First, let me give you a little of my background. I am presently in the middle
of my postdoctoral studies in mathematics (my speciality is topology) at the
University of Virginia. (I have actually taken this academic year off so that I
can spend the first half of this year at the Institut des Hautes Etudes
Scientifique in France). My background in biology is minimal so I never had a
good enough understanding of the latest developments in evolutionary theory.
My interest in evolution/creation debate began eight years. (I should say that
I've became a Christian 12 years ago.) I wanted to reconcile my belief that the
Christian bible is the Word of God with my belief that modern day dating
techniques (e.g. carbon dating) was legitimate. This particular pursuit was
revived last year when my church's Sunday prayer/discussion group was addressing
creationism and trying to make a case for YEC. I was impressed by the
discussion of probability (though recent posts here and elsewhere have convinced
of the weakness of much of these arguments), but I was not convinced of the
arguments against dating techniques. This led me back to trying to resolve what
appeared to me to be a problem (at least with YEC). But thanks to a discussion
with a pastor friend of mine, I found a model I was happy with. I would like to
present here now in hopes you all will (gently) tear it apart. :)
The basic premise is that Genesis 1:1 and 2 should be seperated. I do not do
this arbitrarily, but rather I take into account Isaiah 14:12-17 (which I
believe Jesus depicts in Luke 10:18). Here we are presented with the fall of
the cherub Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:12-19) that "made the earth tremble, that did
shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities
thereof ..." (verses 16 and 17). Since Satan was fallen when he made his
bibliical debut in Genesis, I would put this major devestation, described above,
before the appearance of Adam.
My proposed solution is to start with Genesis 1:1 and have God create the heaven
and the earth using whatever appropriate cosmological technique (ignoring for
the time being Hawking's proposed closed space-time model) and let it develope
so that earth can develope life (or tweek it if you think it's necessary) all
the while going along merrily. Behind the scenes, though, there are spiritual
forces interacting until Lucifer decides he's in charge and then we get a major
eviction that leaves the earth a mess, as depiicted in Isaiah. God steps in in
Genesis 1:2 to clean up the mess and we get the rest of Genesis 1. In
particular, God the makes modern man in his likeness and puts them in charge of
the earth until we sell out to Satan requiring a savior i.e. Jesus.
I know this has a lot of holes, especially on the evidentury side. Does it hold
any merit?
In Christ,
Jim Turner
Until August 1:
Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques
Le Bois Marie
35 Route des Chartres
F-91440 Bures-sur-Yvette, France
turner@ihes.fr
After August 1:
Department of Mathematics
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22903
jt2n@virginia.edu