Deborah B. Haarsma Deborah B. Haarsma & Loren D. Haarsma, & Loren D. Haarsma, Physics & Astronomy Physics & Astronomy Dept., Calvin CollegeDept., Calvin College2007 October 122007 October 12

Faith Alive Christian Faith Alive Christian ResourcesResources

The publishing The publishing ministry of the ministry of the Christian Reformed Christian Reformed Church Church

We assisted with We assisted with Fossils and FaithFossils and Faith by by Rev. Thea Leunk, Rev. Thea Leunk, Sunday school or Sunday school or Christian school Christian school supplemental material supplemental material for high-school age.for high-school age.

Please write a book on Please write a book on creation, design, and creation, design, and

evolution…evolution… For the “person in the pew,”For the “person in the pew,” Could be used for small-group Could be used for small-group

discussions,discussions, Part of a new series, “A Reformed Part of a new series, “A Reformed

Look At ___________,”Look At ___________,” And yes, talk about human And yes, talk about human

origins.origins.

Writing a book on Writing a book on weekendsweekends

Writing as co-authorsWriting as co-authors Writing for many audiencesWriting for many audiences Advice from many experts and Advice from many experts and

lay peoplelay people Cutting it down to size Cutting it down to size

(www.faithaliveresources.org/origi(www.faithaliveresources.org/origins)ns)

IntroductionIntroduction

Science-without-God Science-without-God OR God-without-science ?OR God-without-science ?

There are more than two optionsThere are more than two options– Example. What causes rain: Example. What causes rain:

evaporation & condensation evaporation & condensation OR “God’s storehouses”OR “God’s storehouses”

Our personal storiesOur personal stories

Ch.1 God’s Word and Ch.1 God’s Word and God’s WorldGod’s World

What Christians agree about.What Christians agree about. Range of Christian disagreements Range of Christian disagreements

about origins.about origins. The importance of listening both The importance of listening both

to God’s Word and God’s world.to God’s Word and God’s world.

Ch.2 Worldviews and Ch.2 Worldviews and ScienceScience

Christian beliefs as a foundation for Christian beliefs as a foundation for doing science.doing science.

God governs events we can explain God governs events we can explain scientifically as well as those we scientifically as well as those we cannot. cannot.

““god of the gaps”god of the gaps” God governs events which are, from God governs events which are, from

a scientific perspective, a scientific perspective, randomrandom..

Ch.3 Science: A Process Ch.3 Science: A Process for Studying God’s for Studying God’s WorldWorld

Experimental, observational, and Experimental, observational, and historical science (and their historical science (and their interrelation).interrelation).

The laws of nature don’t appear to The laws of nature don’t appear to have changed during the history have changed during the history of the universe.of the universe.

Scientific knowledge is not the Scientific knowledge is not the onlyonly kind of knowledge. kind of knowledge.

Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in Conflict?Conflict?

Biblical Studies

Nature Scripture

God

No Conflict

Author of Author of

Potential Conflict

Hum

an

Inte

rpre

tati

on

Hum

an

Inte

rpre

tati

on

Science

Philosophy, Politics

Theology, Church Tradition

Ch.4 God’s Word and Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in God’s World in Conflict?Conflict?

Good principles of biblical Good principles of biblical interpretationinterpretation

The example of GalileoThe example of Galileo

Ch.5 Genesis: Ch.5 Genesis: Concordist Concordist InterpretationsInterpretations

Geological evidence for an old earth Geological evidence for an old earth Interpretations of Genesis: young-Interpretations of Genesis: young-

earth, gap, day-age, appearance of earth, gap, day-age, appearance of ageage

Order of creation in Genesis 1 & 2Order of creation in Genesis 1 & 2 History of modern young-earth History of modern young-earth

creationism and a sample YEC creationism and a sample YEC argumentargument

Ch.6 Genesis: Non-Concordist

Interpretations Interpretations of Genesis: Interpretations of Genesis:

visionary days, proclamation visionary days, proclamation days, creation poem, kingdom-days, creation poem, kingdom-covenant, ancient Near East covenant, ancient Near East cosmologycosmology

Message of Genesis 1 in all Message of Genesis 1 in all interpretationsinterpretations

Egyptian cosmologyEgyptian cosmology

From From The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms and the Book of Psalms by Othmar Keel (New York: Crossroad, 1985) by Othmar Keel (New York: Crossroad, 1985)

sky goddess Nut

earth god Geb

sun god Re

air god Shu

Osiris, god of

the dead

sun god Re

Ch.7 An Ancient and Ch.7 An Ancient and Dynamic UniverseDynamic Universe

The universe is vast The universe is vast – How we measure great distancesHow we measure great distances

The universe is oldThe universe is old– Evidences for a long historyEvidences for a long history

The universe had a beginningThe universe had a beginning– Evidences for the Big BangEvidences for the Big Bang

The Big Bang and ChristianityThe Big Bang and Christianity

Ch.8 Competing Views Ch.8 Competing Views on Evolutionon Evolution

The story of Jennifer...The story of Jennifer... ““Evolution” means: Evolution” means:

– microevolutionmicroevolution– pattern of change over timepattern of change over time– common ancestrycommon ancestry– theory of evolution theory of evolution – evolutionismevolutionism

Young earth creationism; Young earth creationism; progressive creationism; progressive creationism; evolutionary creationismevolutionary creationism

What all creationists agree aboutWhat all creationists agree about

Ch.9 Plant and Animal Ch.9 Plant and Animal EvolutionEvolution

Evidence: fossils, comparative Evidence: fossils, comparative anatomy, biogeography, genetic anatomy, biogeography, genetic similarities among species (including similarities among species (including introns, pseudogenes), genetic introns, pseudogenes), genetic diversity within speciesdiversity within species

The evidence strongly supports The evidence strongly supports common ancestry and is consistent common ancestry and is consistent with the theory of evolutionwith the theory of evolution

Ch.10 Intelligent Ch.10 Intelligent DesignDesign

I.D. arguments I.D. arguments vs.vs. I.D. movement I.D. movement Fine-tuning argumentFine-tuning argument

– Is it proof of God?Is it proof of God? Biological complexity argumentBiological complexity argument

– Is the evolution of complexity Is the evolution of complexity improbable?improbable?

Both evolution Both evolution andand design design I.D. and the “god of the gaps” dangerI.D. and the “god of the gaps” danger Public debate over I.D.Public debate over I.D.

Ch.11 Scientific and Ch.11 Scientific and Theological Issues on Theological Issues on Human OriginsHuman Origins

Three options:Three options: special creation, miraculous special creation, miraculous modification, evolutionary creationmodification, evolutionary creation

Scientific evidence:Scientific evidence: fossils, genetic fossils, genetic similarity to animals, genetic diversity similarity to animals, genetic diversity among humansamong humans

Theological issues:Theological issues:– Created in God’s image (3 views)Created in God’s image (3 views)– The soul (3 theories)The soul (3 theories)– Original sin: the situation, transmission (3 Original sin: the situation, transmission (3

views), and historical originsviews), and historical origins– Death before the fall: animals; humans (3 Death before the fall: animals; humans (3

views)views)

Ch.12 Adam and EveCh.12 Adam and Eve

5 scenarios:5 scenarios: – recent ancestorsrecent ancestors– recent representatives recent representatives – ancient ancestors ancient ancestors – a group of ancient representatives a group of ancient representatives – symbolicsymbolic

Scientific and theological pros and Scientific and theological pros and cons of each scenariocons of each scenario

What all scenarios agree aboutWhat all scenarios agree about Not satisfied with any of the Not satisfied with any of the

scenarios?scenarios?

Ch.13 But What About…?Ch.13 But What About…? Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting ScriptureQuestions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Scripture

1. 1. Since the Bible tells us how God made the world, why do we need to listen to science?Since the Bible tells us how God made the world, why do we need to listen to science?

2. Haven’t Christians always believed in a young earth and a six-day creation?2. Haven’t Christians always believed in a young earth and a six-day creation?

3. Is it ever appropriate to change one’s interpretation of Scripture to match science?3. Is it ever appropriate to change one’s interpretation of Scripture to match science?

4. Isn’t a non-literal interpretation of Genesis 1 just a slippery slope to denying the 4. Isn’t a non-literal interpretation of Genesis 1 just a slippery slope to denying the resurrection?resurrection?

5. If Genesis 1 should be understood literally, what is the “firmament” created on day 5. If Genesis 1 should be understood literally, what is the “firmament” created on day two?two?

6. Why didn’t God just tell us about the Big Bang and evolution in Genesis?6. Why didn’t God just tell us about the Big Bang and evolution in Genesis?

7. Is it better if we can make the events of Genesis 1 line up with what science says, or if 7. Is it better if we can make the events of Genesis 1 line up with what science says, or if the message of Genesis 1 is independent of what science says?the message of Genesis 1 is independent of what science says?

Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting NatureQuestions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Nature

8. How strong is the evidence for an old earth? For evolution?8. How strong is the evidence for an old earth? For evolution?

9. Are the Big Bang and evolution just beliefs promoted by atheists to get around God?9. Are the Big Bang and evolution just beliefs promoted by atheists to get around God?

10. Are scientists biased against religion and against God?10. Are scientists biased against religion and against God?

11. How can scientists be sure about the Big Bang and evolution if no one was there to 11. How can scientists be sure about the Big Bang and evolution if no one was there to see them?see them?

12. Is there any scientific evidence for a young earth?12. Is there any scientific evidence for a young earth?

13. Could God have created the earth recently and made it appear old?13. Could God have created the earth recently and made it appear old?

14. Can the scientific evidence for an old earth also be made to fit a young earth model?14. Can the scientific evidence for an old earth also be made to fit a young earth model?

Ch.13 But What About…?Ch.13 But What About…?Questions Christians Ask Regarding the Goodness and Fall of CreationQuestions Christians Ask Regarding the Goodness and Fall of Creation

15. An old earth would mean millions of years of animal pain and species extinction. 15. An old earth would mean millions of years of animal pain and species extinction. Didn’t God create the world perfect at the beginning?Didn’t God create the world perfect at the beginning?

16. How could God call creation good if it included destruction, pain, and extinction?16. How could God call creation good if it included destruction, pain, and extinction?

17. Does evolution reward selfishness?17. Does evolution reward selfishness?

18. Did death exist before the Fall?18. Did death exist before the Fall?

19. Does a non-literal view of Adam and Eve deny important doctrines about original 19. Does a non-literal view of Adam and Eve deny important doctrines about original sin and salvation?sin and salvation?

Questions Christians Ask Regarding How God Works in NatureQuestions Christians Ask Regarding How God Works in Nature

20. Why would God use such a long, slow process when he could have created 20. Why would God use such a long, slow process when he could have created everything instantly?everything instantly?

21. How could it have all happened by chance?21. How could it have all happened by chance?

22. If evolution is true, doesn’t God seem weak and uninvolved?22. If evolution is true, doesn’t God seem weak and uninvolved?

23. Does evolution imply that God doesn’t do miracles?23. Does evolution imply that God doesn’t do miracles?

24. 24. Shouldn’t there be some sort of proof in nature that God created it?Shouldn’t there be some sort of proof in nature that God created it?

25.25. Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry with animals rather than through special miracles?with animals rather than through special miracles?

26.26. How do I worship God if God used slow natural processes instead of miracles to How do I worship God if God used slow natural processes instead of miracles to create each animal and plant?create each animal and plant?

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