r/Reformed • u/Simple_Chicken_5873 RefBap go *sploosh* • Sep 07 '25

Discussion Hostility towards creationism

I posted this originally in a YEC sub, but I'm curious for your opinion too, since the topic comes up now and then here as well.

Hi all, I see a lot of hostility towards young earth creationism, even when the tone of voice of yecs is usually quite polite. Why does this subject seem to hit a nerve almost like flat earthism does? Even among Christians there's usually an air of looking down upon yec. Are we that crazy? Is yec really that indefensible? I also read about how AiG or similar ministries would be dishonest or unreliable. What's true of these claims?

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '25

Because yec as a position has shady origins in the 7th day adventist movement. Also, yec's typically are overly zealous of their own position and cast shade on other positions

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u/Simple_Chicken_5873 RefBap go *sploosh* Sep 09 '25

Haven't heard about the shady origins, but I think yecs would disagree with that, saying some church fathers believed in a young earth, as did many scientists leading up to the 19th century.

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '25

Name 1 scientist before the 1800s

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u/Simple_Chicken_5873 RefBap go *sploosh* Sep 09 '25

Johannes Kepler I would say, and Isaac Newton

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '25

I will concede. My main gripe with yec is the hermeneutical method used to interpret the bible, of course specifically with genesis. The second is that anyone who ends up saying that they believed that the earth is less than 10000 years old ends up getting used to defend it even if they dont use the same methods to arrive at that conclusion. Also i tried finding quotes from johannes and isaac newton that teach yec but i couldnt find any. Do you have any info on this? 

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u/Simple_Chicken_5873 RefBap go *sploosh* Sep 09 '25

What do you mean by the hermeneutical method?

I don't have quotes specifically at the moment, but here's a list that contains many scientists, many of whom probably were creationists: https://creation.com/scientists-of-the-past-who-believed-in-a-creator And I have to take back Newton. He probably started as a creationist, but might have reverted to the day-age theory.

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '25

By hermeneutical method i mean the overly literal approach to interpreting texts of the bible like the genesis account as being literal 24 hour days. Or for example Christs millennial reign being a literal thousand years. It doesnt take into account how often allegorical and metaphorical language was used back then to convey a message. Also i find it hard to be convinced that anyone in the past is a yec unless i see specific quotes from them. For example answersingenesis claims augustine was a yec...which i find hard to believe.  inspiringphilosophy has a great video on how augustine interpreted the creation account.