My class at university

[California Dreamin']

All through high school, I only heard the Evolution side of things. This is my first year at a Christian university and in my class "Themes of the Bible", we are studying Creation right now. I really like this class and the lessons on creation, I learned a lot.
We also talked about 4 ways Christians translate the Genesis account of Creation:

1) Theistic Evolution
2) Literary (as a myth)
3) Literal (word for word)
4) Progressive Creationism

I really want to do well in this class, it's a class I really enjoy and I am a Biblical Studies major.

 

[Amalthea]

As long as that is not a science class it's ok. If it is also the science curriculum then I question as to whether it deserves the title university.

 

[pressingon]

All through high school, I only heard the Evolution side of things. This is my first year at a Christian university and in my class "Themes of the Bible", we are studying Creation right now. I really like this class and the lessons on creation, I learned a lot.
We also talked about 4 ways Christians translate the Genesis account of Creation:

1) Theistic Evolution
2) Literary (as a myth)
3) Literal (word for word)
4) Progressive Creationism

I really want to do well in this class, it's a class I really enjoy and I am a Biblical Studies major.

Good for you! I'm glad you're enjoying the class and learning about the varying understandings of the Genesis account of creation.

Just a quick suggestion for future reference (nothing wrong with your current post, of course).... If you want to post questions to get either the theistic evolutionist or the creationist viewpoint here on CF, you might want to do so in the sub-fora so that you can get their individual viewpoints without a debate. If you don't mind the debate (or are looking for the arguments both sides have on a specific topic), go ahead and post the question here in the main forum.

God bless....

 

[Vance]

Actually I am very glad they are presenting you with the various choices at a Christian College here in North America, and hope they give all sides an equal presentation and let the students decide without promoting one over the other! Let us know how it goes!

 

[herev]

I pray you will enjoy and learn. Those classes can be very enlightening

 

[fishstix]

Sounds like an interesting class.

On another note, my first year biology prof did indeed mention that there are other theories out there besides evolution. Evolution was the only one he went into in detail but he at least acknowledged that some people do believe other things. I think that there is room in a science class to at least acknowledge differing beliefs, even if they aren't what the majority of scientists are currently agreeing with. And if there is time, a discussion of theories other than what is the currently accepted one can be a good thing. That goes for topics other than creation/evolution as well. Especially in university science classes where students are supposed to be learning to be able to think and evaluate information for themselves rather than just unquestioningly accepting whatever the prof says.

 

[gluadys]

All through high school, I only heard the Evolution side of things. This is my first year at a Christian university and in my class "Themes of the Bible", we are studying Creation right now. I really like this class and the lessons on creation, I learned a lot.
We also talked about 4 ways Christians translate the Genesis account of Creation:

1) Theistic Evolution
2) Literary (as a myth)
3) Literal (word for word)
4) Progressive Creationism

I really want to do well in this class, it's a class I really enjoy and I am a Biblical Studies major.

Sounds like a great course! I like the focus on "Great Themes of the Bible". Creation is certainly one of those. And I like it that they are open to looking at different interpretive approaches.

This wouldn't happen to be Redeemer University in Ancaster would it? It's just around the corner from me and I've attended several conferences there.

 

[Didaskomenos]

Wow. If only more universities did this when talking about Genesis, there'd be so much less confusion and disinformation. I personally hold to the literary view of Genesis, based on literary reasons, and leave the scientific stuff to scientists (hence, I am a TE, since evolutionary theory has the most weight).

 

[Micaiah]

The topic of Creation is an appropriate one to study in a theology class. No one was there at the time of Creation except the Creator. We learn from Hebrews 11:3 that God made the things that we now see out of things that were not seen. He spoke, and they became a physical reality. What an amazing demonstration of power.

You will discover that the various interpretations of Scripture are usually derived from beliefs about inspiration, and as you have noted, methods of interpretation.

Genesis is obviously a historical book. We see many of the events and people in Genesis spoken of throughout Scripture. These are real events and real people. Why then the various interpretations? It is my observation after a lot of time listening, reading, that other interpretations are an attempt to reconcile Scripture with popular science. Sadly, for many, the latter supplants the former.

I have found that the more I learn about evolution, the more non-sensical the theory of evolution becomes. There is now a large body of evidence that refutes the major theories promoted by evolutionists, and their presumptions about what the evidence tells us. Our human psych demands answers to the question of origins. Evolution has become popular among the largely athieistic scientific community because it provides the anaesthetic to quieten the searching soul.

Romans 1 teaches that this inner search is a search for our Creator, and that His attributes are clearly displayed by creation. It says we are not the product of random and naturalistic processes. We didn't just happen. We were created by an Intelligent Designer. By God. Those who are blessed with a knowledge of the Scriptures have that stated plainly in black and white.

We don't need to go to the scientific community to learn about our origins. God has given us all we need to know in the first few chapters of Genesis. He tells us we were created perfect, unique, in the image of God, and for a grand purpose, namely to commune with our Creator. I hope you develop an unshakeable trust in God and the truth He plainly reveals in Genesis about our beginnings as you study this topic.

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

The topic of Creation is an appropriate one to study in a theology class. No one was there at the time of Creation except the Creator. We learn from Hebrews 11:3 that God made the things that we now see out of things that were not seen. He spoke, and they became a physical reality. What an amazing demonstration of power.

And mainstream science explains the physical processes by which they became a physical reality. Why do you insist on putting the two in opposition?

You will discover that the various interpretations of Scripture are usually derived from beliefs about inspiration, and as you have noted, methods of interpretation.

Genesis is obviously a historical book.

Actually, it's a collection of diverse writings. None of it seems historical to me. The opening chapters read like myth. Later ones appear to be cultural origins legends. But history? No. Not with all those symbolic objects talked about as if talking snakes and trees with symbolic names were found in every back yard.

We see many of the events and people in Genesis spoken of throughout Scripture. These are real events and real people.

Why does reference back imply historicity? This seems to be an asusmption you're making. You need to show your working.

Why then the various interpretations? It is my observation after a lot of time listening, reading, that other interpretations are an attempt to reconcile Scripture with popular science. Sadly, for many, the latter supplants the former.

I trust then that you are a geocentrist, and do not attempt to reconcile heliocentricity with the plain teaching Scripture (in Joshua) that the sun goes round the earth?

I have found that the more I learn about evolution, the more non-sensical the theory of evolution becomes. There is now a large body of evidence that refutes the major theories promoted by evolutionists, and their presumptions about what the evidence tells us.

You keep saying this, but until you start actually presenting, and defending, some of this supposed evidence I suggest you stop it. Such constant reference to what is never presented is a clanging gong and a banging cymbal.

Our human psych demands answers to the question of origins. Evolution has become popular among the largely athieistic scientific community because it provides the anaesthetic to quieten the searching soul.

Utter, utter claptrap. As I have tried to explain, endlessly, it is the logical conclusion of many lines of converging evidence. I've yet to see a creationist explain that a non-evolutionary interpretation of the human chromosome 2/ape karyotype evidence, and the retroviral insertion evidence, is anything but perverse.

Romans 1 teaches that this inner search is a search for our Creator, and that His attributes are clearly displayed by creation. It says we are not the product of random and naturalistic processes. We didn't just happen. We were created by an Intelligent Designer. By God. Those who are blessed with a knowledge of the Scriptures have that stated plainly in black and white.

But there is no contradiction between this and mainstream science. Why do creationists want to create one?

We don't need to go to the scientific community to learn about our origins. God has given us all we need to know in the first few chapters of Genesis. He tells us we were created perfect, unique, in the image of God, and for a grand purpose, namely to commune with our Creator. I hope you develop an unshakeable trust in God and the truth He plainly reveals in Genesis about our beginnings as you study this topic.

There's a big difference between "need to know" and "would like to know". You cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube. We have the evidence for evolution - are you really suggesting we should just pretend it isn't there?

 

[California Dreamin']

As long as that is not a science class it's ok. If it is also the science curriculum then I question as to whether it deserves the title university.

The class is called Themes of the Bible, I'm an Arts student, it's not a science class.

 

[California Dreamin']

Oh, and to answer your question, it's not Redeemer University