dinosaurs and the bible

[catiebug]

There are a number of places where it appears that dinosaurs or other similar creatures are mentioned in the scriptures. Remember that the Bible was translated into English long before the word "dinosaur" was coined. However, the word "dragon" appears 21 times in the Old Testament alone. "You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet" (Psalm 91:13). From the context it is clearly speaking about a real creature that it would be impressive and intimidating to step on! Jeremiah 51:34 tells, "he has swallowed me up like a dragon..." which brings to mind the way many carnivorous reptiles swallow their prey whole. Both dragons of the sea (Psalm 74:13) and field (Isaiah 43:20) are mentioned. Indeed, Genesis 1:21 can best be translated: "And God created great sea monsters..." One such sea monster became sufficiently well-known to the ancients to be given the special name "Rahab" (Isaiah 51:9). The prophet Ezekiel likens Pharaoh to a sea monster that invaded the Nile river and stirred up the mud (32:2). The Hebrew word, "Tannin," is from the root meaning "to extend." The language conjures up an image of a long-necked plesiosaur-like creature paddling up the river and stirring up mud from the Nile delta with its flippers. Just such a creature is depicted by the ancient Egyptians who may have netted one just as Ezekiel describes in verse 3. From http://genesispark.com/genpark/bible/bible.htm

These two sites might also help you out:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/Docs/2.asp

http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/dinos.shtml

And if nittanynephew needs a "hands-on" experience, Dinosaur Adventure Land, where dinosaurs and the Bible meet, might be just the place to go on summer vacation.

From their Web site:
Dinosaur Adventure Land is a theme park and science museum that gives God the glory for His creation. It has rides and fun-filled events and activities, each involving a physical challenge, a science lesson, and a biblical truth.

Learn about dinosaurs, principles of science, and even how to make a paper airplane that can fly over 300 feet! Handle our real, live creatures and take the Leap of Faith swing. Enjoyable and educational for all ages, it is specifically targeted for kids under a million years of age!

Be prepared to be challenged to think and to follow the Lord in the way God the Creator has planned for you. If you do not know your Creator, we will be overjoyed to introduce you to Him.

Our funny and experienced guides will lead your family or group on the tour, declaring the works of the Lord and the words of the Lord.

DAL is not an amusement park, for “amuse” means “to not think,” and we want people to think. Rather, it is an amazement park. Come and stand amazed at the truths of the Creator and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

[kstar]

In theory, years (and therefore days) are milliseconds shorter than the previous, so who knows how long the day was back then?

Or, you can look at it and say, there are seven distinct geological eras, and G*d created the world in 7 days....

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by catiebug

There are a number of places where it appears that dinosaurs or other similar creatures are mentioned in the scriptures. Remember that the Bible was translated into English long before the word "dinosaur" was coined. However, the word "dragon" appears 21 times in the Old Testament alone. "You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet" (Psalm 91:13). From the context it is clearly speaking about a real creature that it would be impressive and intimidating to step on! Jeremiah 51:34 tells, "he has swallowed me up like a dragon..." which brings to mind the way many carnivorous reptiles swallow their prey whole. Both dragons of the sea (Psalm 74:13) and field (Isaiah 43:20) are mentioned. Indeed, Genesis 1:21 can best be translated: "And God created great sea monsters..." One such sea monster became sufficiently well-known to the ancients to be given the special name "Rahab" (Isaiah 51:9). The prophet Ezekiel likens Pharaoh to a sea monster that invaded the Nile river and stirred up the mud (32:2). The Hebrew word, "Tannin," is from the root meaning "to extend." The language conjures up an image of a long-necked plesiosaur-like creature paddling up the river and stirring up mud from the Nile delta with its flippers. Just such a creature is depicted by the ancient Egyptians who may have netted one just as Ezekiel describes in verse 3. From http://genesispark.com/genpark/bible/bible.htm

These two sites might also help you out:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/Docs/2.asp

http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/dinos.shtml

And if nittanynephew needs a "hands-on" experience, Dinosaur Adventure Land, where dinosaurs and the Bible meet, might be just the place to go on summer vacation.

From their Web site:
Dinosaur Adventure Land is a theme park and science museum that gives God the glory for His creation. It has rides and fun-filled events and activities, each involving a physical challenge, a science lesson, and a biblical truth.

Learn about dinosaurs, principles of science, and even how to make a paper airplane that can fly over 300 feet! Handle our real, live creatures and take the Leap of Faith swing. Enjoyable and educational for all ages, it is specifically targeted for kids under a million years of age!

Be prepared to be challenged to think and to follow the Lord in the way God the Creator has planned for you. If you do not know your Creator, we will be overjoyed to introduce you to Him.

Our funny and experienced guides will lead your family or group on the tour, declaring the works of the Lord and the words of the Lord.

DAL is not an amusement park, for “amuse” means “to not think,” and we want people to think. Rather, it is an amazement park. Come and stand amazed at the truths of the Creator and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Show me an article in a peer-reviewed scientific journal that claims dinosaurs and humans were contemporaries. Those websites are laughable.

[Elephant Walk]

the bones of a JEEEEEEEESUS-saurus Rex

i watch too much family guy.

[PM_Mama00]

Weird. I have a friend who discussed this exact topic with a co-worker the other day. Are you from Tennessee?

[jwright25]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Weird. I have a friend who discussed this exact topic with a co-worker the other day. Are you from Tennessee?

I just discussed this with my co-workers. In Tennessee.... Do you know Karin? Jason? Gary?

I was thinking "weird" too since we just had a lengthy discussion about it at work. Looked at the creation museum website and everything. We were looking for the Scriptural reference to a day being a thousand years to God. (2 Peter 3:8 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.)

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by catiebug

DAL is not an amusement park, for “amuse” means “to not think,” and we want people to think. Rather, it is an amazement park.

Well, I'm amazed and amused.

If only the effort that goes into trying to battle evolution and push "Creation Science" could go into feeding the hungry, healing the sick, clothing the naked . . . .

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Ready for the random question of the day?

This is a conversation going on in my family thanks to a question posed by one of my nephews. The responses from various members of the family has been beyond interesting. So, I thought I'd post it here too and get a really wide set of responses.

So here it is: how do you explain dinosaurs in relation to the bible?


Don't you just love kids and their little minds????!?

nittanyalum, there's a great book I recommend for your nephew to read. It's called "The Book of Life." It's a great book. I'm not sure if it will explain everything to him, but I'm sure it will help.

Also, tell him Dinosaurs and humans didn't coexist, as far as we know. It's all based on fossil findings and the age of rocks that help determine time periods.

I really don't think anyone knows a real answer to this question, because the Bible also says Cain got married to a woman in another city I think. My question is where did she come from? The Bible doesn't explain it.

The origins of life go all the way back to the "Big Bang Theory", which I no longer believe. How do scientists know this, if life didn't even exist then?

Good luck to your nephew. I hope he finds his answer.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

If only the effort that goes into trying to battle evolution and push "Creation Science" could go into feeding the hungry, healing the sick, clothing the naked . . . .

LOL. C.O.S.I.G.N.!!!!!!!!

What great responses, reading these was like reading the emails between my family members and sitting around the living room (with nittanynephew lecturing from his dino books ). You should see the look on my Dad's face (who went to schools that were taught by Jesuits) listening to this little guy challenging scripture (and doing it well). It's classic.

I think all of the grown-ups are able to grasp the difference between taking Genesis literally and figuratively, but the challenge my brother and his wife are facing is a very smart 7-year-old, to whom nuances are not yet understandable. He just knows that the bible says one thing and his dino books say another. Things are black and white in his little 7-year-old mind, so treading the line of teaching him the shades of gray without undermining what they're trying to teach him about religion is what's keeping them on their toes.

And personally, I love it. This kid is one of my favorite people in the world and I egg him on all I can. Because then I get to go home (and hear the echoes of "but why, Daddy?" as I drive away ).


ETA: thanks for the book suggestion, cheerful, I'll look it up & pass it along to my brother

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Show me an article in a peer-reviewed scientific journal that claims dinosaurs and humans were contemporaries. Those websites are laughable.

I just saw a Direct car insurance commercial that had 2 cavemen being chased by a dinosaur. The announcer said "cavemen didn't have cars...."

That counts.

[nittanyalum]

^^^LOL

[AGDee]

This came up when I was going through the Catholic adult conversion classes (RCIA). The priest answered it this way ... In the language that Genesis was originally written, the word was Epoch which really means "era" or "time period" not day as it is written in English now.

[Kevin]

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by jwright25

I just discussed this with my co-workers. In Tennessee.... Do you know Karin? Jason? Gary?

I was thinking "weird" too since we just had a lengthy discussion about it at work. Looked at the creation museum website and everything. We were looking for the Scriptural reference to a day being a thousand years to God. (2 Peter 3:8 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.)

I know Gina at Enterprise Rent A Car. Know her? Lol

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

The origins of life go all the way back to the "Big Bang Theory", which I no longer believe. How do scientists know this, if life didn't even exist then?

Well, it's an idea. I don't think scientists claim to KNOW this, but it's the best they've come up with given what we know.