Before we move on to Genesis 1-1b, I thought it would be good to highlight a key take away from the previous post. A good friend of mine (and Atheist) pushed back on something that I wrote:
In the first three words of Genesis we encounter "In the beginning God created..." and I lay a case that the emphasis placed on the word Beginning in Hebrew clearly points to the beginning of all reality. And I then make the claim that if one is to believe this, then the believer must assume God's existence prior to creation - that God, in essence, exists outside the boundary of conventional time as we observe it. So I argue that faith in God comes first, the validity and content of the Bible is secondary.faith must come before reason, or the Biblical Account of Life, the Universe, and Everything After is nonesense and subject to debate
Why is this point so important? Well, it colors our perspective on our interpretation of observed facts. A person who rejects God will naturally interpret the same set of observances in a different manner - even if the statistical probability of that interpretation is less than the probability of an interpretation that includes God.
Consider Fibonacci and Lucas numbers. On my blog I have posted three videos on the tab that give a great and easy and fun introduction into these numbers and their patterns.
The fibonacci sequence: 0+1=1 1+1=2 1+2=3 2+3=5 3+5=8 5+8=13 and so on (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21)
occurs everywhere in nature - plant leaves, pine cones, star fish, nautilis shells, cellular chromosomes, our brains, dog brains, electrons, the periodic table, the distribution of any given sand on any given beach, the frequency differentials between light in a rainbow, and on and on.... it also happens to be real good in engineering, space flight, computer programs, human speech and language, the patterns of poetry, the chordal arrangement of music, tempo, and modulating torque on engines.
For a person who observes this phenomena, and who is predisposed to faith in God, naturally will be inclined to believe that this is a symptom of God's order. And it is statistically more probable that this pattern is caused rather than random (considering how non-random the sequence is).
Yet a heart that does not naturally resonate with a belief in God, or rejects a belief in God, will be forced to attempt to reconcile these occurances through some other mechanism. And it is here where we must first contend with the illogical mind attempting rationality. That is the proposition that from Chaos, order chaotically arose. It makes no sense and is statistically improbable.
Perhaps if such order were to arise in one subset of the natural world - the evolution of animal life for example - then it would be slightly more probable? However for this pattern to exhibit everywhere, and for other such patterns to emerge everywhere an apologist and any rational mind must contend with the likelihood of a Creator.
As we move forward into the next part of Genesis 1:1 and then throughout the rest of our study, we must keep this perspective in mind. The world is quick to label something scientific and yet ignore the very basic foundations of scientific and philosophic review. It creates much contention between the secularist and the Christ follower.
We must view the world through a lense of God existant, and not a lense of God yet to be proved. We must learn to express our understanding not through rote, robotic "tracts" but through our own world view. We must clearly start with a statement that we have an inherent belief in God. We must teach our children the basis for this belief and catechise them into this view. In this manner we can demonstrate that defending the faith is supported by scientific review rather than refuted by it. In this manner we can move forward in earnest search for truth without any fear that our faith will be shaken.
Thanksgiving is coming up, so I need to end this rant and prepare for Thursday.
Be well, enjoy your turkey time. Comment and feedback is encouraged. Please invite others to join and contribute.
