Science.

The term science can be divided into separate categories:

1 Empirical (operational/practical). This involves observing/testing events in the present.

2 Historical (origins/forensic). Here the results of events occurring in the past are examined.

3 Theoretical (metaphysical). Hypothesis that do not necessarily involve testing.

In order for something to be scientifically proved it has to be both observed & repeatable. With the subject of origins neither apply. This applies to the evolution view & also for the creationist.

Science cannot directly investigate anything outside of nature, so cannot prove or disprove the supernatural or God. It can only investigate physical things caused by God/or the supernatural.

Creation.

Here this is the supernatural appearance of the universe & matter within it. It is sometimes called Creation Ex Nihilo (Creation out of nothing).

In the beginning God created the universe & Earth, an almighty being outside of our physical cosmos, formed the universe by His great power/intellect. The formation of the universe requires a creator greater than everything in the universe and who is outside of it.

When you hear people talking about ‘science’ they rarely distinguish between its different forms. Historical/origins science requires an interpretation, it cannot be directly verified.

If someone talks about a clash between science & religion they are always talking about religion not matching the secular view of origins science. This is very misleading.

There is never any clash between empirical science & the bible, only a difference between the secular & Christian interpretations of historical science.

All empirical science is in line with what God has inspired people to write in the bible. In fact, the subject of science only developed in Christian cultures. In pagan nations, or those with multiple gods, there is no sense of stability.

For 4 millennia the Jews believed the O.T. & particularly the Torah, with the book of Genesis as the account of origins. For the following 18 centuries after Jesus came to the Earth this view did not change, the N.T. supported the O.T. record.

The assumptions from geological discoveries & Darwinian evolutionary biology challenged this view. This was the concept of uniformitarianism in geology & the evolution of life.

Ill-equipped to cope with these new concepts biblical believers started to modify their views about God’s creation & various new theories appeared in order to match the biblical teaching & these claims of science.

Numerous ideas have circulated in order to reconcile the biblical account of creation & the claims of secular scientists. Each one has severe theological challenges. The common factor with each is to accommodate the vast periods of time demanded by secular theories.

Taken by itself the bible would never suggest ages in millions of years or the development of life by evolutionary processes. These ideas have to be imposed on the text. (see below)

Views about God & the bible:

1. If God is omniscient/omnipotent he can do anything & so create the universe in 6 days. He would not need millions of years to develop creation.
2. Getting our reading of Genesis correct. Many have challenged the straightforward record of creation in Genesis chapter 1. All such ideas clash with the given record and/or scripture in other parts of the bible.

Understanding the bible. There are different styles of writing:

1 Historical narrative, 2 Poetical, 3 Prophetic, 4 Parables.

1. This is a straightforward account of events which occurred in the past.
2. Here there can be a non-literal record of events, such as the creation account in Ps 104. Hebrew poetry is marked by 1 line being developed in the next, e.g. The Lord makes good things, He had provided great blessings for his people.
3. These are the revealed words of God.
4. Stories meant to convey a deeper meaning.

It is important to read the bible in the right way. There are 2 ways of approach:

Exegesis – reading from the text (understanding what is being conveyed)

Eisegesis – reading into the text (making the writing support a preconceived idea)

The straightforward reading of Genesis 1 indicates a 6-day creation period. There are strong arguments that the language style will allow no other interpretation. There are no professors of Hebrew that would doubt a 7-day creation week from this text.

The basic question is, did God mislead people by teaching a creation date of about 6,000 years ago, until the true history of the planet was discovered by unbelieving scientists? Or is the record given in the bible true?

Genesis is called the book of origins. About 50 years ago saw the emergence of the current Creation Science movement.

Here the bible believing scientists who looked at the evidence provided by empirical science interpreted it from a biblical standpoint.

The bible was meant for all people to read & understand. Some parts can be difficult to understand. There are areas open to debate because different scriptures can indicate different views. E.g. the subject of the End Times is notoriously fraught with arguments for & against.

It has been said that if the bible makes a plain statement you should believe it & not seek to find any alternative meaning. With the subject of creation the bible is clear.