Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivanhoe  What we are seeing today is the priesthood of the scholar, be he theologue or scientist. |
The Book of Genesis was written thousands of years ago in a culture that we are ignorant of. Language reflects culture hence the language that reflects a culture that we are ignorant of is very difficult to comprehend. Moses, who was living in this culture, was writing to Israel, an infant nation. On all sides of this emerging nation in the Ancient Near East, were nations with their own gods, their own culture, their own languages. The biggest threat to Israelite religion was the Baalism of the Canaanites. This was the god of the rain and fertility (read vegetation). So when set in this historic context the fact that the creation account declares YHWH to be the source of vegetation and humankind, Moses has launched a polemical attack upon the gods of Israel's neighbours. The six days then are seen to be thematic (days 1-3 and 4-6) afterwhich God rests his work is done.
Now does that rule out six creation days? Well, is the account chronological? No. Ok, so what? Further, what is the significance that
yom has been used? These are still on going thoughts in my mind. Is it science? No. So then is it myth, poetry, narrative etc?