To accept the idea that God created the universe to “look” like it was created billions of years ago when it was actually created only 6,000 years ago is an attempt to stick one’s head in the sand and ignore reality.

For a religion to remain relevant it must not contradict observable truths.

If it is discovered that the universe is different from what we used to believe we needn’t try to cling to the old belief, but simply adjust our belief to incorporate the new understanding of the universe. Doesn’t that make God all that much greater?

Religion must evolve or it will belong only to short sighted fools.

As an example, most religious leaders used to teach Earth was the center of the universe and everything revolves around us. As time went on we discovered that the sun is the center of the solar system and Earth and the other planets orbit the Sun. I’m sure you know this is true as well, but back in the day this concept was so controversial that anyone who said Earth orbits the sun would be in danger of being arrested by the Church. Religion tried to hold back our understanding of the universe so they could hold on to their outdated and ill informed beliefs.

The universe was not created in 6 days and it was not created 6,000 years ago. You can’t change that, but you could change how you interpret your religious understanding. Not all religious leaders think a thousand years in the Bible is the same as a thousand years in actual Earth history or that a day in creation is the same as your 24 hour day.

If you accept God created everything, don’t you want to look closely and see all the amazing things out there in the universe? Don’t you want to know when it really began rather than clinging on to an idea which can be proven incorrect? How does understanding the universe is 13.8 billion years old challenge anything? Shouldn’t that make you even more wondrous?