My question is quite a simple one. Most people in the world do not have an adequate education to make a decision, based on scientific knowledge, as to how to interpret the Genesis account. Does that mean they need to accept a theory on the basis of faith in the scientist of their choice?
My wife likes Francis Collins because he has a good sense of humor … I like Gunter Bechly because I am bald … excuse the frivolity but it is intended to make a point.
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I assume that adopting the interpretations heard from trusted pastors/clergy, teachers or other authorities is the primary way how most people get their interpretations. Not only about the Genesis account, I mean the majority of the doctrines of various churches.
That puts much responsibility on those who teach in the churches or write influential texts.
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What makes you think most people care? or have a problem?
And
Does it really matter?
I wonder how you find such a person?
Richard
I think you hit the nail on the head there, Richard. The only thing we need to understand is the gospel, and it is pretty simple . Genesis can teach us something, and perhaps understanding it at the place you are in life is good enough. The problem comes when you make it the gospel.
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Queen singer Mercury writes/sings “Nothing Really Matters to Me”, Bohemian Rhapsody. Now He’s not alive.
How do you know where he is now?
Besides, if you are going that way, he also sang
Who wants to live for ever?
I guess you do.
Shame it is beyond your control.
Richard
I only meant He’s not alive here on Planet Earth.
Most people are around the world are not asking Genesis to answer their scientific origins questions. The original audience of Genesis was not “educated” in modern scientific understandings either. I think they could grasp the main points. My question is kind of the reverse. Can modern people understand Genesis, or will they always mistakenly impose their own modern constructs on it and pretend it tells them things it was never intended to address?
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That’s a good question, and something I asked when I was YEC. It was easy to go from that idea of “trust” to the false dichotomy of “either you trust God or people.” In reality, we all have to trust people to some degree, regardless of whether the topic is science or theology. Choosing whom to trust is important. But what stands out to me now is the lengths that many apologetics organizations went to try to corner the narrative market. AIG put out all kinds of books, videos, curriculum, with the intention that it be used instead of that produced by scientists with scientific consensus in mind. So I had to ask myself, should I trust someone’s information if they are actively attempting to limit the scope of the narrative and discourage people from listening to scientific consensus? And as Christy said above, trying to use scientific information to interpret Genesis is not the best idea if we want to read it in context.
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My immediate response to the title was to ask…
How can less educated people understand Quantum Mechanics?
IOW I share the puzzlement of many here at why this question is important – like there is some implication of something important riding on understanding Genesis which raises some question of fairness. It suggests some sort of premise that I am unlikely to accept, like our salvation resting on understanding Genesis correctly.
Most people are going to read Genesis either in pursuit of personal interest or being led by someone who has spent time in either thought or education on the matter. In either case it is to promote greater understanding most typically after a response to the gospel message has already been made. It is only natural such understanding is not going to be immediate or easy, but part of a gradual process. And aid in understanding can come from many sources. If someone is reading it for a different reason, I have little doubt they will simply find whatever they are looking for.
Is there some implication here that understanding of Genesis shouldn’t require any intellectual effort or input even when at the very least it took input from experts to translates the text to a language a person can even read at all?
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True, but if their education is lacking they also accept a theology based on faith in the preacher/teacher of their choice. Personally, I don’t really care how a person interprets Genesis or if their theology or science is lacking according to an “educated” person like me. I care whether their beliefs and actions are in line with the gospel that Jesus explicitly taught and that I grew up with, or whether their beliefs and actions are more influenced by a Christian Nationalist preacher who preaches hate from the pulpit and/or a Right-wing influencer who teaches an anti-science, conspiracy-theory mindset on the internet.
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Faith should be in God and not any scientist. The essential and accessible spiritual interpretation of the opening of Genesis is that:
God made everything
Mankind has failed to honor God and follow His commandments
Therefore we are separated from God
And so we experience suffering and death
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Genesis is not about science and is not interpretable through science. It becomes problematic, when people treat it as such.
Inversely, science is not about the Bible or spiritual matters and cannot be interpreted by biblical or spiritual means.
A lot of problems are created, when people mix these up.
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