Introduction
Since a number of members were new to this session, we decided to reread the Story of the Expulsion at http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3. As I mentioned in our last session, reading the notes can be a major aid in our study of the meaning of God’s word.
As always we are lead by four questions that can prompt our understanding. As you read pay attention to your self, what stands out in the story for you, raises questions, or raises feelings inside of you.
- Who are the characters in the story – list them
- What is the time of the story
- What is the plot of this story
Who are the characters?
Our group quickly listed seven characters but in listing them we discovered the difficulty and discipline required to stick with the story. We ended up discussing these characters for quite a while.
A revealing discussion occurred around two characters, the “man and woman.” We might think Adam and Eve. But throughout the Hebrew word is translated “man” not “Adam.” If you read the notes, you will see that the naming of the woman, Eve, doesn’t occur until the very end of the story. Complicating matters was the fact that one of our members had a version of the Bible in which Adam was referred to throughout the story.
A point of clarification, the Hebrew word for “man” and for “Adam” is the same word. It is the context that helps the translator select. Perhaps it is obvious to you that “man” refers to man in general whereas “Adam” refers to an individual man. Does this distinction mean anything to you? You might also see why it is a great advantage to study scriptures in a group. You won’t all think a like, I can assure you that. If you respond to this electronically, you can begin to form a group online, even if you are in the comfort of your home.
Our discussion on “man and woman” prompted Mark to ask a seemingly innocent question, who married them and then the whole idea of marriage I thought was later in the church anyway. Before we attempted to discuss his question though, I pointed out that Mark’s question, itself, might assume among other things that the time of the story is historical time.
The Time of the Story – Science, Culture and Religion
What do you think is the time of the story? There is no mention of time in the story of the Expulsion. We rightly assume, again from the context, that the author means “in the beginning.” I can’t tell you how much discussion swirled around those three words. You are welcome to join in. We are caught now [in our present time] with very real differences of opinion that have far reaching implications and points to the very goal of this website, Rise to the Level of our Times.
Dan made clear the meaning of this text to him and many others who agree with him. He asked, are we going on the assumption that God is not the author [of the Bible] and that we trust that the scientists are right with the 4.6 billion years when there are creation scientists that have all kind of evidence that prove a lot much younger world. We’re doubting God and we’re going to trust the world. To study that evidence you can go to www.creationevidence.org. Later in the discussion Dan said, basically I come from that God wrote the Bible and you take the genealogies from Jesus … it went from Mary straight back to Adam … and everything the Bible says is true.
For me the challenge is to identify what is true and false on each side of apparently contradictory positions. This is the meaning of “Rise to the Level of our Times.” First let’s attempt to identify where the differences really lie. I would invite you again to join in the discussion.
On the side of scientists, I would argue that it is not with their science, nor is it with all scientists. Science by definition is empirical, theoretical, methodical. Scientists, however, suffer from the same biases, etc. that the rest of us do and their biases are quite powerful and culturally influential when they are presented as science. So the best opinion for the date of the earth is scientific, that is 4.3 billion years old. But in stating their scientific conclusions they may even unwittingly include a number of extra scientific opinions. In my opinion the conflict with science lies in the extra scientific statements of scientists. To go into what those extras scientific opinions are is for another time. If you’re interested, let me know.
On the side of religion I would begin by stating that the Bible is written by persons who believe, to people who believe in order to aid their believing. The Bible, in the main, is historical only in the sense that it was written at particular times and places and what is written reveals those particular times and places to the extent that we can determine them. Secondly, the notion of revelation is an extraordinarily complex one but it rests on the belief that God has directly entered into the very meaning of this world for us. And for me, that meaning is everything. So to deduce from the lineage recorded in the Bible the age of the universe is to deduce from the Bible what isn’t intended in the Bible. Or to attempt to make sense of a day, or a week, or a year, as meaning something other than a day, a week, or a year is to miss the meaning of the text.
Creation scientists claim, as stated on their website, that “Our creation model begins, not with the space-time dimension, but with the Creator Himself.” The only beginning that we can ever have in this life is rooted in space and time. In Catholic intellectual tradition, even to name God as Creator is on the assumption that there is a creation. God is not a datum in creation to be understood but the explanation of all the data of creation. Only the mystic approaches the Creator Himself, for the rest of us, we must wait for the next life. Nonetheless, I agree with Dan that as Christians we must choose between being Americans who happen to go to church on Sundays or being Christians who happen to have been born in theUnited States. Christophe Dawson expressed this more fully than I http://rjr.richardross.annaerossi.com/?p=237 . It is much easier to be an American first than to be a Christian first. Much more can and has been written but allow this to be a starter.
Some Observations from our members
Our group had much more to say and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention at least some.
Ken had a couple of meaningful observations: Well what I hear is the difficulty that we have is trying to inject what our life experiences and how we know our life to be in our current time … to inject that into the story and possibly make assumptions based on what we hear and know today. Later he remarked I think that we’re so caught up sometimes in the world of absolutes that we’re trying to pin things down into a black or white, a yes or no, good and evil
Carol showed from her own experience the importance of simply talking with one another to learn what in fact we believe.
Tim mentioned something personal to him that I think we could all identify with. … There’s also moments even in my own life where something bad has happened … [to which he concluded] … it’s been better for me that the bad thing happened.
Mike ended our discussion with this comment: in the times of these writings very select people were educated. And then eating of the tree of knowledge was a bad thing. I don’t know that there’s not something written in that message that … light years beyond … I should say in reverse of where we are now … where everyone can be educated. Everyone can write. Everyone can tell how they feel and how they think. I think part of that is part of the problem of today’s world. There are too many people who think they know stuff or pretend to know stuff and people follow them.
As always your opinions, comments, questions are welcomed.