Compared to the age of Earth accepted as correct today, how did 17th and 18th century proponents of catastrophism envision the Earth's age?
A) They believed Earth to be much older than it really is.
B) They believed Earth to be a few hundred years younger than it really is.
C) They accepted Bishop Ussher's calculation but explained the differences in landforms and geology by violent catastrophes.
D) They were right on the money, give or take a few million years.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Catastrophism in the 17th and 18th centuries often involved accepting the biblical chronology, such as Bishop Ussher's calculation that placed Earth's creation at 4004 BC, but attributing geological formations and changes to sudden, violent events rather than slow, gradual processes.

Compared to the Age of Earth Accepted as Correct Today