From: Rolf To: Ishnian ; [email protected] Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 1:05 AM Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] ] A VISUAL EXPRESSION OF A THEOLOGICAL IDEA OF THESKY/HEAVEN ( Rolf's Response 4)
Dear George, I do not want to discuss the age of the earth. My words were that the creation of the earth is undated in the text, and therefore the text does not contradict the ages given by different scientists. My point was that the creation account do not start with chaos, and that the words of Genesis 1:1-2 are not mythical, but they accord with modern science. I will say that the same is true for the whole creation account in Genesis 1 and 2. it can be given an interpretation that accords with scientific finds, and no part of it needs to be mythical. There is one exception, though. The creation by God is a metaphysical proposition, and metaphysics is a priori excluded in a scientific explanation. If theologicans follow this stirct scientific principle, the creation must be viewed as mythological before we start examining it. I am aware that b-hebrew primarily is a forum for the discussion of the Hebrew text and its meaning. And a discussion of the creation account in Genesis 1 and 2 with the question whether it is mythical or not, should of course be centered around the meaning of the Hebrew words. Best regards, Rolf Furuli Stavern Norway Best regards, Rolf Furuli Stavern Norway Onsdag 5. September 2012 22:53 CEST skrev George Athas <[email protected]>: Let's avoid getting into discussions of science and the age of the earth here. B-Hebrew isn't a forum for that discussion, interesting though it is. Ishinan, I think you've slightly misunderstood Jerry's post. He is arguing that Gen 1 specifically envisions a situation of chaos/disorder/vacuum (תהו ובהו) from which God creates an orderly universe. This is not to deny that there are other texts in the Hebrew Bible that see a creatio ex nihilo, but Gen 1 may not be one of those texts. GEORGE ATHAS Dean of Research, Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au) Sydney, Australia _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
