Questions in religion
Why are there different views about the meaning of the religious creation story?
The religious stories of Creation were written thousands of years ago. It is said that the writers were inspired by God when they wrote. This is called, Revelation. The writers chose words and images that would convey God’s messages to the people around at the time. We don’t have the writers here now to clarify for us what the messages of the text are. That leaves lots of room for different opinions. Biblical scholars are people who study the Bible and who do research to try to get a better understanding of what the text says.
The view of a Biblical Scholar
The Reverend Dr Ernest Lucas began his career as a scientist and is now a minister in the Church. He says that the most important thing to know about the religious story is that it is there to tell the reader about God. The key message is that God is the Creator of the Universe.
This part of the Bible is written in a special form of language – somewhere between prose and poetry, says Dr Lucas.
Have another look at the Biblical account of Creation. How would you describe the style?
Genesis Chapter 1 (RSV Bible)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Contact us: