Various Views on Creation by Mark Driscoll, Essay Example

Briefly explain which view of creation you hold and why. Then, reflect on what the article has contributed to your understanding of the debate over Creation.

I would have to say my view of creation is more or less a combination of a few Driscoll discussed. The article has contributed what appear to be degrees of explanation. Although I have often been aware of the dichotomy between Creationism and Naturalism, Driscoll broke it down into a number of common explanations. The problem comes in when we are too committed to defend our ideas instead of trying expanding our comprehension. Another fact is that no matters how much we think we know based on any system of understand, we really don’t know anything for sure. Believing in something that is essentially improvable is the cornerstone of faith. I think a c combination of View 3: The Gap Theory, View 5: Day-Age View, and View 6: Theistic Evolution probably best describes my point of view. I like the Gap Theory because it leaves room for the astronomical age of the universe. Day-Age View leaves room for geologic epochs, and Theistic Evolution includes the Good Lord in the developmental process we observe.

After reading Genesis 1 – 3, what details in these chapters influence you the most in trying to decide how literally you should read these chapters? Explain why your approach is either more literal or more figurative.

One of the most challenging points is the idea of days. I like that the Hebrew word for “beginning” does not necessarily define a perfectly antecedent moment. It means more of “a beginning” than “the beginning” which is helpful for liberal interpretation of the verse, but it does use the Hebrew term for “day”, and the night/day cycle appears to have been in order before the sun and moon were erected. It’s confusing. Furthermore, it speaks to the fact that no matter how knowledgeable we think we are, some creative processes in the universe are ultimately beyond our comprehension and probably always will be. As such, I prefer a figurative interpretation. I believe there are esoteric understandings within many verses in the Holy Bible.

What is your view of the age of the universe, and do you believe that the data in Genesis 1 – 11 can be reconciled with an old-earth view? Why or why not?

I believe the universe is far, far older than 6000 years, and Genesis 1-11 may be reconcilable with the old-earth view. Linguistic interpretation places such a huge role in exegesis that to not implement it is hardly to be exegetical at all. When we read the Holy Bible in a language other than the original some meaning is sacrificed, and I believe it is in those lost meanings that we find reconciliation. It brings to mind a couple of principles. One is that perhaps it was meant to be somewhat cryptic as a sign not to dabble to closely in matters of which we cannot have sufficient knowledge.

How would you biblically respond to the possibility that God created the universe through an evolutionary process? What key issues should a discussion on this topic address? How important is this possibility to the issue of biblical authority?

Theistic Evolution includes the Good Lord in the developmental process we observe. The key issue is what the Holy Bible means by “man.” It seems that a new breed of human emerged within the last 10,000 years, which would match nicely with the Biblical timeline. Ultimately, it doesn’t necessarily fly in the face of Biblical authority because, again, in neither case do we really, truly know for sure. It’s all a best guess, best fit game. I prefer a flexible interpretation of both the scientific data and the Biblical evidence. I think it is a mistake to be too dogmatic about either. The fact is that both are methods for understanding.