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Sectarians indeed, John! You've identified the real
question.Yes, He is (the creator)! I think that the sectarians marginalize
themselves.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: March 18, 2006 17:05
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Is the day in
Genesis literal or figurative?
One other thought on the creation thread. I wrote my remarks
more because of Conor than for any other reason. My comments can
stand on their own, I believe. I do not believe in a 6000 year old
earth nor do I beleive the bible teaches such - for the reasons
stated. Could the earth be only 6000 years old. I suppose
so, but only the sectarians beleive such, IMHO. Is God the
creator? Now that is the real question. I would think
we all agree on the answer to that question.
End of the matter for me. And, so, the opportunity to delve
into the character of the opponent is side tracked.
Motivation be damned -- in a biblical sense , of course.
jd
--------------
Original message --------------
From: "David Miller"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> John wrote:
> > To your
first question , "no."
>
> If I get time, I will try and
present some of it for you.
>
> John wrote:
> > To
your second question, either you
> > did not read my post or you
have
> > decided to insult my presentation?
>
> I
read your post very carefully. I am not trying to insult you at all.
> Most of your argument revolves around why we should consider using
a
> figurative meaning. This is the approach I hear from most Bible
scholars,
> but the pressure for doing this seems to come from
science not good
> theology, in my opinion.
>
> The
strongest statement you make is where you point out that Gen. 2:4 uses
> the word day figuratively. This is easily understood to be
figurative, but
> the uses of the word day prior to this are
numbered. The text says, First
> Day, Second Day, Third Day, etc. It
is hard to insist that numbered days
> are figurative. It is the
numbering of the day as well as its coupling with
> the evening and
morning statements that makes it difficult to perceive it as
> being
anything other than a specific time period measured by evening and
>
morning. You would have to argue that evening and morning were greatly
> extended, or that they too are figurative, to maintain the
figurative
> chronology that you hold onto. There is the added
problem of having plants
> created long before the sun, moon, and
stars? Not likely from a biologist's
> perspective. So, in all, your
perspective is not the most parsimonious
> explanation. I remain
skeptical of the figurative interpretation.
>
> What bothers
me about the approach many theologians take to Genesis 1 is
> that
rather than trying to show from the text itself why the meaning must be
> figurative, they just find ways to try and show why it could be
read this
> way. I have no trouble understanding that it might be
read this way. I
> have trouble with the idea that it should be read
this way.
>
> What is the motivation for making it figurative?
I believe the motivation
> is cultural. It seems to me that if it
were not for science and the claims
> of science, theologians would
not be taking a figurative approach to Genesis
> 1. Do you see it
different? Is there any way to argue directly from the
> text (any
thing in the Bible anywhere) for a very long process of creation?
>
> David Miller
>
> ====================
> John,
I have a couple questions for you.
>
> 1. Have you ever read
John Whitcomb's theological treatment concerning the
> length of the
day in Genesis 1? I have read his perspective and even
> discussed
this personally with him before, but he comes from a theology
>
background and I come from a science background, so I don't know how well he
> is accepted as a "theologian." His arguments for why the day is not
> figurative made a lot of sense to me.
>
> 2. Is there
any THEOLOGICAL or TEXTUAL reason for you treating the day
>
figuratively? In other words, I don't have a problem with someone saying
> that perhaps we should take the meaning figuratively, but I wonder
if there
> is any reason other than reconciliing with the assertions
of science that a
> theologian or Bible scholar would interpret the
word day in Genesis 1 as
> figurative. If we only had the Bible and
the Holy Spirit guiding us, what
> would be the reasons to view the
day figuratively in Genesis 1?
>
> David Miller
>
> ----------
> "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt, that you may know how
> you ought to answer every man."
(Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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