Biblical Creation on Solid Ground

Biblical Creation on Solid Ground

Förkunskapskrav

Innehåll

A study of Biblical Creation, based on a historical interpretation of the first eleven chapters of the Bible. Theological, philosophical, and scientific arguments for Biblical Creation are studied.

Utbildningsmål

As a result of successfully completing this course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding
–have good knowledge of the differences between the historical and metaphorical interpretations of Genesis 1-11, in particular their implications for our understanding of God’s Creation, of man and of the gospel
–understand the main components of empirical science, and point out the main differences between the secular and non-secular approaches to science
–be acquainted with how the theory of evolution forms the basis for a secular worldview
–account for how Christians have interpreted Genesis 1-11 through the history of the church
–be familiar with some of the key scientific arguments for a literal interpretation of Genesis 1-11 from cosmology, thermodynamics/molecular biology, geology/paleontology, anatomy, paleoanthropology, and genetics.

Skills and Abilities
–be able to present some of the main theological arguments for Biblical Creation
–be able to present some of the main scientific arguments of Biblical Creation from cosmology, thermodynamics/molecular biology, geology/paleontology, anatomy, paleoanthropology and genetics
–be able to write a report that summarizes some of the main theological and scientific arguments for Biblical Creation
–be able to give arguments for why Biblical Creation is not in conflict with science
–be able to critically examine and identify the philosophical assumptions behind different articles or theories for questions of origin
–be well equipped to engage in conversations related to Biblical Creation.

Assessment and Approach
–give an account of Biblical Creation whereby the first 11 chapters of Genesis are interpreted as historical text. Explain how these 11 chapters, according to Biblical Creation, lay the foundation for the rest of the Bible. In particular, explain how the statement “what God created was originally good” and the view of man as created uniquely in the image of God but fallen, fit in
–study some of the challenges associated with a metaphorical interpretation of the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In particular, explain the implications that the metaphorical and historical interpretations of these chapters have for the importance for the gospel
–give an account of how Christians have interpreted the first 11 chapters of Genesis through history
–understand how the theory of evolution is the foundation of a secular worldview, and in particular its view of man
–have some knowledge of philosophy of science, and use this as a tool for distinguishing between secular and biblical views of science. In particular, present arguments why Biblical Creation fulfils the requirements of the hypothetico-deductive method of empirical science
–present scientific evidence of Biblical Creation from various disciplines, including: cosmology and the origin of the universe, thermodynamics/molecular biology and the origin of information, geology/paleontology and the origin of the rocks and their fossils, anatomy and the origin of animal joints, geology/genetics and the origin of biblical kinds, paleoanthropology and the uniqueness of humans, genetics and the uniqueness of humans as well genetics and the history of humanity
–describe in which ways scientific evidence has strengthened Biblical Creation in recent years.