And the earth is 6000 years old?

Interesting question Ditch.. I'm not sure what McGrath believes but I think he is more an 'old' earth bod...

For me.. I read Gen 1 and honestly.. I don't have any major problem with the scientific view.. (as in ..'Big Bang').... there is room for a bit of interpretation there. I'm also comfortable with a young earth.. But consider this.. Gen 1 is not a scientific document or treatize.. it declares that God created... all.

When comparing Gen account with all other pagan ones.. it stands out as head and shoulders above them in believability.. though I can appreciate a 'talking snake' might make some people wonder.

Science... can neither prove nor disprove :) Intelligent design is just one of a number of theories.. and just as valid unless one's presuppositions would exclude it 'dogmatically' :)

David
We are not surprised yet again you ignored the truth about the Great Family First The Great so called Christians and their lack of humanity and concern.
We are not surprised that just like all the other so called good christians you fail again and again and again and again to address this topic.

We are not surprised because that is what all these so called good Church people do again and again and again and again.

While the lord cries out to help his creatures - again and again and again.
It kind of makes you wonder doesnt it- Who is really doing the Lords work.
We are not surprised that these strange lot patting themselves on the back think its more important to debate a womens personal business on to have or not have children.

We are not surprsided either that something that is less than a half a grain of rice amnd not born takes priority of Gods Creatures.

We are not surprised this crazy lot cant see there are too many people on this earth now.

Do you know why we are not surprsided David.
Because all or most of these so called good Christians and Church leaders are they same.
They ALL look the other way.
Its the shame and ignorance and cruelty you all share.
Pluss self arrogance.
Let us know when PROFESOR comes to town again. There will be movement all right.

I sympathise "People Against Live Exports..." re: Family First etc.
Somewhere in the not too distant past certain christians decided that politics was a good way to go; and it is if The Lord is in the move, but I believe it also tends to aid putting aside the Gospel for a lesser thing. The big commission for christians is to "Go into all of the world and preach to every living thing" Mark 16:15. Whether christians in politics is The Lords Will I couldnt say unless I was privey to the first vision given to the christian politician-to-be, if one was given. There was a group back in the 1980's in Toowoomba QLD called the Logos Foundation that went over into politics for a while then faded out as its leader fell into pride and immorality, then died. I spoke against the man in the local press quite a bit but he was convinced he was on the right track doing God's Will in the political arena. I prefer a simpler path of preaching the Word and as you say caring for the little ones too. We feed cockatoos, parrots and possums. It gives us much pleasure

Boaz said, "When comparing Gen account with all other pagan ones.. it stands out as head and shoulders above them in believability.. though I can appreciate a 'talking snake' might make some people wonder."

Oh come now David. How can the Genesis story stand head and shoulders above all? That type of sweeping unsupported statement typifies many that true believers make. It is made out of pure faith, nothing more.

The challenge for fundamentalist hristians such as yourself, is to maintain your faith but at the same time engage in a rational debate on those matters that challenge your belief structure. By doing so you are not betraying your religion. You are merely using your brains. The ones your god gave you. Unless you think he meant for you not to use them?

But to make a statement as the one I've quoted and just leave it at that, no evidence, no reasoning, that's not what I would call debate, just preaching.

Dear Ditch
there is hardly space here to present the epic of Gilgamish.. its jussst too long.
You can do some sussing out yourself.. "pagan creation accounts" or somethng like that...

There are some areas where we cannot do anything but 'make the statement'..

I've looked at this b4..
http://home.att.net/~kmpope/CreationMyths.html
might help.

Similarities between pagan myths and Genesis are explained by realizing that Genesis is the original..and it became diluted or embellished in pagan terms as time went by :)