Christians: Should Genesis be taken literally? Is there room for evolution in the Bible?

Question

Thanks in advance!

LOL watchman - that's the funniest answer i got so far

oh, i saw it while it blank - thanks for answering

Answer 1

I could go on and on for hours about this subject.

1. Yes
2. No

Genesis was meant to be a literal account of the main events of creation. There are details left out like the birth of Cain's wife, the age Adam and Eve were when they were kicked out of the garden, and other things. But the main points are recorded.

If evolution is true, then it makes Genesis false by default. Here's why:
Evolution puts land before water
Genesis says water came before land
Evolution says reptiles before birds
Genesis says birds before reptiles
Evolution says death brought man into the world
Genesis says man brought death by sin and now we need a savior.
If Evolution is true, then there's no need for a savior because the sin of Adam didn't condemn us if there was death before sin.

Many evolutionists say that the theory doesn't try to dispute God. That's because they don't understand how their theory relates to the significance of Jesus. If evolution is true, then that makes the entire bible false.

Many people try to blend the two to compromise things. Someone who does that has no understanding of evolution or creation theories. The two cannot be more opposite. Either one is wrong or they're both wrong. But both cannot be correct.

If you want scientific evidence that supports creation theory, there are many good sites out there.
www.answersingenesis.com is one.
I like this site with audio sermons on the subject
http://www.nwcreation.net/audio/index.html

If you want to download a really great video series, you can go to
www.drdino.com

I used to believe in evolution until I realized that there's absolutely no proof for it whatsoever. The seminar on dr dino really opened my eyes to that and caused me to study this further. The more I study it, the more I'm convinced that evolution is only a philosophical theory with lies to support it. It's a state funded religion and the absolute opposite of what science really is.

Answer 2

Genesis should not be taken literally.
The knowledge we have now was not around when the authors wrote the Bible.

The Catholic Church has always taught that "no real disagreement can exist between the theologian and the scientist provided each keeps within his own limits. . . . If nevertheless there is a disagreement . . . it should be remembered that the sacred writers, or more truly ‘the Spirit of God who spoke through them, did not wish to teach men such truths (as the inner structure of visible objects) which do not help anyone to salvation’; and that, for this reason, rather than trying to provide a scientific exposition of nature, they sometimes describe and treat these matters either in a somewhat figurative language or as the common manner of speech those times required, and indeed still requires nowadays in everyday life, even amongst most learned people" (Leo XIII, Providentissimus Deus 18).

As the Catechism puts it, "Methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things the of the faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are" (CCC 159). The Catholic Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery.
.

Answer 3

These are two very different and important questions.

In answer to the first question, yes providing that you are willing to investigate the original words from which the translation came. Remember, translations are second- and third-hand renditions of the original text. You may benefit from Jason Gastrich's work (www.jcsm.org).

In answer to the second question, consider carefully what you mean by "evolution"; if you mean Darwinian evolution, it has been completely invalidated by archaeology and palentology during the last 50 years (public school textbooks notwithstanding). The most recent "flavor" of evolution, known as "punctuated equilibrium," has likewise been deflated. I recommend that you investigate Lee Strobel's (atheist-turned-Christian and one-time Chicago Tribune legal reporter) "The Case for a Creator" (printed version or iTunes audiobook).

Hope that helps. Never stop asking and searching for the truth. For so many of us, it's looking into the apparent contradictions that brings us so much more strongly into the faith.

[e-mail]

Answer 4

I do very much so. It might sound dumb to most but for me I have spent years looking into it. There is very rich science by some of the world brightest to support every word. If you like I have some audio lectures I could send you just mail me from here. They are not boring and very enlightening, Genesis makes alot more sence when you learn some simple things. I belive the Bible is the true word of God the reason why is because I attacted it for so long and all it ever gave me was answers, if I was willing to look. I will never belive in Evolution it is silly, and belive it is a slap in the face of God go look at your self and ask if something so wonderful happend through evolution, I would never say that about anyone it is rude I think. look into the law of entropy and you will learn alot.
Man I wish I could tell you all I know in one short letter. There is so much beatuy in the bible both in science and love. Please feel free to ask me any questions. my head is full of things I long to share so much with people.

God bless you in your search....

Michael

Answer 5

Genesis is completely literal. The definition of God is that he is all powerful, all knowning, all Just and all good, and infinite in all aspects. He is the creator of the universe. Evolution is in contradiction with some versus in the Bible. "Thou knowest not how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child", scientists do not know exactly how this happens, but also bone growth is determined genetically before the bones grow, and are fixed at birth in proportions or forms so that there is no adaptation of bone forms during a life time, so evolution is not possible. Evolution is not possible from many standpoints. Also in the new testament in the context of proving that Jesus is God, scripture says "avoid vain oppositions of science falsely so called."

Answer 6

Not completely, here is an example:

Many consider the word “day” used in Genesis chapter 1 to mean 24 hours. However, in Genesis 1:5 God himself is said to divide day into a smaller period of time, calling just the light portion “day.” In Genesis 2:4 all the creative periods are called one “day”: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day [all six creative periods] that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.”

No chance for evolution.

Answer 7

I personally take it literally (there is both reason and evidence to do so), however, there is room in the creation account for evolution. Many theologians interpret it as such. They usually state how the word interpreted "day" can also mean "age" or a non determined spans of time.

Answer 8

The bible should be taken literally where it is intended to be literal. It communicates in many different ways to us, metaphor, parable, etc. I do believe that Genesis is literal, yes. And I think there is such a thing as micro evolution; that is, species evolving within a species. I do not think we came from a primordial "soup" where something crawled up to land and eventually became man.

Answer 9

No. Why? The Bliblical account of Creation, taken literally, is not supported by Creation. It is comparable to valuing the driver's manual above the car.

Once you get over the "literal" hurdle, there is vast room for most aspects of naturalistic evolution and all of theistic evolution.

Answer 10

In the begining GOD Created the heavens and the earth, IN Gen 1 we are told evening and morning were the first day, evening and morning were the second day, that is 24 hours were the second day, the first day of creation like today were 24 hours long, you have a creator, and a designer, but when sin came into our world HE The second member of The Godhead [Jesus was the one walking in the garden talking to adam and eve] when mankind sinned it was like pulling the plug on life, Jesus came to offer us A second chance at life "IF" we are willing to meet the conditions upon which life are offered, free bible lessons learn more, www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com God bless, EMAIL me also [e-mail] God bless