1. Interpretations of Genesis Genesis 1 & 2 = 2 different accounts of the same event (creation of world and all in it) ‘Genesis’ means ‘beginning’, ‘origin’, or ‘creation’ [Remember Adam and Eve SHOULD be translated as ‘man’ and ‘woman’] Genesis 1 is about 2,500years old Genesis 2 is about 3,000 years old They are written versions of stories passed on orally – unsure of exactly when they were originally written or by whom. If Genesis 1 and 2 are contradictory versions of the same story, why were they kept? The Bible is the accepted ‘canon’ of Christianity – it’s official contents were discussed and agreed on. People must have thought both had an important message.

2. Literal Interpretations of the Bible Scientific Materialists are people with a strictly scientific world view –They say if the Bible is true, it is impossible and therefore rubbish. Creationists are ‘foundationalist’ Christians who interpret the Bible literally. –There are different ‘branches’ of creationism. –Creationists use the Bible POSITIVELY and say it is an exact account of how we got here. –E.g. Archbishop Ussher in 1660 dated the origin of man to 4004BC! N.B. The majority of Christians DO NOT take a literal view of the Bible.

3. Creationism / Creation Science Creationists: Take a literal interpretation of the Bible = created in 7 days / flood really happened / etc Progressive Creationists: Take the Bible literally BUT within ‘reason’. Don’t see creation in 7x24 hours, but 7 periods of time Accept SOME mainstream science

4. Criticisms of Creationism 1.As mainstream science becomes more ‘concrete’, it seems less credible 2.Creation Scientists ‘pick and chose’ the scientific evidence they use (e.g. some geology but not evolution) = this is a matter of faith, not science as it claims. 3.Talking about ‘special creation’ and supernatural intervention cannot be tested scientifically – again it is all about belief. Also leads to ‘god of gaps’ problem. 4.Independent scientists (majority of community) do not accept Creation Science calculations and evidence. It goes against mainstram physics, chemistry, astronomy and geology. 1.E.g. No geological evidence of a world-wide flood 5.There is generally accepted evidence that goes against the ‘Young Earth’ theory 1.Tree ring record back 8,200 years 2.Radio Carbon Dating shows fossils that are millions of years old 3.RCD and fossil record show gradual evolution from simple to complex = NOT all at once!