791) - believed the accommodation theory

Leading 19th century theologians (Charles Hodge, A.A. Hodge, and B.B. Warfield) said exegesis did not require 6 x 24 hour days

Dr. J. Gresham Machen (founder of Westminster Theological Seminary) stated "It is certainly not necessary to think that the 6 days spoken of in that first chapter of the Bible are intended to be six days of twenty four hours each. We may think of them rather as very long periods of time."

William Jennings Bryan - famous Scopes trial lawyer - believed the day-age theory of creation

C.I. Scofield - famous for Scofield Reference Bible - believed in gap theory of creation

George McCready Price (1870 - 1963) was a 7th Day Adventist - wrote New Geology (1923) started current creationist science

Henry M. Morris (1918- 2006) - Genesis Flood (1961) the other key book for Y.E.C.

Westminster Theological Seminary position adopted on March 1, 1999 "The seminary has always held that an exegetical judgment on this precise issue (the six days of creation) has never of itself been regarded as a test of Christian orthodoxy or confessional fidelity, until some have sought to make it such in the modern period. In effect, to hold such a position would be to disenfranchise from Augustinian and Reformed orthodoxy some who have, in fact, by God's grace, served as its greatest defenders and pillars"