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Human longevity: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Postdiluviallifespans.JPG|right]] | [[Image:Postdiluviallifespans.JPG|right]] | ||
'''Human longevity''' | '''Human longevity''' is the length of a person's life (life expectancy). The Creationist reflections on this topic typically focuses on the cause of [[fall of man|human mortality]] and the effects of the flood on the human lifespan. | ||
In the first book of the Bible ([[Genesis]]), it is said that there was a tree in the garden of Eden (Tree of Life) that would allow humans to live forever. In addition, ancient historical documents, including [[Genesis]], record lifespans approximately 10 times above what they are currently. However, immediately after the flood, human longevity shows a rapid decline. | |||
== Human immortality == | |||
[[Image:Original_sin.jpg|thumb|[[Fall of Man]] by Lukas Cranach the Elder]] | |||
: Main Article: [[Fall of man]] | |||
The '''Tree of Life''' was a tree in the Garden of Eden that was placed there so humans could ''live forever''. According to {{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=2-3}}, upon eating of the forbidden ''Tree of Knowledge'', God immediately removed Adam and Eve from the garden, and placed a flaming sword to guard the tree so they could not eat from the ''Tree of Life''. In {{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=3|verses=22-23}}, God is quoted as saying "''He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden...'' | |||
There remains some debate within the [[theological]] and [[creation science]] community regarding the nature of this immortality. However, many people assume humans were originally designed to be physically immortal, but this ability was somehow linked to the aforementioned ''Tree of Life''. Perhaps the fruit from the tree contained some factor that was able to transform the biochemical nature of humans, slowing or arresting programmed cell death ([[apoptosis]]). As a result of the actions of [[Adam and Eve]] in the [[garden of Eden]], they brought death to all mankind through their disobedience. | |||
== Pre-flood longevity == | == Pre-flood longevity == | ||
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* Accelerated [[recombination]], inbreeding, and the resulting [[genetic drift]] played a possible role. | * Accelerated [[recombination]], inbreeding, and the resulting [[genetic drift]] played a possible role. | ||
* The decrease was a result of events occurring between 1997 [[A.M.]] and 2187 [[A.M.]] | * The decrease was a result of events occurring between 1997 [[A.M.]] and 2187 [[A.M.]] | ||
* The ages | * The ages of the Biblical [[genealogy]] are exaggerated. | ||
It is argued by some that the decline in human longevity was either an intended or knowingly concomitant result of the flood. The following passage quotes the Words of God when he basically says that the days of man will be 120 years because He would destroy the [[Earth]] by flood. Although one possible interpretation of this scripture is that this was a statement of when the flood would occur, it is very compelling that the maximum life expectancy for humans is almost exactly 120 years. The longest verified lifespan on record for a human was Jeanne Calment who lived to be 122 years of age[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment]. | It is argued by some that the decline in human longevity was either an intended or knowingly concomitant result of the flood. The following passage quotes the Words of God when he basically says that the days of man will be 120 years because He would destroy the [[Earth]] by flood. Although one possible interpretation of this scripture is that this was a statement of when the flood would occur, it is very compelling that the maximum life expectancy for humans is almost exactly 120 years. The longest verified lifespan on record for a human was Jeanne Calment who lived to be 122 years of age[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment]. | ||
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=== Chaotic events === | === Chaotic events === | ||
The chart at right shows that all of the post-diluvian patriarchs died within a 200 year period, from 1997 A.M. to 2187 A.M. Interestingly, [[Noah]] died only two years before [[Abraham]] was born. It is possible that their deaths were caused by events occurring during this period, such as perhaps the dispersion of humanity from the [[Tower of Babel]], war, environmental changes, or some other events during that period that caused the death rate to increase greatly. | The chart at right shows that all of the post-diluvian patriarchs died within a 200 year period, from 1997 A.M. to 2187 A.M. Interestingly, [[Noah]] died only two years before [[Abraham]] was born. It is possible that their deaths were caused by events occurring during this period, such as perhaps the dispersion of humanity from the [[Tower of Babel]], war, environmental changes, or some other events during that period that caused the death rate to increase greatly. | ||
== Josephus on early human longevity == | == Josephus on early human longevity == | ||
Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, wrote: | Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, wrote: | ||
{{cquote|Let no one, upon comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the few years which we now live, think that what we have said of them is false; or make the shortness of our lives at present an argument that neither did they attain to so long a duration of life; for those ancients were beloved of God and [lately] made by God himself; and because their food was then fitter for the prolongation of life, might well live so great a number of years; and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on account of their virtue and the good use they made of it in astronomical and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded the time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had lived six hundred years; for the Great Year is completed in that interval. Now I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those that have written Antiquities, both among the Greeks and barbarians; for even Manetho, who wrote the Egyptian History, and Berosus, who collected the Chaldean Monuments, and Mochus and Hestiaeus, and besides these, Hieronymus the Egyptian, and those who composed the Poenician History, agree to what I here say: Hesiod also, and Hecataeus, Hellanicus and Acusilaus; and besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients lived a thousand years; but as to these matters let everyone look upon them as he thinks fit. (''Antiquities'', I:5:104-108) }} | {{cquote|Let no one, upon comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the few years which we now live, think that what we have said of them is false; or make the shortness of our lives at present an argument that neither did they attain to so long a duration of life; for those ancients were beloved of God and [lately] made by God himself; and because their food was then fitter for the prolongation of life, might well live so great a number of years; and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on account of their virtue and the good use they made of it in astronomical and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded the time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had lived six hundred years; for the Great Year is completed in that interval. Now I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those that have written Antiquities, both among the Greeks and barbarians; for even Manetho, who wrote the Egyptian History, and Berosus, who collected the Chaldean Monuments, and Mochus and Hestiaeus, and besides these, Hieronymus the Egyptian, and those who composed the Poenician History, agree to what I here say: Hesiod also, and Hecataeus, Hellanicus and Acusilaus; and besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients lived a thousand years; but as to these matters let everyone look upon them as he thinks fit. (''Antiquities'', I:5:104-108) }} | ||
