President Jim Archer greets Rev. Dr. Ron Elsdon with Club Welfare Officer Cecil Spotton (L) and new member Derick Woods (R)

Part 1
The President introduced this morning’s speaker, Dr. Ron Elsdon, the topic of his talk being “In the Beginning”. Dr. Elsdon is a recently retired Church of Ireland Rector who prior to Ordination enjoyed a distinguished academic career as a Geologist in University College Dublin having studied Geology at Cambridge University.

Dr Ron commenced his talk with a health warning “Beware, put your armour on.” and proceeded to give members a fascinating account of how the age of the planet has been calculated over the last 350 years, ranging from Archbishop Usher’s calculation of 4004 years to that of Arthur Holmes at 4.5 billion years.

While Usher’s dating was a remarkable piece of work it was a child of its time. Homes revised calculations, based on the measurement of the abundance of uranium isotopes, reflected the advances in scientific knowledge.

The ancient text of Genesis 1 is not science but it continually describes the goodness of God’s creation, human relationships not human biology and polemics arguing for a structured development in stages that can be understood as progress.

The talk concluded on a seasonal note based on the Three Wise Men, the Star of Bethlehem, the Farnese Atlas and the search for, and propagation of wisdom.
An extensive question and answer session followed the talk and a vote of thanks proposed by Cecil Spotten and then passed to the Rev. Dr. Elsdon by the President. The members showed their appreciation.

Part 2
Coleraine Probus 'In the beginning'

Coleraine Probus Club welcomed Rev. Dr. Ron Elson to a recent meeting, where he gave a very interesting and equally challenging talk on the beginnings and age of our world.

The Rev. Dr. Elsdon started his talk with a 'health warning'. Although it is often said that there are totally opposing views between the Bible interpretation of the creation of the Earth, and the scientific account of the formation of our planet, it is not necessary for us believe that these are really in direct conflict. Ron is both a theologian (Rev.) and a retired Geology lecturer (Dr.), and believes that both viewpoints can be seen as augmenting, not contradicting one another.

Dr. Ron gave the club members a fascinating account of how the age of our planet has been calculated over the last few hundred years by various scholars and eminent scientists. Calculations have ranged from around 6,000 years to the current estimate of about 4.5 billion. All of which seemed to make a strong case for the scientific/geological 'truth' and the impossibility of the biblical version in Genesis 1. If this is so, then the question is really 'what is Genesis 1 REALLY about?'

If the Book of Genesis (as translated 300 years ago) isn't about the physical formation of the Earth, then for Rev. Ron it is about three things 1. The goodness of creation. 2. Human Relations/Relationships, not Human Biology. And 3. Polemics - it argues for a structured development and evolution, shown in stages that can be understood as progress. And that is a perspective from the Rev. Ron, on the Old Testament, that many of the club members certainly wanted to give a lot of thought!

The talk concluded on a seasonal note, and again with challenging twist. Rev. Ron talked about 'The Three Wise Men' and 'Matthew 2'. He then gave a history of the 'Star', its place in art, science and the evidence of a known comet that would have been sighted in about 2 BC. But what of the 'Three Wise Men' who travelled from far into the east and the 'Gifts' they brought? Could this be a way of illustrating how knowledge was spread, from the practically advanced areas (of the East) through mankind and the importance of the search for, and propagation of wisdom?

Extra Information: (all links for open in a new window, close the window to get back to Probus)

For a view of Genesis 1, 'Click' here
or,
For a slightly different view, 'Click' here

For a fascinating historical look at a the age of the Earth, read about the Farnese Atlas

For some differing views on the 'True' age of the World:
1. Try Here
or,
2. Try Here
or,
3. Try Here

And to check 'Matthew 2', 'Click' here

The Rev. Dr. Elsdon also lectures at 'Christians in Science' ('Click' link for more info)
His next talk is:
"Has Creation got a Future?"
Rev. Dr. Ron Elsdon
(Rector, St Bartholomew’s Church, Stranmillis Road, Belfast)
The Hub. 22 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast
7.30 pm on Tuesday 7 March 2017

Finally, Rev. Dr. Ron Elsdon strongly recommends this book - just 'Click' the image below:

(But sadly at this time it is not available, BUT may be in the future, so keep checking!)