🦕 Dinosaurs, Childhood Wonder, and a Biblical Lens
- Melody Ching
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A personal reflection
Dinosaurs were one of the great loves of my childhood. I memorized their names, plastered their pictures across my study board, and devoured every magazine I could find. Like many children, I grew up believing the standard narrative: dinosaurs lived millions of years ago and were wiped out by a massive asteroid that plunged the earth into darkness. That was the story I carried for years.
But today, I went searching for something different—a biblical perspective. What do Christians who take Scripture seriously say about dinosaurs? How do they fit into the story of creation, the fall, and redemption?
My search led me to articles from Answers in Genesis and Desiring God, and they opened up a surprisingly rich and worshipful way of seeing these ancient creatures.
🐉 Dinosaurs in God’s Good Creation
According to Answers in Genesis, dinosaurs were created by God on Day Six, alongside other land animals Answers in Genesis. That means they were part of the original “very good” creation—majestic, diverse, and fully under God’s care.
The Bible doesn’t use the word dinosaur (a term coined in the 1800s), but it does describe massive, awe‑inspiring creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan in the book of Job. Some creationists see these as possible references to dinosaur‑like animals—creatures with bones like bronze and tails like cedar trees Answers in Genesis.
Whether or not these passages refer to dinosaurs directly, the point is clear:God made creatures of staggering size and power, and they reflected His creativity and glory.
🌍 The Fall and the Tragedy of Death
One of the most striking ideas I encountered is that, in a biblical worldview, death entered creation through sin. That means the extinction of dinosaurs—whatever the mechanism—was not just a natural event but part of the tragic consequences of the fall.
Desiring God emphasizes that dinosaurs, like all creation, ultimately point us back to the God who made them. Their size, ferocity, and beauty are meant to stir awe and humility, reminding us of God’s wisdom and power Desiring God.
When I think about it this way, their extinction becomes even more heartbreaking. These magnificent creatures were part of God’s good world, yet they too suffered under the curse that humanity brought into creation.
And perhaps, in some way, we really are part of their story of decline—not only through Adam’s sin but through the ongoing ways humanity has misused and damaged the earth.
🛶 Dinosaurs and the Flood
Answers in Genesis also suggests that many dinosaurs were buried and fossilized during the global flood, while others survived on the ark and eventually died out due to climate changes or human activity Answers in Genesis.
Whether one agrees with this interpretation or not, it offers a coherent way of understanding fossils, extinction, and Scripture together—without separating dinosaurs from the biblical timeline.
🔥 Dragons, Legends, and Memory
One article explored the idea that ancient dragon legends from cultures around the world may be distant memories of humans encountering dinosaur‑like creatures Answers in Genesis. It’s a fascinating thought: that stories of dragons might be cultural echoes of real animals that once walked the earth.
Even if we can’t be certain, it reminds me that the world is far more mysterious—and far more interconnected—than we often assume.
✨ What Dinosaurs Teach Me About God
After reading these perspectives, here’s where I’ve landed:
Dinosaurs were part of God’s original, beautiful creation.
Their extinction is a reminder of the tragedy of sin and the brokenness of the world.
Their size and wonder still point us to the greatness of our Creator.
Their story is folded into the larger story of Scripture—creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.
And maybe that’s why my childhood fascination has returned with new meaning. Dinosaurs aren’t just scientific curiosities; they are theological signposts. They remind me of a God who delights in creativity, who mourns the corruption of His world, and who promises to make all things new.
One day, in the restored creation, perhaps we will see creatures even more magnificent than the dinosaurs we once imagined.
Until then, their bones whisper a story:God made this world good. Sin broke it. Christ will restore it. Websites for reference https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/
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