I was recently told by someone that a pagan can't be a creationist.
Another person in the same conversation said that a creationist can't support evolution and the big bang.
With all of the recent Facebook attention from the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate, the topic of cosmogony has been on many people's minds as of late. It is causing a binary divide, with people feeling the need to take a stance, often without all of the knowledge required to make an informed opinion. There are strong (dare I say extremist) emotions driving both sides of the debate, leaving those who aren't Christians or atheists feeling uncomfortable, at best.
My particular brand of paganism is panentheistic. As such, I believe that the Deity is existence and beyond existence, simultaneously. So for me, to believe that the universe and humanity were created by a deity and that the big bang and evolution were the processes by which that occurred are not in conflict. So should I identify as a creationist? In doing so, would it would align me with certain ideologies with which I don't agree (i.e. Christian fundamentalism)?
I'm sure I'm not the only one having these thoughts. Among hard polytheists throughout all of history, for instance, there are many who could be considered "creationists." So I put it to you guys: Do you consider yourself a creationist? Why or why not? Do you support scientific explanations of cosmogony? Can pagans be creationists? Can creationists support evolution and the big bang? How old is the earth, based on your religious tradition's beliefs?
Another person in the same conversation said that a creationist can't support evolution and the big bang.
With all of the recent Facebook attention from the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate, the topic of cosmogony has been on many people's minds as of late. It is causing a binary divide, with people feeling the need to take a stance, often without all of the knowledge required to make an informed opinion. There are strong (dare I say extremist) emotions driving both sides of the debate, leaving those who aren't Christians or atheists feeling uncomfortable, at best.
My particular brand of paganism is panentheistic. As such, I believe that the Deity is existence and beyond existence, simultaneously. So for me, to believe that the universe and humanity were created by a deity and that the big bang and evolution were the processes by which that occurred are not in conflict. So should I identify as a creationist? In doing so, would it would align me with certain ideologies with which I don't agree (i.e. Christian fundamentalism)?
I'm sure I'm not the only one having these thoughts. Among hard polytheists throughout all of history, for instance, there are many who could be considered "creationists." So I put it to you guys: Do you consider yourself a creationist? Why or why not? Do you support scientific explanations of cosmogony? Can pagans be creationists? Can creationists support evolution and the big bang? How old is the earth, based on your religious tradition's beliefs?
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