It's not just because of the speed of light that I think the earth is billions of years rather than a few thousand. Evolution, ice core layers, continental drift, fossils, rock formations with fossils in the right layers all seem to add up to a billion-year process.
But I am interested in the psychology behind this. Why is the 6,000-year earth theory so important that it is necessary to have such elaborate theories to make the physics fit? Is it a kind of psychological first line of defence? Do you really need physics to be explainable in order to believe in God? A lot of Christians are ok with the 4.5 bn year analysis. Their faith doesn't seem to be shaken by the debunking of the literal bible. Why hang on to it? Is it a measure of insecurity?
But I am interested in the psychology behind this. Why is the 6,000-year earth theory so important that it is necessary to have such elaborate theories to make the physics fit? Is it a kind of psychological first line of defence? Do you really need physics to be explainable in order to believe in God? A lot of Christians are ok with the 4.5 bn year analysis. Their faith doesn't seem to be shaken by the debunking of the literal bible. Why hang on to it? Is it a measure of insecurity?
