Science and literal interpretation of the Bible

How literally do you take the Bible?

When it says God created everything including light (Genesis 1:1-3), how does that match up in your mind with well-established science?

This is hardly a unique question for Christians.

The Creation Museum in northern Kentucky takes a literal view of the Bible and has drawn the ire and consistent criticism from scientists.

A recent visit to the museum by a large group of scientists was featured by ABC News, revealing frequently aired charges of scientific inaccuracies and falsehoods.

The most interesting part of the ABC piece is the embedded video, an interview with Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical.

Collins sees Genesis as part of a larger puzzle.

“I like the idea that God gave us two books,” Collins said. “He gave us the book of God’s Word, the Bible, which I read every day and which I trust to give me great truth, but which in many ways has parts that I don’t entirely understand.

“But that other book that God gave us, the book of God’s works, nature, which science gives us an opportunity to uncover, is also an opportunity to learn about the nature of God to worship if you will. To get a glimpse of God’s mind when you discover something new about the universe, so how could that possibly be a conflict of truths?”

It’s not an easy – and perhaps impossible – question to answer, but one that all Christians must wrestle with from time to time in exploring the depths of their faith.

 

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Science and literal interpretation of the Bible

How literally do you take the Bible?

When it says God created everything including light (Genesis 1:1-3), how does that match up in your mind with well-established science?

This is hardly a unique question for Christians.

The Creation Museum in northern Kentucky takes a literal view of the Bible and has drawn the ire and consistent criticism from scientists.

A recent visit to the museum by a large group of scientists was featured by ABC News, revealing frequently aired charges of scientific inaccuracies and falsehoods.

The most interesting part of the ABC piece is the embedded video, an interview with Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical.

Collins sees Genesis as part of a larger puzzle.

“I like the idea that God gave us two books,” Collins said. “He gave us the book of God’s Word, the Bible, which I read every day and which I trust to give me great truth, but which in many ways has parts that I don’t entirely understand.

“But that other book that God gave us, the book of God’s works, nature, which science gives us an opportunity to uncover, is also an opportunity to learn about the nature of God to worship if you will. To get a glimpse of God’s mind when you discover something new about the universe, so how could that possibly be a conflict of truths?”

It’s not an easy – and perhaps impossible – question to answer, but one that all Christians must wrestle with from time to time in exploring the depths of their faith.

 

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *