RE: [asa] ORIGINS/BIBLE: Evolution, Adam, and Romans

George, how sure are you of what you wrote regarding morality and "death before the Fall" in PSCF? Give me a percentage.

 
Moorad

________________________________

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu on behalf of George Murphy
Sent: Tue 1/2/2007 8:00 AM
To: n j; asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: [asa] ORIGINS/BIBLE: Evolution, Adam, and Romans

Paul, as a 1st century Jew, accepted the understanding common in his culture, that Adam & Eve should be understood as historical individuals. This is similar to the way in which the writer of Genesis 1 accepted the views of ancient near eastern cultures about the the structure of the world (flat earth with a dome over it & waters above the heavens). The Holy Spirit, in inspiring scripture, accomodated the essential message to the limitations of the biblical writers and their audiences.
 
On the issue of inspiration you might look at my brief article "Couldn't God Get It Right?" at http://www.elca.org/faithandscience/covalence/story/default.asp?Copyright=06-03-15&Author=murphy&Pages=1 <http://www.elca.org/faithandscience/covalence/story/default.asp?Copyright=06-03-15&Author=murphy&Pages=1> . For the broader topic of evolution and the fall you could look at my article "Roads to Paradise and Perdition: Christ, Evolution, and Original Sin" in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 58, 109, 2006. Unfortunately it's not up on the asa website yet.
 
Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

        ----- Original Message -----
        From: n j <mailto:tumoip@gmail.com>
        To: asa@calvin.edu
        Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 12:45 AM
        Subject: [asa] ORIGINS/BIBLE: Evolution, Adam, and Romans

        Hi,

        I'm starting to lean heavily towards evolution, but it has some theological implications that I'm looking into. For example, many hold that Adam was not a literal person and that the account of the fall is symbolic of when humans began to have free choice, self-conciousness and became aware of morality. Understanding that they should act morally, however, they chose to behave otherwise. For those who hold this view, how do you account for Paul writing as if Adam was a historical person through whom sin entered the world -- Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:22; 15:45?

        Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

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Received on Tue Jan 2 10:13:12 2007