1. Religion & Spirituality
day / age theory
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Definition: The day / age theory is an attempt to reconcile a literalist reading of the Bible with the facts of science. According to proponents, the word "day" in the Bible should actually be translated as "age," thus allowing for an indefinite period of time in which God worked his act of creation. This allows the supported to read the work literally while also not having to engage in futile rebuttals about the age of the planet.

Unfortunately, the above position satisfies neither scientists nor fundamentalists, so it is not a very common one. Slightly more common is the argument that "day" was not meant literally, thus while the text should be translated as "day," it can justifiably be understood as any period of time. Once again, this allows the believer to accept some indefinite period of time during which God acted. However, in adopting a metaphorical reading of the text, the door is opened for the rejection of literalism and fundamentalism.

Also Known As: creation science

Alternate Spellings: none

Common Misspellings: none

Related Resources:

Evolution & Creationism...
Is evolution a science? Is creationism a science? What is science? Is there evidence for either? Religious fundamentalists often attack evolution, but rarely from a positions of really understanding what evolution is and how it works. This FAQ will not only teach you more about the nature of evolution and evolutionary theory, but it will also explain some of the more common complaints and where they go wrong.

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