Engaging Science and Faith with Confidence

Week 2:

What Does Genesis Tell Us About Creation?

Grace Chapel High School MinistryNovember 23, 2014

Sarah Wolinski

Topics

● Week 1: Science and faith: do we have to choose?

● Week 2: What does Genesis tell us about creation?

● Week 3: How old is the earth?

● Week 4: Evolution and Christian faith

● Week 5: Whom do you trust in science?

Fish bumper sticker wars

Fish bumper sticker wars

Fish bumper sticker wars

Origins

Selected Publications• Genesis 1 As Ancient Cosmology (2011)• The Lost World of Genesis One (2009)• Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds

Commentary: OT Set (2009, Editor)• Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the OT (2006)• NIV Application Commentary: Genesis (2001)

Ancient Near East

Background Studies: Source Material

The Bible is written for us, not to us

J. Walton

Moon

Think-with-your-innards

“Cosmic Geography” (Ancient Egypt)

“Cosmic Geography” (Ancient Israel)

Natural vs. Supernatural?

Key #1: Functional Focus

TIME WEATHER

FOOD

Key #2: Temple Story

For the LORD has chosen Zion,he has desired it for his dwelling:

“This is my resting place for ever and ever;here I will sit enthroned…”

(Psalm 132:13-14)

Formed on the Potter’s Wheel

ar·che·type

/ˈärkəˌtīp/

noun

essence, representative, model, very typical example

Adam and Eve in the Garden

Origins as a Pie

Supernatural

NaturalGOD DID IT

SCIENCE CAN

EXPLAIN IT

Origins as a Pie

Supernatural

Natural

GOD DID IT

SCIENCE CAN

EXPLAIN IT

Origins as a Layer Cake

Physical Reality

Physical Reality

METAPHYSICAL REALITY

PHYSICAL REALITY

• Ultimate cause, purpose (God)

• Known by faith• WHO/WHY of

creation

• Natural cause• Known by science• HOW/WHEN of

creation

References

● Walton Lecture at BioLogos President’s Circle Meeting (Oct. 2012)

http://biologos.org/blog/series/genesis-through-ancient-eyes

● Walton, John. The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. (IVP Academic 2009)

Image Credits● Fish wars, my story (Slides 3-5, 7)

SW photos

● Origins (Slide 6)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo,_Creation_of_Adam_02.jpgMichelangelo Buonarroti [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HINGOLGADH.JPGBy Kalpeshzala59 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

● John Walton (Slide 8)http://originstoday.org/promo.html

● Ancient Near East (Slide 9)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_near_east_540_bc.svgBy ChrisO [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

● Background studies (Slide 10)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Museum_Flood_Tablet.jpgPublic domain

● Moon (Slide 12)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FullMoon2010.jpgBy Gregory H. Revera (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

● Kidneys and brain (Slide 13)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray1123.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sobo_1909_626.pngBy Dr. Johannes Sobotta (Sobotta's Textbook and Atlas of Human Anatomy 1908) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

● Egyptian cosmology (Slide 14)Public domain

● Mesopotamian cosmology (Slide 15)Simon Prado

Image Credits● Baby (Slide 16)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hospital_newborn_by_Bonnie_Gruenberg3.jpgBy Bonnie U. Gruenberg (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

● Time – Weather – Food (Slide 17)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melbourne_sundial_at_Flagstaff_Gardens.JPGBy Jeepika (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_over_yucatan_mexico_02.jpgBy Sensenmann (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wheat_close-up.JPGBy User:Bluemoose (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

● Solomon’s temple (Slide 18)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC_I.jpgPublic domain

● Formed on the potter’s wheel (Slide 20)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chnum-ihy-isis.jpgBy Didia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

● Adam & Eve (Slide 22)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Brueghel_%28I%29_-_Adam_and_Eve_in_the_Garden_of_Eden_-_WGA03584.jpgJan Brueghel the Elder [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?Tell me, if you understand.

Who marked off its dimensions?Surely you know!

Job 38:4-5a