Over the Christmas holidays I read the book "The Lost World of Genesis One:Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate." I read a lot of books and often rate them on goodreads.com.
Because books are by nature very subjective I don't often endorse them
because I rarely agree philosophically with 100% of the material they
contain. "The Lost World of Genesis One" is no different other than I am
choosing to endorse this book because it offers such a refreshing
perspective on the interpretation of Genesis 1 and the origins debate.
Though the book is not divided this way the book is essentially two parts both recognized by the subtitle of the book. Part One concerns ancient cosmology and an honest hermeneutical approach to Genesis 1. This section alone is makes the book worth reading. Most books that address the origins debate use Genesis 1 to either support their debate on the material beginnings of earth, or attempt to bend science findings so that they can fit the Biblical story. Neither approach allows the text to "speak for itself." Walton is an Old Testament and Near Eastern history scholar. When he attempts to understand the story of Genesis 1 from this perspective we find a much different story than the one we often tell ourselves that is tainted by our modern, western, and materialistic worldview. Not only does Walton's interpretation of this story change our understanding of the Jewish/Christian creation story, it has profound effects for our theology. It should change the way we view the role of humanity(anthropology) and the cosmos.
The second part of this book addresses the implications this reading of Genesis 1 has for the origins debate. Spoiler Alert: Walton suggests that when the creation story is not interpreted in materialistic terms but instead as the inauguration of a cosmic temple through the assigning of functions and functionaries in a preexisting material cosmos, Christians are freed from the restraints of choosing between a 7 day creation and the modern scientific consensus of evolution. I know that last sentence may read a little dense, but I promise when the argument is laid out over 180 pages it is very easy to understand. Simply put, Walton shows how a proper reading of the story allows Christians the opportunity to engage in the origins debate without fear of loosing their religion. He also offers helpful critiques of the Intelligent Design and Neo-Darwinism debate along with what he considers the proper approach to these debates in the public classroom.
This book is an easy and excellent read for most. The biases most people will have to overcome are the classical interpretations of Genesis 1 as the materialistic creation of the cosmos, and a poor understanding of how proper hermeneutical tactics can better explain the story. If you can accomplish this feat "The Lost World of Genesis One " should greatly enrich your theology and allow you to explore the material origins debate more freely.
Though the book is not divided this way the book is essentially two parts both recognized by the subtitle of the book. Part One concerns ancient cosmology and an honest hermeneutical approach to Genesis 1. This section alone is makes the book worth reading. Most books that address the origins debate use Genesis 1 to either support their debate on the material beginnings of earth, or attempt to bend science findings so that they can fit the Biblical story. Neither approach allows the text to "speak for itself." Walton is an Old Testament and Near Eastern history scholar. When he attempts to understand the story of Genesis 1 from this perspective we find a much different story than the one we often tell ourselves that is tainted by our modern, western, and materialistic worldview. Not only does Walton's interpretation of this story change our understanding of the Jewish/Christian creation story, it has profound effects for our theology. It should change the way we view the role of humanity(anthropology) and the cosmos.
The second part of this book addresses the implications this reading of Genesis 1 has for the origins debate. Spoiler Alert: Walton suggests that when the creation story is not interpreted in materialistic terms but instead as the inauguration of a cosmic temple through the assigning of functions and functionaries in a preexisting material cosmos, Christians are freed from the restraints of choosing between a 7 day creation and the modern scientific consensus of evolution. I know that last sentence may read a little dense, but I promise when the argument is laid out over 180 pages it is very easy to understand. Simply put, Walton shows how a proper reading of the story allows Christians the opportunity to engage in the origins debate without fear of loosing their religion. He also offers helpful critiques of the Intelligent Design and Neo-Darwinism debate along with what he considers the proper approach to these debates in the public classroom.
This book is an easy and excellent read for most. The biases most people will have to overcome are the classical interpretations of Genesis 1 as the materialistic creation of the cosmos, and a poor understanding of how proper hermeneutical tactics can better explain the story. If you can accomplish this feat "The Lost World of Genesis One " should greatly enrich your theology and allow you to explore the material origins debate more freely.
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