It is ok to understand Genesis as non-literal, correct?

Question

Billy Graham was ok with evolution - so he's okay with non-literal creation.

Both Jews and Christians have considered the idea of the creation history as an allegory (instead of an historical description) long before the development of Darwin's theory. Two notable examples are the writings of Philo of Alexandria (1st century) and St. Augustine (4th century).

Many denominations of Christianity support or accept theistic evolution. For example, on 12 February 2006 the 197th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth was commemorated by "Evolution Sunday" where the message that followers of Christ do not have to choose between biblical stories of creation and evolution was taught in classes and sermons at Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Congregationalist, United Church of Christ, Baptist and community churches.

Additionally, the National Council of Churches USA has issued a teaching resource to "assist people of faith who experience no conflict between science and their faith and who embrace science as one way of appreciating the beauty and complexity of God’s creation." This resource cites the Episcopal Church, according to whom the stories of creation in Genesis "should not be understood as historical and scientific accounts of origins but as proclamations of basic theological truths about creation."[http://www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/evolutionbrochurefinal.html

In other words -- when one really looks at what prevailing Christian belief is -- those that post here that you can't be a Christian and accept evolution or that it's a sin are simply WRONG. That's NOT what the major Christian denominations officially state.

Opiniona -- sure -- so did St.Augustine -- and he explored allegorical interpretations of Genesis.

So did Billy Graham, and he said, "Graham said in 1966, “How you believe doesn’t affect the doctrine. Either at a certain moment in evolution God breathed into one particular ape-man who was Adam, or God could have taken a handful of dust and blowed and created a man just like that” (“Cooperative Evangelism at Harringay,” United Church Observer, July 1966).

Seethelight -- ok... one break.... comin' up!

Graham said in 1966, “How you believe doesn’t affect the doctrine. Either at a certain moment in evolution God breathed into one particular ape-man who was Adam, or God could have taken a handful of dust and blowed and created a man just like that” (“Cooperative Evangelism at Harringay,” United Church Observer, July 1966).

1forHIM -- think about this for a second -- I didn't say the Bible was fiction, and neither did St. Augustine! Allegory is not "fiction"!

Answer 1

Yes, and further to your comments, see below for >10,600 more clergy accepting the ToE as reason for life's diversity...
Clergy Letter: http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/clergy_project.htm

Answer 2

There are three main theories about creation, according to Christian beliefs. The first being a literal 7 day creation. One is the view that a thousands years is as a day, or the day is as a thousand years theory, that God created earth over thousands of years, not the literal 7 days. The other is the old earth/new earth theory, because Genesis One seems to have a "gap", and sounds a little like it's repeating itself. This theory states that the earth was created, along with birds, animals, fish, dinosours, etc., then there was a long gap before man was created. Or that creation was destroyed & that God re-created it with man. None of these theories contradict Genesis One.

Natural selection seems to be something that most people, Christian and non-Christian alike, can believe in, as we have so many extinct species, and we can see the natural (or un-natural, however you want to put it) evolution, through breeding practices, in farming, dogs, plants, etc.

Can a Christian believe he evolved from an ape? I don't think so, as that is not at all what is stated in Genesis. I don't believe you can be selective in what you believe in the Bible. It's either all true, or it's all false. Evolution is still a THEORY, and being taught as fact in almost every school across this nation, and yet has not been proven true. How can it be? You'd need thousands of years to study a species, according to Evolution, and man has yet to live that long!

I believe that the true answer is "we just don't know". Only God knows, and He chose to reveal truth to us in the Bible. I choose to believe that. If you don't, that's your choice.

For the person who stated that the story is 2000 years old....that's only dating back to the time of Jesus. The Bible is thousands more years old than that. Genesis dating back at LEAST as far as Moses.

I am a Christian, and I am not ignorant. I do not blindly follow my faith, because it is based on fact. There is a ton of proof out there for Creationism, however, you have to want to know, not just blindly follow what the media and your liberal public schools are spouting off.

Answer 3

Genesis is the word of God. As such, it requires the help of the Holy Spirit to be deciphered. The story of Creation is undoubtedly true, for God cannot lie. People, however, constantly err in their interpretations. Evolution is one of many things that happen in God's-created Nature. Does this mean that evolution created Nature? Absurd, one cannot put the wagon before the horse! Only Creator Himself knows the whole true sequence of the creative events! Water had to be first for the Flood to happen. Flowers wouldn't bloom if it wasn't for the sun. Is this evolution? Yes and no. Yes because the creative process has a sequence of cause and effect. No, because the timing of each Natural events is not always the one a evolution would require. There is the long term timing, and the short term. Glaciers take tens of thousands of years to develop. Mushrooms are today, but are gone tomorrow. It would be silly to think that a mushroom can turn glacier through evolution, or that an ape could fly to the moon! I think that we should honor the Original Artist and Designer and stop questioning the unquestionable! The things are the way they always have been since the Creation!

Answer 4

Aside from the fact that Judeo/Christian/Muslim religions have descended from a commonn ancestor, Abraham, there are many other religions on this planet we share, and many other stories of creation, many of them surprisingly similar.

The Bible is not meant to be taken literally. But it also doesn't mean that it is incorrect. The Jewish Bible has had many different books included and omitted. For example, The Psalms of David were written by King David.

The Christian Old Testament, which is based on the Jewish Bible has gone through many translations from Aramaic, to Greek, to Latin, to King James, to the Good News for Modern Man - and a variety of Christian sects each have their own version.

As well, the Jews, which was continued by the early Christians (who were Jews,) had a concept of telling stories within stories, or hidden meanings. A 21century example that migh be easier to understand could be if "A Star fell from the lofty heights" it could well mean that a Hollywood actor had gotten into trouble.

Nevertheless, some historians believe that the Jewish Bible (the Old Testament) have been based on a much older book that has come from what has been considered to be the oldest of civilisations - the Sumerians. The Sumerians book is known as the Enuma elish.

For those who can keep an open mind, not be hamstrung by religious or scientific dogma, then you may be interested in reading the book "Genesis Revisited" by Zecharia Sitchin.

Finally, if I can just suggest that before anyone suggests that they or their religion 'knows the will of God" (is this the ultimate blasphemy?) can I leave you with a concept to ponder...

If the Creator is infinite, and if in comparison, mankind is infintessimally small, then the total sum of all our knowledge; of Life, the Universe and Everything , if rounded to the nearest whole number, would actually be zero....

(with apologies to Douglas Adams)

Answer 5

A simple answer to a complex question:

1. If one believes that the Bible is the word of God. One can not
pick and choose one part over another. If you reject one part you reject the whole.

2. The Bible is not a science book, but when it speaks of science it is correct.

3. The Bible is not a History book, but when it speaks of history it is correct.

Organisms adapt but DO NOT evolve from other organisms.
eg. there are black bears, grizzlys, browns, and polar bears. Each have adapted to better survive in their environment. A polar bear did not come from a fish, or a groundhog.

Lets surmise that God created the Earth with the appearance of age. Not too much of stretch if accept that God is Omnipotent.

When we read Genesis, after the fall, Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, and all nature turned against them. It is plausible that God got rid of the Dinosaurs at that time because mankind, and the rest of nature could not have survived along side these creatures. Hence the mass extinction, and the fossil record.

I guess its not such a short answer.

Mark

Answer 6

You have cited the opinions of several men and man-made denominational organizations, "nevertheless what saith the Scriptures"? (Gal 4:30)

The Bible says the world was created in six days.

How long were these days? Genesis says an evening and morning.

The Hebrew word translates as "day" always means a day when used in conjunction with a number in non-prophetic scripture, as in Genesis 1.

It is clear in Exodus 20 that God meant days when he said remember the Sabbath day that the world was created in 6 days and on the 7th He rested. They understood the sabbath came once every 7 days.

If this was millions of years, then consider this, God made the plants on day 3. He placed the sun and moon on day 4. How did these plants survive millions of years without the sun.
Also, some plants require inscets or other animals to carry on reproduction. Inscets and animals were not created until days 5 and 6. How did these plants survive millions of years without these animals?

Also Genesis 1 talks about "days", "seasons", and "years". If a day was millions of years, then what was a season or a year? What was an "evening and morning"?

I believe God is strong enough to do it exactly the way (time period) His word says it happened.

Answer 7

I have always believed the bible literally until recently. I glossed over any obvious problems. Is Genesis literal? The problem I see is that in Genesis 1:26 & 27 it says God made man in his (our) image and goes on to say ...male & female created he them (Adam & who was the female). Then in Genesis 2 :7 it says the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Then in verses 21-23 says God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and made woman from one of his ribs.

This is confusing if God had already made them in chapert 1 why did he have to make them again in chapter 2, or did he make different people?

Some theories I have read is that when the Jews were divided into two kingdoms each had their own writings and when combined both stories were included.

Another is there was originally 4 writings of the bible J, E, D & P. and when it was combined several repatations were included.

Any one have any other ideas???

Answer 8

No it is not. The Genesis account is a literal account of creation and the early years of man. Man and false religion has always wanted to say the Bible is wrong. They are the false ones. The Bible was written by God from the viewpoint of the earth. Science goes with this.

Astronomy points to the universe expanding from one central point, as the Bible says. Dating methods reveal the universe to be millions of years old. The Bible is not opposed to this. People can't seem to realize creative days do not have to be 24 hours long. That applies only to earth time. Biblical research shows each day to be 7,000 years. In addition, there is no time limit between each of those days.

The fossil record shows animals created in the same order as the Bible says. No transititional life forms have ever been found as evolution would have us believe.

Genetics point to all humankind as having a common ancestry. The Bible names them Adam & Eve.

Darwinism believes life came about by accident, essentially in a mud puddle. Science has proven life to be much more complex than ever thought. The best scientists in the best labs in the world have not been able to create life on purpose! How could it have been by accident?

So some men say it is wrong. What are their motives? Could it be trying to elevate man to a position we do not earn? Many people have been called wrong before proven right.

Answer 9

So, who gets to decide what is literal and what is allegory? You? Me?

The proper technique for determining whether the Scripture is a literal, historical account, versus an allegorical account, is to test whether or not the Scripture stands on its merit as a literal account. Always use literal first, then, if it doesn't fit, move to the next step. This comes from someone you didn't mention, Thomas Aquinas.

The creation account clearly reads as a historical, and not an allegorical account. The churches you mentioned, and the organization to which they belong (NCC), have all abandoned the Scriptures as authoritative. All of these denominations (American Baptists, not Southern or Independent) are liberal. Their points of view are similar, and they generally reject the Scriptures. This is why these have embraced worldliness and a social gospel, and have rejected the true Gospel.

Once you abandon the authority of the Scriptures, you can make the Bible mean anything you like. And that is exactly what has happened in these liberal churches.

Answer 10

No, it's not okay. I don't remember Billy Graham ever saying that he was okay with evolution, especially not to the point where he believed it. He probably said something to the fact that he understood why some people believe it.

Darwin was flat wrong and any church that promotes his studies will be punished I'm sure because it's not consistent with the Bible.

By the way, Darwin was quoted as saying that the human eye was so complex that he didn't believe that it could have been created by accident. That's why it is called the "theory" of evolution.

Answer 11

The funny thing is Genesis meets with Science on a PERCENTAGE of the time line.

Now explain that one!

As an example. The Sun and Earth came into being on the 4th day of Genesis 2/3 of the way from creation.

Science says the Universe is 15 billion years old and the Sun and Earth are 5 billion years old or 2/3 the way from the start of things.

Now, go ponder that one!