According to Genesis, God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh. Many religious followers believe literally that everything from the air we breathe to the water we drink was created in a matter of days. Others scoff at this interpretation, insisting that the universe couldn’t have possibly been created in such a short time span. What really happened “in the beginning”?
The Bible as we know it was compiled many years after the paintbrush of God artfully created the world that today we call home. The Story of Creation presented in Genesis, provides us with an understanding of why God created the world and life around us rather than how precisely the world was created. The Catechism of the Catholic Church asserts “ Scripture presents the work of the Creator symbolically as a succession of six days of divine ‘work’, concluded by the ‘rest’ of the seventh day” (CCC 337).
In fact the Book of Genesis appears to consistently utilize symbolic and figurative language, for the Catechism also states “The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language” (CCC 390), once again drawing reference to the fact that although Genesis is the inspired Word of God, it is in part written in figurative language so as to stress the why behind God’s love for humanity.
It might be easier to understand it in this way – the method by which we measure time today is very different than civilizations throughout history have approached the same subject. Therefore, considering the seven days presented in Genesis, we are provided with a “relational” understanding of God’s creation. We might consider the fact that we truly do not have a clear understanding of the Hebrew meaning behind yom (day), in that it is not entirely clear as to whether such a reference pertains to days as we know them today (24 hours) or to an alternate period of time and space.
It is for this reason that it is all too clear that God inspired the Book of Genesis not to provide a “literal” account of the creation of the world, but rather to provide a symbolic story that is far more important than the scope of the seven days it summarizes. Instead the story of creation provides humanity with a window into the Lord’s awesome love that continues to provide hope in a world of uncertainty. It is amidst this uncertainty, that we can turn to the Book of Genesis to understand why humanity came to be, and why the Lord’s love is truly unending.
Next Argument
6
3
4
3
3
2
2
0
6
4
3
3
2
0
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Expert Verified
Link