What deism has done for the world

[discipulus]

Excellent Deidre32. I can say with confidence that many feel just as you do even now and have misgivings about the Genesis account and how it correlates with the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Do recent discoveries in science contradict the Genesis account? I am happy to tell you that I do not take the Genesis creation account literally either. In fact, a good many Christian apologists see no insurmountable difficulties in reconciling science and the Genesis creation accounts. I am one of them. In fact, I am open to wherever the evidence leads.

When I say I stand by the Bible 100%, I mean it no doubt. That does not mean that I necessarily have to take everything in the Bible literally! There is a difference which I am sure you are aware. Genesis is perhaps best seen as an example of "antiquarian history", a type of literature telling of the first appearance of humans, the stories of ancestors and heroes, and the origins of culture, cities and so forth. So you see, the Genesis accounts do not need to be viewed as some sort of ancient "science textbook" at all. The purpose of the Genesis creation accounts was to establish certain fundamental truths regarding the origins of things.

The Bible contains an assortment of various types of literary genres. So I think Deidre32, something that might help you in this particular area would be to really study the Genesis account utilizing the Hebrew Text and go from there.

Genesis is geared towards telling us some things that are really already self-evident if you think about it, i.e the universe began to exist at some point in the distant past and this was brought about by an intelligent mind. It goes on to tell us that there is order in the universe and that life on earth is not some random accident but rather, that it is here by the intentional act of a causal agent. We see man created in God's image and that man holds a special place in the order of things and this is due to God's providence.

Within that broad rubric, we have liberty to fill in the blanks with whatever we come to find through scientific investigation.

So trust me, your misgivings do not mean that you have to just throw the bible away!

But man wasn't created as special and unique, if you follow the theory of evolution. The specialness of man is religous-speak only. (just sayin) lol

Okay. So. How do you reconcile accepting Genesis as metaphorical in nature, but not the rest of the Bible? How does one make such a distinction? Eventually, the baby will be thrown out with the bathwater, you will see.

One word....

Hermeneutics!

I love it.....

I know I know.....most people have this idea of hermeneutics as being the most dreadfully boring discipline ever, but I think, at least in my opinion, it is indispensable for the apologist!