>>My answer:
I like Jim and Tom make no claim for the historicity of this verse.
May I ask:
Is Gen 1:1 in the Hebrew construct state or the absolute state? <<
I appreciate the parry and then the thrust at my position. :-) You pass
the test as a true non-literalist!
I will freely admit that I don't know which state the Hebrew is in on Genesis
1:1. Which is it and what do the states mean to a linguist?
My point was merely that if there is not historicity in Genesis 1:1, then why
on earth would we believe that God created the universe? And if he didn't
create the universe, then besides an interest in forcing Christians to get
their facts right, what is the point of arguing creation/evolution?
[I think you and I are about to go for another round on the merry go round
like we did last spring :-) ]
The entire issue of whether God was able to convey a true message to us is
not involved (as far as I am concerned) with inerrancy of the Scripture. I am
a little uncomfortable with making the Scriptures be perfect as that borders
on worshipping the object rather than God, (like the Hebrews worshipped the
ark of the Covenant in their battle with the Philistines). The issue with me
is one of God's character. If God could not convey a true (if incomplete)
message to us then one must ask why? I can think of many questions which
arise in this regard. The following does assume that in some way, the Bible
is a communication from God, i.e., it is inspired somehow.
Is God impotent and unable to convey his message to Moses? (this denies
omnipotence)
If He conveyed it to Moses is He then such a bad judge of character that He
chose a man who would garble it so badly that no one can tell what it means?
(this denies his omniscience)
Did He not want to tell us and thus didn't convey anything to Moses and now
we now have a sacred book written by a man, kinda like Dianetics? If this
option is true, then what other parts of the Biblical message are made up?
(This denies He desire to bring man to knowledge of Him)
Did He not want to tell us the truth and so made up a false tale for us?
(This is the God lied option and denies His Holiness and goodness.) If He
lied here, maybe He is lying about who His son is?
If God didn't think the ancient Hebrews could handle the truth, was he not
able to foresee that one day we would? (this denies omniscience) Is there no
solution such as a simplified but true story?
Maybe God doesn't know how the world was created? This implies we have a
stupid God (like Plato's Demiurge who never knew of our existence) or our God
was not around at the time of creation and thus is part of the created. (This
denies his omniscience or His God-ness )
This is the heart of the creation/evolution issue for me. If there is no
evidence that I am dealing with God in the sacred document, then there is no
reason to worship that God. Whatever state the Hebrew is in, if it is not
historical fact that God created the Heavens and the Earth, then what or who
in the world are we worshipping?
glenn