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The origins of the universe
While the Bible states that God created the world in six days, culminating with the creation of humanity, the theory of evolution asserts that humanity evolved over billions of years. How do people of faith approach this contradiction? Like any seeming conflict between science and religious tradition, this can be a sensitive, touchy and complicated issue to discuss. But we are here to open dialogue. In looking at this issue, we will begin with the Jewish point of view.
Some Jews, including many of the ultra-Orthodox, reject evolutionary theory. They see the Bible as embodying eternal truths. Thus, some of the ultra-Orthodox are unwilling to reinterpret it in order to reconcile it with a scientific theory that, in their view, may be disproved in another hundred years.
Other Jews reject the biblical account of creation because it contradicts evolutionary theory. They see the Bible as an ancient human document that cannot provide a helpful description of the world’s beginnings for a person living in the twentieth century. They look to modern science to explain the origin of the world and reject religious explanations.
Recent scientific developments have provided new opportunities for reconciling the biblical account of creation with scientific cosmogony. Most notably, the Big Bang theory, which has gained widespread acceptance in the scientific community today, asserts that the universe began at a particular point in time. This theory can support the biblical and Qur’anic accounts of intentional creation at a particular time by God.
The Creation from a Jewish Viewpoint
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Keeping this point in context, read all of (Genesis 1-3).
Even after reading Genesis (1-3), I must state that the Jewish understanding, beliefs and teachings aren’t a simplistic approach. In fact, it’s a very involved undertaking to truly grasp.
Jewish views on creation includes a continuum of views about the theory of evolution, experimental evolution, the origin of life, age of the universe, evolutionary creationism, and theistic evolution.
Here are some teachings and approaches from scholars of both Judaism and Science:
Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz is a lawyer, scientist and a Rabbi. He is extremely well-respected in the endeavor of bringing Torah and Judaism and our contemporary world and understanding together. He makes the point that Science is tasked with telling us the WHAT of all that came to be while Torah tries to explain he WHY of how all came to be, while we as human beings want to understand the HOW. He shows clearly that we are all dealing with continuums of understanding and that physics and Torah, for example, may contain paradox in their interaction but one does not preclude the possibility of the other; rather we find a way to co-exist with each and both systems, their elements, their “answers” and their questions and approaches. Admittedly, this is rather long and covers many other aspects of God’s plan for our world, including issues of social justice, patterns of land usage, etc.
All comes back to Creation as God’s plan for us, namely the WHY of Creation for those who believe.
For a shorter discussion regarding this integration of God and Creation of the Universe, listen to Daniel E. Friedman from The Jewish Learning Institute.
Here is another voice from the Jewish world, another Rabbi and Ph.D. in Science, Rabbi Dr. Gerald Schroeder: (Tap this link) 📚 📖 📚
We begin with the first verse of Torah and the commentary of Rashi, a prolific scholar from the 11th century:
| 1In the beginning of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth. | אבראשית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ: |
The Creation from a Christian Viewpoint
The YOUNG EARTH CREATIONISM
The simplistic historical interpretation of Genesis is that the seven days of creation are seven 24-hour periods—like our current days. When combined with the simple addition of the years provided in the Bible genealogies, the math results in a 6,000-year-old universe with the human race—starting with Adam and Eve—appearing on day 6.
THE OLD EARTH CREATIONISM
Christians who advocate a literal Genesis account interpret the word “day” to be an era or some other kind of longer period of time. Another term used for this position is “Day Age.” That is, each day signifies an epoch of time, much as English speakers might refer to the “Day of the Pioneers” or the “Day of the Dinosaurs.”
THE ALLEGORICAL CREATIONISM
This group of Christians do not believe that the Genesis “day” signifies a time periods of any sort. They maintain that the Bible is not intended to be read as either historical or scientific. Some who ascribe to this point of view go as far as to say that God created Earth with the potential for life to unfold by naturalistic methods. Advocates of this position are sometimes identified as non-literalists.
Here are some explanations and approaches to consider: Science, the Bible and the Age of the Earth, Creation Ministries International
Ken Ham, a believing Christian and Science teacher presents here:
Learn about DNA as evidence for the infinite God, the basics of genetics and natural selection as they relate to biblical “kinds,” the origin of so-called races, the truth about Cain’s wife, evidence for the worldwide Flood, the actual time of the Ice Age, literal vs. figurative creation days, the origin of death, dating methods, and more. The Bible is true. Science confirms it, and with the help of this (video link 🧬), you… will be better equipped to defend it!
RESOURCES:
- Science Confirms The Bible (Ken Ham Speaks to Teens) featuring Ken Ham: http://bit.ly/2MOwZ7c
- The Great Debate on Science and the Bible – Young Earth vs. Old Earth featuring Ken Ham, Dr. Walt Kaiser, Dr. Jason Lisle, and Dr. Hugh Ross: http://bit.ly/2IXsZ1M
- The Evolution of Darwin: His Science featuring Dr. David Menton: http://bit.ly/2u8grQ2
- Science 101 pack featuring Wes Olson: http://bit.ly/2tWwEZc
The Creation from a Muslim Viewpoint
In the Qur’an (the Divine Book revealed to the Prophet Muhammad) there are details of the Creation:
Surely, your Lord is Allah. Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; then He “Istawa” upon His Throne. He makes the night cover the day, pursuing it swiftly. He has created the sun and the moon and the stars, all made subservient by His command…
He it is Who sends the winds… Good land brings forth vegetation plentifully by the command of the Lord.
Surah 7:55-59
I have created men, high and low, that they may worship Me. I desire no support from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me. Surely, it is Allah who is the Great Sustainer, the Lord of Power, the Strong.
Surah 51:56
Note: There is no particular order given for the Creation and there is no suggestion as to how long the “ayyam” (periods of time) were.
Here is a discussion on Qu’ran and Science: The Creation of the Universe
There is so much more we could include here, but for now we will pause with this presentation:
Here is a fundamental explanation of creation, which interpolates many Judeo/Christian and Islamic points of understanding.
Noted Reminder: We here at Interfaith Library created this library to open dialogue, to be informative, educational and interactive; allowing for everyone to have an opportunity to grow within his/her belief/faith.