How do Christians explain dinosaurs?

Question

I would love to be a Christian, and have something to believe in. But there are two things that always stop me and make me see god isn't real. 1. dinosaurs. How do you explain how we went from civilized human beings to...dinosaurs?! and 2. There isn't any real proof, I mean the bibles been rewritten so many darn times how do you even know!
I'm not trying to upset anyone..Just curious..

Answer 1

The topic of dinosaurs in the Bible is part of a larger ongoing debate within the Christian community over the age of the earth, the proper interpretation of Genesis, and how to interpret the physical evidences we find all around us. Those who believe in an older age for the earth tend to agree that the Bible does not mention dinosaurs, because, according to their paradigm, dinosaurs died out millions of years before the first man ever walked the earth. The men who wrote the Bible could not have seen living dinosaurs.



Those who believe in a younger age for the earth tend to agree that the Bible does mention dinosaurs, though it never actually uses the word “dinosaur.” Instead, it uses the Hebrew word tanniyn, which is translated a few different ways in our English Bibles. Sometimes it’s “sea monster,” and sometimes it’s “serpent.” It is most commonly translated “dragon.” The tanniyn appear to have been some sort of giant reptile. These creatures are mentioned nearly thirty times in the Old Testament and were found both on land and in the water.



In addition to mentioning these giant reptiles, the Bible describes a couple of creatures in such a way that some scholars believe the writers may have been describing dinosaurs. The behemoth is said to be the mightiest of all God’s creatures, a giant whose tail is likened to a cedar tree (Job 40:15). Some scholars have tried to identify the behemoth as either an elephant or a hippopotamus. Others point out that elephants and hippopotamuses have very thin tails, nothing comparable to a cedar tree. Dinosaurs like the brachiosaurus and the diplodocus, on the other hand, had huge tails which could easily be compared to a cedar tree.



Nearly every ancient civilization has some sort of art depicting giant reptilian creatures. Petroglyphs, artifacts, and even little clay figurines found in North America resemble modern depictions of dinosaurs. Rock carvings in South America depict men riding diplodocus-like creatures and, amazingly, bear the familiar images of triceratops-like, pterodactyl-like, and tyrannosaurus rex-like creatures. Roman mosaics, Mayan pottery, and Babylonian city walls all testify to man’s trans-cultural, geographically unbounded fascination with these creatures. Sober accounts like those of Marco Polo’s Il Milione mingle with fantastic tales of treasure-hoarding beasts. In addition to the substantial amount of anthropic and historical evidences for the coexistence of dinosaurs and man, there are physical evidences, like the fossilized footprints of humans and dinosaurs found together at places in North America and West-Central Asia.



So, are there dinosaurs in the Bible? The matter is far from settled. It depends on how you interpret the available evidences and how you view the world around you. If the Bible is interpreted literally, a young earth interpretation will result, and the idea that dinosaurs and man coexisted can be accepted. If dinosaurs and human beings coexisted, what happened to the dinosaurs? While the Bible does not discuss the issue, dinosaurs likely died out sometime after the flood due to a combination of dramatic environmental shifts and the fact that they were relentlessly hunted to extinction by man.

http://www.gotquestions.org/dinosaurs-Bible.html

Answer 2

First, not all Christians are fundamentalists or Biblical literalists. We accept that the Earth is much older than one might calculate by adding up the ages of the characters in the Old Testament. There's even a hymn, which I've heard sung in churches of at least two denominations, that includes the line "Old now is Earth, and none can count her days." And we accept that many of the incidents in the Bible (OT especially) are parables or allegories, intended to convey a teaching in a figurative or symbolic way.



So we don't find it difficult or troubling to realize that there were giant reptiles on the earth ages ago and that they somehow became extinct. They're not mentioned in the Bible because the authors didn't know about them, although there is an apocryphal OT book called Bel and the Dragon, and some people think that the discovery of dinosaur remains by early people may be the source of the idea of dragons.



What do you want to see proof OF? You're not likely to find much proof of the early chapters of Genesis, but Carl Sagan presents some curious facts in The Dragons of Eden. Proof of later OT events? History offers some. Generally, the closer to the present we get in the Bible, the more confirmation there is; and at the same time, those events seem to follow logically from those before them.



Then we get to the New Testament. There's not much independent proof of the existence of Jesus, but there's the undeniable fact that a few years after he is said to have lived, a new faith was spreading over the world despite official persecution. Whether or not you can believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and rose from the dead (but many intelligent and highly educated people DO), suppose for a moment that everyone in the world believed in what he taught: to forgive one's enemies, to refrain from harming anyone, to meet the needs of the poor and helpless. Yes, people have done some misguided, terrible things in the name of the Christian faith, but wouldn't the world be a better place if we actually LIVED it?

Answer 3

What is this supposed to mean, "How do you explain how we went from civilized human beings to...dinosaurs?!"



The existence of dinosaurs doesn't disprove God or the Bible or creationism. God created dinosaurs. No, you won't see the word dinosaur in the Bible, but that's only because it's a fairly recent word that didn't exist when the Bible was written. Dinosaurs are described in the bible though, which is actually pretty remarkable when you consider how many animals there are, wouldn't you expect a lot of them to be unmentioned?



Proof of God's existence is in every living thing he made. Living things are so orderly and complex they must have been designed by a higher power. If you're really interested, read about creationism.



If you would love to be a Christian, read "The Case for Christ" or "The Case for Christ for Kids" by Lee Strobel or "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.



Be warned this section of Yahoo Answers is overflowing with hateful people who only want to drag you down.

Answer 4

What does dinosaurs have to do with humans? The belief in dinosaurs do not contradict belief in the scriptures. According to the scriptures mankind has been on the earth between 6 and 7 thousand years. The dinosaurs fossils are much older. Therefore, meaning they were created before humans. The Genesis account states in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This mean the universe as well as the earth existed an untold amount of time before the creation of man.

Answer 5

Dinosaurs were around when man was. Just because there is no real proof that God isn't real. Don't mean God doesn't exist. And since you think there is no reason for you to believe in God. Why do you care? There must be a reason for you to be curious. Do you have your doubts in your own belief?

Answer 6

This Christian explains them like this:~



Dinosaurs were very large reptiles that dominated the Earth

a long time ago. Some were herbivorous, and others were

nasty carnivores that ate other dinosaurs or anything else

they fancied for dinner.



Abundant evidence is found all over the world in the fossil

record of dinosaurs, from footprints to whole skeletons.

Answer 7

Some Christians say that God the "days" it took God to create the world was not in fact days, but centuries or milleniums. That would explain the oceans and seas, dry land and rock formation as well as the evolution of animal and plant species. I am a Catholic Christian and I also believe in evolution. I've studied anthropology and I believe everything there too. I just explain the discrepency by saying what I've said earlier that God's "days" are acutally much much longer milleniums. God is all powerful. That's how he works. Oh, and the bible was written by men who have limitied knowledge. It was written wayyy back before most people were literate. So, I'm sure they got some facts wrong.

Answer 8

I've heard people who believe in the literal truth of the Bible say that the dinosaurs were evil, so God killed them with the Great Flood.



Really. They actually point to dinosaur fossils as proof that the Flood really happened.

Answer 9

google: Carl Baugh... once a evolutionary scientist now a creation scientist. The bible tells us God created...the heavens and the earth...the animals... which were on the earth along with man... evolution is not the way we got here. The main thing is that if you really want a relationship with God through Jesus the Christ then know we are praying for you to be able to see the truth and then seek the Lord, ask God to reveal the truth to you. Also go to: www.daveroberson.org ... on his site click on books then read: the walk of the spirit the walk of power.

Answer 10

Noah's ark. Isn't it fun?



In my opinion, Noah's ark was dinosaur. Not a ship.



Ark of Noah is a medium through which data of the gene is transferred.

Genesis 6:19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.



Evolution of species doesn't have a linear time till mankind open eyes.

Genesis 9:13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.



Pitch / Bitumen / Crude oil / Where could we find them, today? It's fun, too.

Genesis 6:14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.



Today's annual rhythms begins "From Genesis 9:13". (This is my assumption.)



Today's light speed begins from Genesis 9:13, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq98MskQ6rc



Anyway...



People can make an answer but there is no a reason. (This is your so-called free will.)

God can make a reason but there is no an answer. (This is your so-called destiny & chance.)



Sometimes I say, newton's apple is more clever than newton.



Hope it helps. I am devil.

Answer 11

I thought most of them accepted dinosaurs. It's the YECs, however, who believe dinosaurs and humans coexisted. The alternative goes against their literal interpretation of the Bible. Most Christians I know though think that Genesis isn't meant to be taken literally.

Answer 12

hat 1 thing makes me so laugh how can you go from dinosaurs to civilized humans? Good question do you know it?



Second of all a lot of christians have seen miracles from GOD and feel his presence. He is real and there but you need to have the door open for him to know him.

Answer 13

Christians who actually accept scientific teaching will say that Dinosaurs are just that, Dinosaurs. They existed before God created humans. Some will even go as far to say that God killed the dinosaurs to make way for humans.

Answer 14

Billions of years passed from the time , 'In the beginning, God Created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)....' until God said 'Let US make man IN OUR OWN IMAGE. During this multi-billions of years was the age of dinosaurs and Satan was the 'angel' in charge of the Earth. The Bible records the rebellion of Satan - (Billions of years, also?) and the curse God placed on Satan's dominion - (flood, and overflowing with water, and hiding the heavens) left the world without form, and void, and darkness upon the face of the deep Genesis 1:2. What happened between verse one and two was this prehistoric existence. Verse 2 shows the world after the earth was cursed because of Satan:



2 Peter 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (This is NOT the Noahic flood; this is the one after Satan was cast out of heaven to earth)



Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.



....everything was destroyed and then there was no life at all for...millions-billions of years. Genesis 1:3 begins the story of the restoration of the earth where God brought everything back to it's original state, put a different type of animal life (no more dinosaurs -no revived ape-men or man-like creatures) just the new creation, including making MAN in the image of God. Please note that

God used words like Re-new, refill, replenish at this time, indicating a restoration, not a creation



This is such a broad topic and requires an in-depth study, because at first glance it may seem ridiculous. but if you'd care to E-mail me, I'll be glad to interact with more in-depth information.







Papaw

Answer 15

What do you mean "How do Christians explain dinosaurs?"



Um, we don't. They exist. Nobody denies that, and it doesn't conflict with the bible. creation was not 6 24/hr days, and the creation of birds and reptiles before mammals suggests that those birds and reptiles probably consisted of dinosaurs.



------



Second, the bible has not been rewritten. It has been re translated. How-ever the Dead Sea Scrolls and Silver Scrolls prove that the scriptures are the same as the were 2,000-4,000 years back. When comparing these ancient scriptures they proved they are stil the same today as they were thousands of years ago.

Answer 16

No, God's word has not been trifled with. The dead sea scrolls proved that. We have thousands of manuscripts dating from the early centuries. There is no contradiction.

Dinosaurs? Like Behemoth and Leviathan? Look them up. They're in the bible.

Answer 17

The Genesis Account and Dinosaurs

While the radioactive dating method is innovative, it is still based on speculation and assumption. In contrast, the Bible account in the first chapter of Genesis simply states the general order of creation. It allows for possibly thousands of millions of years for the formation of the earth and many millenniums in six creative eras, or “days,” to prepare the earth for human habitation.

Some dinosaurs (and pterosaurs) may indeed have been created in the fifth era listed in Genesis, when the Bible says that God made “flying creatures” and “great sea monsters.” Perhaps other types of dinosaurs were created in the sixth epoch. The vast array of dinosaurs with their huge appetites would have been appropriate considering the abundant vegetation that evidently existed in their time.—Genesis 1:20-24.

When the dinosaurs had fulfilled their purpose, God ended their life. But the Bible is silent on how he did that or when. We can be sure that dinosaurs were created by Jehovah for a purpose, even if we do not fully understand that purpose at this time. They were no mistake, no product of evolution. That they suddenly appear in the fossil record unconnected to any fossil ancestors, and also disappear without leaving connecting fossil links, is evidence against the view that such animals gradually evolved over millions of years of time. Thus, the fossil record does not support the evolution theory. Instead, it harmonizes with the Bible’s view of creative acts of God.

Answer 18

Believe in god if you want to. I have no idea if there is a god, but the Christian one is not real. Most Christians believe in science and just choose to follow Jesus' teachings. It's the traditionalist extreme Christians that take the bible as fact. Like I said, be moderate if you want to believe in something.

Answer 19

My Friend told me dinosaurs are in the bible it said something about huge beasts so it must be dinosaurs or the bones are there just to test your faith

Your name says it all

FAITH

Answer 20

Where ANYWHERE does it say we evolved into dinosaurs at some point?



Also, dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible, in Genesis. 'God created the monsters/creatures/behemoths of the earth'...behemoths = dinosaurs.

Answer 21

Through contortions of sophistry and denial, mostly.



Edit: Those passages from Job simply reinforce the correctness of my answer. Only the most desperate and intellectually bankrupt believers try to claim those reference a dinosaur.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behemoth#Meaning

Answer 22

Dinosaurs are a problem, but certainly not the only problem.



Christianity is based on a foundation of myths, easily traceable Semitic myths, that have no more basis in reality than any other myths and its god has no more proof than any other imagined god. When it comes down to it, if you believe in the Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot, you have a much firmer foundation in reality than any of the theistic religions.



It's a Bronze Age explanation of the universe coming to you from people who thought the Earth was flat and the center of the universe. It's incredible how strong the tendency to hang on to a concept is, especially if it's driven by culture and a natural desire to want to cheat the grave. But it ain't real. It's a castle built in the sand.

Answer 23

Yeah....Getting rid of dinosaurs was God's most regretted mistake :'(

Answer 24

Some say they lived with humans LOL

@ voice in the wilderness really? What verse?

Answer 25

You should look into creationism. It will answer your questions. The two websites have many videos for you to watch. Feel free to watch any of them.

Answer 26

Dinosaurs and humans have nothing in common, except that the dinos were indeed in existence when humans were..............try the Book of Job for one example. If you make the choice to not believe Scripture, than that's your own choosing

Answer 27

Dinosaurs are in the Bible. Read Job 40:15-24 and Job 41.



As far as the Bible being "rewritten," it hasn't. There HAVE been many modern TRANSLATIONS, but those aren't rewrites...Have you heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Answer 28

They all died a few million years before man, want me to explain further?

Answer 29

Christians don't believe in dinosaurs because they are ignorant of everything except of their flawed religion

Answer 30

In Genesis, it is mentioned about the beasts.

Answer 31

How does that explain God isn't real?

Answer 32

Sons of God = Angels or a being above man.



Giants = The abominable hybrid fusion with the sons of men & sons of God.



Dinosaurs: This term was created in the 19th Century. The bible predates that word. Those abominations were only described, not given a name. The fusion of different species of animals by magic.





King James Version Bible





Job Chapter 1



6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.





Luke Chapter 8



28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.





Daniel Chapter 3



25. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the son of God.





1 John Chapter 3



2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.





Genesis Chapter 6



1. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,



2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.



4. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown.



12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.





Romans Chapter 3



10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:





Genesis Chapter 6



9. These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.





[Christ was the only sinless man. How can Noah & his direct line be “perfect” after reading that verse? Noah and his family did not lay with the sons of God nor their hybrids.]



[In summary, the giants caused an imbalance in the food chain. The fallen guardian angels fused different species of animals we have today to sustain the giants. This answers a great deal of questions; such as why the Lord hates witchcraft/sorcery & why He enacted the death penalty from Moses to Malachi.]





The Book of Enoch: Chapter 7



2. And when the angels, the sons of heaven, beheld them, they became enamoured of them, saying to each other, Come, let us select for ourselves wives from the progeny of men, and let us beget children.



10. Then they took wives, each choosing for himself; whom they began to approach, and with whom they cohabited; teaching them sorcery, incantations, and the dividing of roots and trees.



11. And the women conceiving brought forth giants,



12. Whose stature was each three hundred cubits. These devoured all which the labor of men produced; until it became impossible to feed them;



14. And began to injure birds, beasts, reptiles, and fishes, to eat their flesh one after another, and to drink their blood.





[“began to injure” = sorcery/witchcraft]





The Book of Enoch: Chapter 8



9. And men, being destroyed, cried out; and their voice reached to heaven.





The Book of Jasher Chapter 4



18. And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals.





[“taught the mixture of animals” = sorcery/witchcraft]





The Book Jubilees Chapter 5



2. And lawlessness increased on the earth and all flesh corrupted its way, alike men and cattle and beasts and birds and everything that walks on the earth -all of them corrupted their ways and their orders, and they began to devour each other, and lawlessness increased on the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of all men (was) thus evil continually.





[“corrupted their ways and their orders” = sorcery/witchcraft]





5. But Noah found grace before the eyes of the Lord.





Genesis Chapter 6



17. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die.





Genesis Chapter 10



25. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one [was] Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name [was] Joktan.





[This is why the remains of the “dinosaurs” are spread all across the earth. All the continents and islands were unified before the flood.]

Answer 33

They say it's a test of god... Loud of crap, than you can ask them why we can see stars that are billions of light years away. They say it's a test of god. *facepalm*

Answer 34

god put the bones in the ground to test your faith