Jim tackles a usual question from a different angle: philosophically. Is the very nature of this question a categorical error? New Atheism provides an opportunity to bring clarity, to do soul-searching before casting the first stone, and to rise to higher standards.
In this way, New Atheism is not a curse, but a blessing. Francis Collins tells the story of his conversion from atheism to faith as a young doctor. What is BioLogos? Subscribe Now What is BioLogos? Common Question. Are gaps in scientific knowledge evidence for God?
How did life begin? How life came from non-life is still largely a scientific mystery. On what grounds can one claim that the Christian God is the creator? Podcast Episode. Featuring guest Alister McGrath. Some Christians regard Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as two totally separate myths that have a similar meaning.
Others see the two chapters as part of one continuous story. Genesis 1 begins with:. This account goes on to describe the seven days of creation:. In Genesis 2 , some people think that the story goes on to give more detail about the creation of humans, seen as two individuals, Adam and Eve. On the first part of day three, he separates dry land from the sea Gen.
All are essential to the survival of what follows. Next, God begins filling the realms he has created. On the remainder of day three, he creates plant life Gen. On day four he creates the sun, moon, and stars Gen. The lights are beautiful in themselves and also essential for plant life, with its need for sunshine, nighttime, and seasons. On day five, God fills the water and sky with fish and birds that could not have survived without the plant life created earlier Gen.
Finally, on day six, he creates the animals Gen. In chapter 1, God accomplishes all his work by speaking. We need not worry that God is running out of gas or that the creation is in a precarious state of existence.
God does not need help from anyone or anything to create or maintain the world. No battle with the forces of chaos threatens to undo the creation. God works immanently with his hands to sculpt human bodies Gen. For a helpful discussion of the interpretation of the "Days" of creation, see Bruce K.
For a long list of the many kinds of work God does in the Bible, see R. God is the source of everything in creation. Yet creation is not identical with God. God creates everything, but he also literally sows the seed for the perpetuation of creation through the ages. This gives our work a beauty and value above the value of a ticking clock or a prancing puppet. Our work has its source in God, yet it also has its own weight and dignity.
For our purposes it seems best to follow the traditional Christian interpretation that it refers to the Trinity. In any case, we know from the New Testament that God is indeed in relationship with himself—and with his creation—in a Trinity of love. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. John Nor does it mean that the creation is complete, for, as we will see, God leaves plenty of work for people to do to bring the creation further along.
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