Tuesday 4 September 2007

Science, religion, and who's right about the creation of the earth

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If you want to know the answer to the question, how the world was created, I would strongly recommend that you read the Big Bang Theory and do not commit the mistake commonly made by people in going to the Genesis Story of Creation.

There once was a Pope who fell into the same error. Said Pope took the Genesis story literally and the earth-centeredness portrayed in the story so seriously. Then came a scientist who claimed that the earth is not the centre of attraction in outer space but only one of the planets the revolve around the sun. This angered the Pope so much to the point the he ex-communicated the scientist. Apparently it was only after several hundred of years that passed by before the Catholic Church exonerate the poor scientist.

Now if the Bible is a book of Truth then what truth is being told in the Genesis Creation story?

The answer is simply Theological Truth i.e. a truth that would bring people to believe in God. In other words every story in the Bible may not be true historically or scientifically but it is true in the sense that it tells about God and that it bring people to believe in God.

What is the Theological Truth in Genesis Creation Story?

Generally it tells us that God is the creator of everything. But if you read closely you would notice that there is one specific traits of God that is highlighted in this story, viz. God is a great organizer. Notice how God's creation were created in proper order i.e. each day different things were created and that man was created last. Just imagine how man could have managed if he was created first before the land. Notice also the arrangement of creatures, e.g. plants in the dry land and fish in the sea, etc. To put it simply the main theme in the story is organisation and that God is the greatest organiser, i.e. making good out of chaos. In other words the author was simply telling the readers that the God of Israel is very organised God.

Now what is the pastoral significance of the story? How could it bring people to conversion or belief in God?

Christian life is sharing in the life of God. If you are in love or if you love truly someone you feel some sort of spiritual happiness. This feeling of happiness indicates that you are sharing in the life of God. You share the life of God because God Himself is Love. (Notice the feeling when you hate someone, it is a very bad feeling because God is absent in this instance).

Therefore if God is the greatest organiser (as Genesis Creation story) then by being organised ourselves we share in the life of God. Notice how you feel when you find your kitchen very dirty and messy and then you started cleaning and tidying it up. Isn't it that the feeling is good after the cleaning and tidying up? On the other hand imagine yourself in a very disorganised office and then someone phones you about something and you just could not find the file that you need, what is the feeling? Very bad, chaotic, nightmare, isn't it?

Notice that being organised' and loving someone both gave feeling of happiness and peace. And remember that these feelings are both gifts coming from the Holy Spirit. Therefore when you felt these feelings the Spirit of God is in you thus you share in the life of God.

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