What It’s Like Being a Young, Young-Earth Creationist

Photo by Scott Huck

As one of the editors here at New Creation and working closely with Is Genesis History?, I get to see what kind of people are reading and engaging in our content. I recently saw a statistic that honestly surprised me, but also didn’t (if that makes sense!). 

The main age demographic that our content reaches is 40 years old and older. While it’s so exciting that these generations are actively engaging in creation science education and materials, where are all the teens and twenty and thirty-somethings?

Where are all the Millennials and Gen-Zers?

The views expressed in this article reflect those of the author mentioned, and not necessarily those of New Creation.

The Culture is Changing for Youth

It’s no surprise that the culture has shifted. No longer do we live in a Judeo-Christian society; rather, ours is post-postmodern. What does that mean? From what I’ve come to learn, it means that religion is personal and there is no universal truth. The only knowledge that can be obtained is from empirical observation. Science is the new god. 

As a twenty-something myself, I am no stranger to social media and I am all too aware of its effects. We are constantly bombarded with rhetoric that does not align with Scripture. Truth, we are taught, is relative. We are taught that science is the answer.

Now, I am not saying we should reject science—not at all! I love science and I want to continue to study it for my entire life. Christians can and should do good science

But when we cross the line of observational science into the realm of origins science, we must be wary. In a world that rejects God, we have to understand that they must come up with a reasonable alternative. If there is no God, then cosmic evolution is necessary and descent from a common ancestor a must. A reasonable person who rejects God must believe something else. And in our case today, that something else is secular naturalism. 

Leonard Brand, an influential creationist, has defined this framework as such: “the paradigm (or worldview) that explains everything in terms of material, law-bound processes [that] will not accept any miraculous or supernatural processes” (Faith, Reason and Earth History, ch. 3). In effect, this worldview essentially eliminates the need for divine causation or intervention in history. 

Our Task

What does that mean for me, and other people my age? The world around us seems to be unified and loud in their secular evolutionary theory. It often seems like our voice in creationism is small and our task near impossible. I’ve wrestled with the hard questions—and more often than not, they leave me with more questions still unanswered!

But why do I continue to do research in creationism? Why don’t I just let myself get swept away in the powerful tide of the secular naturalism mindset?

My faith.

I’ve struggled with the science. Most honest creationists will tell you that they have, too. But I am confident that Scripture clearly speaks on the origins of the universe—that God created in 6 days only a few thousand years ago. I believe that it is theologically important to hold to this view. There are people who disagree with me, of course. I still love those Christians and will honor them and encourage them in our faith. But—I do believe that a proper view of Genesis is foundational to our understanding of the rest of Scripture. 

And I don’t say all of this to convince you that there is no scientific evidence for creationism—I think there is a lot! However, it is a young field with only a (relatively) small group of scientists who are actively model-building. As a result, the creation model isn’t as well-developed as the evolutionary model. This doesn’t make it wrong—it just means we have more work to do!

And that is what fuels my passion to study. Science is so exciting! We as creationists have a lot of model building to do! (What does that look like? Check out this article.) 

My Experience as a Young Creationist

Childhood

I’ve always loved investigating and exploring the world around me.

When I was little, I loved dinosaurs. By the time I was 5, I was reading books about dig sites and could name countless species. I love investigating the world around me, and that passion never left me.

As I grew older, my interests changed. I still loved science but was considering different careers, as well. I always, though, have had an interest in apologetics. Through the study of apologetics at my church and through my high school education, I was first exposed to the world of creation science.  

I wanted to know more. I wanted answers. How did the Flood work? Why don’t find human remains in the vast majority of the geologic record? I wanted an explanation for the order of the fossil record. I had questions that I wanted to investigate through a scientific framework. 

Education and Research

From my sister, I learned of Cedarville University (a private, Christian university in Ohio). I actually attended a geology-focused academic summer camp that the university sponsors while I was in high school. It was there that I began to dip my toes into the waters of scientific study through the lens of Scripture. I loved it!

I applied and decided to major in geology. Creation communities were a great asset and I got to have conversations with creationists such as Todd Wood, Marcus Ross, Kurt Wise, and so many more. I studied under John Whitmore, who has done incredible work on the Coconino Sandstone and its implications for Flood geology. Having these scientists encourage me and guide me in this journey was such a blessing and I am so thankful I have been able to learn from them. 

Photo by Scott Huck. Dr. John Whitmore teaching students about sedimentology and stratigraphy duing a class field trip.

I had opportunities to do creation research. I’ve got to walk beside professors as they have done research, and assist other students in their capstone projects. I’ve studied radiohalos from Ireland and a huge dinosaur bone from Colorado (5-year-old Sara would be so proud!). I get to go out in the field and see huge Flood deposits for myself. I’ve collected rocks and studied them under the microscope. I’ve done hands-on research, and I couldn’t be more excited about it!

Now, four years later, I’ve just graduated from Cedarville University with my degree in geology. I hope to pursue a doctorate in Earth Science, Lord willing, to do research and teach at the college level. I think science education is so important and I want to motivate others in creationism. 

Our Passion as Young Creationists

I encourage people of all ages to investigate and learn more about God’s beautiful world. If you know a young person who is interested in going into a science field and wants to learn more, please encourage them! Young, young-earth creationists exist and are excited to advance the field of creation science. Our whole editotorial team consists of young people with this passion. 

Want to get involved? We have a whole article on ways you can! I personally recommend reading three books: Faith, Reason, and Earth History; The New Creationism; and The Quest. I think they are a great start to understanding why we believe what we believe, and what this journey might look like.

This is our heartbeat. We want more people to step up and get plugged in. We want to develop our models, test them, revise them, and learn more about our Creator and bring Him praise the whole way. 


4.3 10 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
11 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rachel Anna Marie Ard
Rachel Anna Marie Ard
May 22, 2021 11:10 PM

I really enjoyed this article. I’m a 32 year old stay at home mommy now but when I was in college and even before that my interests definitely aligned with the authors in many ways. Sadly I attended a very liberal college where in every anthropology class I took the professors set their teeth against objective truth and creationism. So much so I quit that major and changed majors halfway through my college experience. I can appreciate the authors call to action and clear definition of the challenges set before the up and coming young earth creationist scientific community. I pray the Lord raises up more young men and women to advance the scientific community in His ways. May us stay at home momma’s help whet their appetites for such as well.

James O
James O
May 25, 2021 7:50 PM

Wonderfully written, keep looking through those biblical glasses at the world.
Thanks, Sara

Gavin
May 28, 2021 9:50 AM

Thank you for this article, Sara. We need more millennial and Gen Z creation scientists. I’ve been a creationist for about two years now, and I just recently bit the bullet and joined the Creation Research Society.

Lockard-e1566229816144-300x320.jpg
Mike Mayor
May 30, 2021 12:00 PM

Very cogently explained, you have pointed out the root of the ‘problem’. Empirical, objective science is not at odds with the Bible. Since we weren’t present at the beginning, it’s simply a question of what authority we put our ‘faith’ in and who’s ‘theory’ we want to trust. Choose your authority carefully, it matters. http://www.chickenvsegg.ca

Don
Don
June 10, 2021 12:11 PM

For as far back as I can remember. I would often wonder how the dinosaur’s could have lived so many millions of years ago before man ever existed. Specially when I would read in Genesis where God created man and the animals on the same day. How could this be I wondered. So I thought maybe Gods time worked differently than ours. Those dinosaurs had to be explained some how. Until I discovered Dr. Carl Baughs creation museum and then a whole new way of thinking for me emerged and things started to become clearer for me. Then I discover “Is Genesis History” people after that the vail was fully opened and I could see and understand things that make a whole lot of sense. So thank God for you people. God will always have his people who have not bowed a knee to the forces of evil and deception. I tell as many people as I can to check out “Is Genesis History”

Clive Anderson Jr.
Clive Anderson Jr.
May 28, 2022 6:22 PM

Great article! I am also in my twenties and have a passion for theology, philosophy, and science. I just recent bought “Faith, Reason, and Earth History” and I plan to work my way through it to get myself started. Thank you for sharing this article!

Ted V.
Ted V.
January 2, 2024 2:22 PM

Very late to this thread but I have been exploring this site more recently.

With respect to the interpretative side of the Biblical creation narrative, have you considered that the YEC lens is actually viewing the Biblical record of Genesis, a Bronze Age piece of literature within the framework of Modernity (based out of rationalism and the Enlightenment)? Essentially YEC applies modern historical-scientific assumptions and approach to the text, rather than viewing the text in view of the original author’s intend and their audience. YEC adherents seem to assume that what the ancient Israelites heard this as is the same as we would, separated by several thousand years and vastly different cultural context and views of world around them.

The Genesis account does contain fundamental, transcendent truths that are valid for all times and places.

As a fellow geologist, I hope you have been able to apply your degree in some meaningful way since you graduated. It’s been a good few years in the exploration industry! Cheers.

You May Also Like