Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy [Paperback]

Hugh Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1994

"IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH."-Genesis 1:1

One of the most commonly held beliefs among Christians and nonChristians alike is that science and Scripture absolutely and irreconcilably contradict each other about the age of the earth. While most scientists affirm an "old universe" theory, may Christians favor a "young universe" interpretation and somewhere in between, million of devout Christian who respect scientific finding are deeply and painfully torn.

"How can we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength if we must separate our minds from our faith?" asks Dr. Hugh Ross, an astrophysicist and a Bible-believing Christian. "Such a separation violates the very meaning of faith."

In Creation and Time, Dr. Ross provides a solution to the creation-date controversy that requires no compromise by either the scientist trusting in the facts of nature or the Christian holding to the inerrancy of Scripture.

"Dr. Ross graciously examines the scientific merits of a young-earth creation and its biblical foundation. He not only demonstrates the more likely age of the universe, but also celebrates the greatness and majesty of its Creator. Creation and Time is a valuable gift to the Christian community."-Chuck Smith, Jr., senior pastor, Capo Beach Calvary Church, Capo Beach, CA

"This is a most important book that should be taught in every church and in the every school to stop the unwarranted war between science and religion."-Allan Sandage, Ph.D., astronomer, Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, recipient of the Crafoord Prize

"Creation and Time is the best book on this topic in print. It is a must for anyone interested in the conflict between science and Scripture. Dr. Ross' pleas to overzealous 'young earthers' not to make the age of the earth a test of orthodoxy is long overdue."-Norman L. Geisler, dean of Southern Evangelical Seminary

"This is a book whose time has come. Never has there been a more urgent moment to staighten out this deep misunderstanding in the evangelical community."-Ralph D. Winter, general director of the U.S. Center for World Missions

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As Hugh Ross described in his last book, The Creator and the Cosmos (1993), the present generation is the first to be successful in measuring the universe, resulting in scientific admission of an omnipotent Creator. This news, which should be exciting to the religious community, is receiving more opposition from Christians than from secular scientists. Why? Because it defies the commonly held Christian belief in a recently created universe. In an attempt to reconcile science and religion, Ross discusses how "old earthers" have ostracized "young earthers" with the assertion that creation took place in six 24-hour days about 10,000 years ago. Ross argues that God is not less powerful for allowing the earth to evolve naturally over millions of years. Since God is the Creator of both biblical revelation and the natural world, the Bible is, likewise, consistent with nature. "Now is the time for a ceasefire," Ross pleads. Calling for a council of pastors, scientists, and evangelical leaders, Ross proposes abolishing the bitterness and polarization this issue has caused without compromising the integrity of either side. Extremely well documented, Creation and Time is more than a good read. It is a call for action. A relevant addition to any library. Patty O'Connell

Review

Extremely well documented, Creation and Time is more than a good read. It is a call for action. A relevant addition to any library. -- Patty O'Connell, Booklist, April 1, 1994

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Navpress Publishing Group (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891097767
• ISBN-13: 978-0891097761
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ross: Scientist who is a Christianbut not a Theologian!, November 16, 2000

By 

Chang Yuon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy (Paperback)

I appreciate Dr. Hugh Ross for writing this book, first because there are not many books out addressing this issue of creation and time. Second, it helps us to rethink and strengthen our position on the creation and evolution debate. I believe, this book was primarily written to address the debate between young-earth and old-earth (or universe) creationists. However, this book does more than just address the issues. It is more of a plea for Christian to be more peaceful and Christ-like on the matter. Here, Ross is hardly a compromiser-he is an old-earth advocate, and attempts to justify his beliefs all throughout this book.

There are several "good" things Hugh Ross says. First, he reminds us that one is NOT weak in his or her faith just because he or she might believe in the evolutionary process of Creation. Belief in "how" or the mechanism God took to create the universe is silent enough to take a hard dogmatic stance. Therefore, Christians should not condemn each other, rather carefully study the issues and share their convictions to be more in line with the truth.

Second, he teaches us that taking a stance on scientific age of the universe does not imply evolution by natural means. Even if one negates God, evolutionism is still ludicrous. Sound scientific evidence points to an age (although not in line with young-earth view) that make it virtually impossible for all life as we know it to evolve out of random events. In fact, the age of the universe and many beautiful scientific discoveries points to a God. For this reason, Chapter 7 of this book, I believe, is one of his stronger chapters.

There are many things that also troubled me. Primarily, I did not appreciate Dr. Ross' caustic dismissal of Presuppositionalism. Gary North and Cornelius Van Til's position is not as simplistic as Ross put it to be. This is where I disagree with Dr. Ross. His underlining message is that truth of science and truth of Scripture should NEVER contradict. Reasoning is that "Truth" is the authority over science and scripture. If science says one thing is true, then there should be an analogous claim in the Bible. So science should shape Christianity and Christianity should shape science. It is not my purpose here to explain why I disagree with the first half this claim (please read Van Til's Apolgoetics by Greg L. Bahnsen); rather, I question Dr. Ross' priority in standards of truth. Even on the most fundamental standards as reasoning and logic, R.C. Sproul, John Gerstner, and Arthur Lindsley "would say `gallows with reason,' that we not miss the kingdom." (see Classical Apologetics) What more should we say about scientific claims?

Also Ross has some problems in his exegesis. Many biblical scholars have problems with his interpretation of Genesis. However, I forgive Dr. Ross, because I see him more as a Scientist and a Christian brother who is struggling to love our Lord with all his mind.

I admire Dr. Ross' efforts. For more than one reasons, I have respected and admired Dr. Ross since I first read this book in high school. This book is informative and very helpful for a well-balanced view on the issue. I only encourage Dr. Ross and his followers (the "Rossists") to re-examine their pressuppositions.

I also recommend: Three Views on Creation and Evolution by J.P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eliminates the age of the earth as a barrier to faith., November 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy (Paperback)

Dr. Ross rescues the Christian church from the dubious error of maintaining a militant stance regarding the age of the earth. While Gallup reports that nearly half the adults in the United States believe that the earth was created in the last 10,000 years, 99% of America's practicing scientists disagree. Dr. Ross adeptly closes that gap with a lucid presentation of the scientific evidence for an old earth presented from a thoroughly orthodox Christian worldview. More than just a compelling contribution to the age-of-the-earth issue, Creation and Time is a definitive work.

With his PhD in Astronomy, Dr. Ross applies scintallating logic to skillfully discern between accurate scientific arguments and those with faulty presuppositions, leaving the reader with overwhelming evidence for an earth that is billions of years old. Then, with all gentleness, he harmonizes this data with a conservative Christian theology which maintains the inerrancy and authority of the Bible, including Genesis Chapter 1. Although Ross himself is a Christian, reviewers have failed to recognize that his compassionate reconciliation of Genesis and science is equally suitable reading for the three largest religions of the world: Jewish, Muslim, and Christian.

If you have ever wondered how it all started this is the first book you should read.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intelligent Literal Interpretation of the Bible, May 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy (Paperback)

I don't understand how someone can honestly say that Dr. Ross loosely interprets the Bible in this book. I am a very conservative Christian that takes a literal interpretation of the Bible and there is nothing in Dr. Ross' interpretation that runs counter to my interpretation. He is not loose.

People can disagree with him, but to attack this book solely on the basis of the age of the universe is unscholarly, uneducated, and just plain foolish. God gave us a mind; use it! God gave us all of nature and told us it tells about Him; listen to nature and you will see it agrees with the Bible.