1. Deborah B. Haarsma & Loren D. Haarsma, Physics & Astronomy Dept., Calvin College 2007 October 12

2. Faith Alive Christian Resources The publishing ministry of the Christian Reformed Church The publishing ministry of the Christian Reformed Church We assisted with Fossils and Faith by Rev. Thea Leunk, Sunday school or Christian school supplemental material for high-school age. We assisted with Fossils and Faith by Rev. Thea Leunk, Sunday school or Christian school supplemental material for high-school age.

3. Please write a book on creation, design, and evolution… For the “person in the pew,” For the “person in the pew,” Could be used for small-group discussions, Could be used for small-group discussions, Part of a new series, “A Reformed Look At ___________,” Part of a new series, “A Reformed Look At ___________,” And yes, talk about human origins. And yes, talk about human origins.

4. Writing a book on weekends Writing as co-authors Writing as co-authors Writing for many audiences Writing for many audiences Advice from many experts and lay people Advice from many experts and lay people Cutting it down to size (www.faithaliveresources.org/origins) Cutting it down to size (www.faithaliveresources.org/origins)

5. Introduction Science-without-God OR God-without-science ? Science-without-God OR God-without-science ? There are more than two options There are more than two options –Example. What causes rain: evaporation & condensation OR “God’s storehouses” Our personal stories Our personal stories

6. Ch.1 God’s Word and God’s World What Christians agree about. What Christians agree about. Range of Christian disagreements about origins. Range of Christian disagreements about origins. The importance of listening both to God’s Word and God’s world. The importance of listening both to God’s Word and God’s world.

7. Ch.2 Worldviews and Science Christian beliefs as a foundation for doing science. Christian beliefs as a foundation for doing science. God governs events we can explain scientifically as well as those we cannot. God governs events we can explain scientifically as well as those we cannot. “god of the gaps” “god of the gaps” God governs events which are, from a scientific perspective, random. God governs events which are, from a scientific perspective, random.

8. Ch.3 Science: A Process for Studying God’s World Experimental, observational, and historical science (and their interrelation). Experimental, observational, and historical science (and their interrelation). The laws of nature don’t appear to have changed during the history of the universe. The laws of nature don’t appear to have changed during the history of the universe. Scientific knowledge is not the only kind of knowledge. Scientific knowledge is not the only kind of knowledge.

9. Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in Conflict? Biblical Studies NatureScripture God No Conflict Author of Potential Conflict Human Interpretation Human Interpretation Science Philosophy, Politics Theology, Church Tradition

10. Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in Conflict? Good principles of biblical interpretation Good principles of biblical interpretation The example of Galileo The example of Galileo

11. Ch.5 Genesis: Concordist Interpretations Geological evidence for an old earth Geological evidence for an old earth Interpretations of Genesis: young- earth, gap, day-age, appearance of age Interpretations of Genesis: young- earth, gap, day-age, appearance of age Order of creation in Genesis 1 & 2 Order of creation in Genesis 1 & 2 History of modern young-earth creationism and a sample YEC argument History of modern young-earth creationism and a sample YEC argument

12. Ch.6 Genesis: Non-Concordist Interpretations Interpretations of Genesis: visionary days, proclamation days, creation poem, kingdom-covenant, ancient Near East cosmology Interpretations of Genesis: visionary days, proclamation days, creation poem, kingdom-covenant, ancient Near East cosmology Message of Genesis 1 in all interpretations Message of Genesis 1 in all interpretations

13. Egyptian cosmology From The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms by Othmar Keel (New York: Crossroad, 1985) sky goddess Nut earth god Geb sun god Re air god Shu Osiris, god of the dead sun god Re

14. Ch.7 An Ancient and Dynamic Universe The universe is vast The universe is vast –How we measure great distances The universe is old The universe is old –Evidences for a long history The universe had a beginning The universe had a beginning –Evidences for the Big Bang The Big Bang and Christianity The Big Bang and Christianity

15. Ch.8 Competing Views on Evolution The story of Jennifer... The story of Jennifer... “Evolution” means: “Evolution” means: –microevolution –pattern of change over time –common ancestry –theory of evolution –evolutionism Young earth creationism; progressive creationism; evolutionary creationism Young earth creationism; progressive creationism; evolutionary creationism What all creationists agree about What all creationists agree about

16. Ch.9 Plant and Animal Evolution Evidence: fossils, comparative anatomy, biogeography, genetic similarities among species (including introns, pseudogenes), genetic diversity within species Evidence: fossils, comparative anatomy, biogeography, genetic similarities among species (including introns, pseudogenes), genetic diversity within species The evidence strongly supports common ancestry and is consistent with the theory of evolution The evidence strongly supports common ancestry and is consistent with the theory of evolution

17. Ch.10 Intelligent Design I.D. arguments vs. I.D. movement I.D. arguments vs. I.D. movement Fine-tuning argument Fine-tuning argument –Is it proof of God? Biological complexity argument Biological complexity argument –Is the evolution of complexity improbable? Both evolution and design Both evolution and design I.D. and the “god of the gaps” danger I.D. and the “god of the gaps” danger Public debate over I.D. Public debate over I.D.

18. Ch.11 Scientific and Theological Issues on Human Origins Three options: special creation, miraculous modification, evolutionary creation Three options: special creation, miraculous modification, evolutionary creation Scientific evidence: fossils, genetic similarity to animals, genetic diversity among humans Scientific evidence: fossils, genetic similarity to animals, genetic diversity among humans Theological issues: Theological issues: –Created in God’s image (3 views) –The soul (3 theories) –Original sin: the situation, transmission (3 views), and historical origins –Death before the fall: animals; humans (3 views)

19. Ch.12 Adam and Eve 5 scenarios: 5 scenarios: –recent ancestors –recent representatives –ancient ancestors –a group of ancient representatives –symbolic Scientific and theological pros and cons of each scenario Scientific and theological pros and cons of each scenario What all scenarios agree about What all scenarios agree about Not satisfied with any of the scenarios? Not satisfied with any of the scenarios?

20. Ch.13 But What About…? Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Scripture Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Scripture 1. Since the Bible tells us how God made the world, why do we need to listen to science? 2. Haven’t Christians always believed in a young earth and a six-day creation? 3. Is it ever appropriate to change one’s interpretation of Scripture to match science? 4. Isn’t a non-literal interpretation of Genesis 1 just a slippery slope to denying the resurrection? 5. If Genesis 1 should be understood literally, what is the “firmament” created on day two? 6. Why didn’t God just tell us about the Big Bang and evolution in Genesis? 7. Is it better if we can make the events of Genesis 1 line up with what science says, or if the message of Genesis 1 is independent of what science says? Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Nature 8. How strong is the evidence for an old earth? For evolution? 9. Are the Big Bang and evolution just beliefs promoted by atheists to get around God? 10. Are scientists biased against religion and against God? 11. How can scientists be sure about the Big Bang and evolution if no one was there to see them? 12. Is there any scientific evidence for a young earth? 13. Could God have created the earth recently and made it appear old? 14. Can the scientific evidence for an old earth also be made to fit a young earth model?

21. Ch.13 But What About…? Questions Christians Ask Regarding the Goodness and Fall of Creation 15. An old earth would mean millions of years of animal pain and species extinction. Didn’t God create the world perfect at the beginning? 16. How could God call creation good if it included destruction, pain, and extinction? 17. Does evolution reward selfishness? 18. Did death exist before the Fall? 19. Does a non-literal view of Adam and Eve deny important doctrines about original sin and salvation? Questions Christians Ask Regarding How God Works in Nature 20. Why would God use such a long, slow process when he could have created everything instantly? 21. How could it have all happened by chance? 22. If evolution is true, doesn’t God seem weak and uninvolved? 23. Does evolution imply that God doesn’t do miracles? 24. Shouldn’t there be some sort of proof in nature that God created it? 25. Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry with animals rather than through special miracles? 26. How do I worship God if God used slow natural processes instead of miracles to create each animal and plant?

22. Book is now available Calvin bookstore Calvin bookstore Faith Alive Christian Resources Faith Alive Christian Resources –1-800-333-8300 –http://www.faithaliveresources.org (search on “Haarsma”) –Denominational building Pick up a flyer for –Your friends, family –Pastor, church library, book club, youth group leader –Christian school teachers, home schoolers, Christian college science profs