A Perspective on the Folded Sandstone of Tyninghame

The geological formation of the folded sandstone near Tyninghame House in East Lothian, Scotland, is a remarkable example of tectonic deformation and sedimentary processes. The rocks are part of the Carboniferous Ballagan Formation, which dates to approximately 350 million years ago. At that time, this area was located near the equator, part of a large continent with a warm, wet climate. Sediments, including sand, were deposited by large river systems into shallow marine environments. Over millions of years, these sediments were compacted and cemented into the sandstone layers we see today.

The striking folds in the rock are a result of immense pressure from plate tectonics. 

Long after the sandstone layers were formed and solidified, continental plates collided, exerting incredible force that caused the once-flat rock layers to buckle and fold. This process, known as orogenesis (mountain-building), occurred over millions of years. The presence of these folds, along with other features like faults and intrusions, provides critical evidence of the Earth's long and dynamic geological history. The folded sandstone at Tyninghame is a testament to the slow, continuous forces that have shaped our planet over vast spans of time.

How a Global Flood Cannot Cause This Formation 

The claim by Young Earth Creationists that a global flood, as described in Genesis 7, could create such a formation is not supported by scientific evidence. The key geological features of the folded sandstone formation are inconsistent with the conditions of a single, catastrophic flood. Folds like these require immense, sustained pressure over millions of years, not the rapid deposition and folding that would occur in a flood lasting less than a year. A global flood would cause a massive jumble of unorganized sediment, not the highly ordered, layered, and folded rock strata seen at Tyninghame.

Furthermore, the Young Earth Creationist use of Genesis 7's "springs below" to explain the origin of pseudoscientific geology is an example of eisegesis interpreting a text to introduce a meaning that was not originally there. The phrase "springs of the great deep" is a metaphorical, cosmological term in ancient Hebrew literature, not a scientific explanation for subterranean geological forces. Geologists and biblical scholars agree that this phrase is not intended to describe plate tectonics or other geological processes. To interpret it as such is to force a modern scientific concept onto an ancient text, thereby misrepresenting both science and scripture.

Old Earth Creationism's View of Genesis Days 

Old Earth Creationists believe the "days" in Genesis 1 represent long, undefined periods of time, rather than literal 24-hour days. This interpretation, often called the Day-Age Theory, accommodates the scientific evidence for an ancient Earth and universe. It allows for a literal interpretation of the creative events in Genesis while aligning with the geological and astronomical timelines supported by scientific inquiry. This view sees the creative "days" as epochs, or extended periods, during which God brought forth different aspects of creation, like the formation of the Earth's continents and life.

Old Earth Creationism interprets Job 9:5-6 as a description of God's immense power and sovereignty over natural forces, rather than a literal 24 hour depiction of specific, recent geological events. OEC acknowledges that mountains and geological features are formed through long, natural processes, but attributes the ultimate cause to God's design and ongoing control. "Removing mountains" and "shaking the earth" are seen as descriptions of God's ability to orchestrate and influence the Earth's systems, including tectonic shifts and geological upheavals, over vast periods. This verse highlights God's role as the sustainer and director of the physical world, aligning with OEC's view of God working through established natural laws and deep time.

Job 14:18 and Uniformitarianism: 

This phrase directly connects to the biblical passage Job 14:18-19, which states: "But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place; the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth.." This passage discusses the scientific principle of uniformitarianism, by describing geological processes of erosion and change occurring over time. Job observes that even seemingly permanent natural features like mountains and rocks are subject to gradual wearing down by water and other forces. This observation of ongoing natural processes shaping the landscape aligns with the idea behind uniformitarianism – that present-day processes can explain past geological changes. The connection is a conceptual parallel regarding the continuous nature of change and a direct theological or scientific statement on uniformitarianism.

Old Earth Creationism and God's Glory 

Old Earth Creationism elevates God's glory by presenting a universe of immense age, size, and complexity, all of which reflect His omnipotence and wisdom. It views the scientific discoveries of a vast cosmos, an ancient Earth, and the intricate processes that shaped our planet as revelations of God's character. Instead of seeing science as a threat to faith, Old Earth Creationists see it as a means of further understanding the magnificent creation, and therefore the glorious Creator. The deep time and slow processes observed in geology and cosmology are seen not as contradictions to scripture, but as the very means by which God unfolds His divine plan.