Science and Scripture: What do we do with conflict? Michael Goheen Trinity Western University.
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Transcript of Science and Scripture: What do we do with conflict? Michael Goheen Trinity Western University.
Situation
Secularised science uncovered evidence challenged long standing traditions in church
Highly charged, polemical atmosphere
Charges and counter-charges
Equally authoritative
Now no one has, or can have, any objections against the facts which geology brings to light. Those facts are just as much the words of God as the content of Holy Writ and are therefore to be accepted in faith by everyone (Herman Bavinck).
Scientific and scriptural interpretation
But a very strict distinction must be made between those facts and the exegesis of them which geologists propose. The phenomena which the earth exhibits is one thing, but the combinations of hypotheses and conclusions which the investigators of the earth base on them are something different...
...Scripture and theology have nothing to fear from the facts which have been written by the almighty hand of God. Conflict arises only because the text of both the book of Scripture and that of nature is often read and understood so badly. -Herman Bavinck
He sets the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved (Ps. 104:5).
O sun, stand still... so the sun stood still (Josh. 10:12f.).
The earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises (Eccl. 1:4f.).
Learning from the Copernican fiasco
He sets the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved (Ps. 104:5).
O sun, stand still... so the sun stood still (Josh. 10:12f.).
The earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises (Eccl. 1:4f.).
People give ear to an upstart astrologer who strove to show that the earth revolves, not the heavens or the firmament, the sun and the moon. Whosoever wishes to appear clever must devise some new system which of all systems, of course, is the best. This fool wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but Sacred Scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth.
-Martin Luther
The Copernican theory undoubtedly contained a challenge for the Catholic theology. But instead of accepting the challenge and reflecting on faith in a new perspective, the Church opted for an easy conservatism, keeping the enemy at bay by means of its anathemas. This failure to accept the challenge of a new world picture was a great loss to the Church and to Christianity.
-Max Wildiers
Two non-negotiables
Affirmations central to Christian faith
That God created the world by His word
Adam and Eve were historical persons
Three interpretive questions open for debate: Age of the Earth
Young earth advocates: 6,000-10,000 years old
Old earth advocates: 4 billion years old
Three interpretive questions open for debate: Days in Genesis 1
6-24 hour daysMost natural way to read the text
Interpretation throughout much of church history
Divine pattern basis for human pattern
Much longer periods of timeScientific evidence demands longer period
Unique ‘time’ (No sun; Creation and creating days)
Three interpretive questions open for debate:
Days: Chronological or Literary? Chronological
6-24 hour days or long periods of time
LiteraryDo believe events took placeBut Genesis 1 not video taped account of how it took placeHistorical act of creation narrated in highly literary way
Solutions to conflict
Conflict between interpretationsSecular scientific interpretation of creational evidence
Traditional interpretation of Genesis 1
Three major paths toward solution to conflict
Positions opting only for traditional interpretation of Genesis 1
Creation science most influential
Young earth, 6-24 hour days
Genesis 1 describes how God created
Form own scientific community to work in science according to these presuppositions
Brief evaluation
Appreciation:Take Bible seriouslyExposed many problems with evolutionary science
ConcernsStrident rigidity—not only position faithfulSet up conflict as Bible vs. science; creation vs. evolution
Positions opting solely for secular science
Liberal and neo-orthodox theologies that:
Place Genesis 1 in values category—account of Israel’s religious experience
Mythical account with relevance for believers
Positions do not do justice to God’s act of creation and content of Genesis 1
Positions that attempt to take Genesis 1 and scientific evidence seriously
Theistic evolutionAccepts secular science’s picture of evolutionBelieve God works through this process
Concerns:Difficulty in maintaining vital distinction between creation and fallDifficulty in finding place for AdamProblems with evolutionary theory today
Positions that attempt to take Genesis 1 and scientific evidence seriously
ConcordismAssumption: Genesis 1 and science offer scientific picture of world’s originsAttempt to harmonize the twoGap theoryDay-age theory
ConcernsGap theory highly speculative—dead todayDay age: odd amalgam of scientific origins and Genesis 1
Positions that attempt to take Genesis 1 and scientific evidence seriously
Progressive CreationismSimilar to theistic evolutionEvolution is micro-evolutionGod steps in to create new species
ConcernsSimilar ones to theistic evolution and concordismDeistic
Positions that attempt to take Genesis 1 and scientific evidence seriously
Framework hypothesisGenesis 1 not video-tape account of creating work of God
Highly literary rendering of God’s creating activity
Literary structure for other reasons than chronology or description
Real ‘historical’ events lie behind text
Some tentative conclusions
Evolutionary theory is damaging to church’s life especially as it assumes the status of full-blown worldview
When the response of creation science becomes rigid and strident (and sometimes simplistic) it doesn’t help the situation
Some tentative conclusions
Framework hypothesis and young earth /6 day-24 hour positions are defensibleConcerns about each of themWilling to live with uncertaintyEnormous worldview/doctrinal content of Genesis 1 more importantNeed for Christian love and on-going discussion