As a Christian trained in evolutionary biology, I’ve been blessed that both faith and science always felt natural to me. I never felt like I had to choose between them. But, during graduate school, I started getting a lot of “God” questions from people who wondered how I could be a Christian and an evolutionist. My faith wasn’t shaken by those questions, but, I was inspired to start reading books about the relationship between science and Christian faith, beginning with John Haught’s 1995 publication, Science & Religion: From Conflict to Conversation. That book, and many others that followed, helped me grow into a theological understanding that is known as evolutionary creationism—the acceptance of the science of evolution as the best description of how God brought about life on earth. This theology is embraced by many scientist Christians.
Helpful theology still can leave us wondering, “What to do with the two creation stories found in Genesis 1 and 2?” This month’s posts will be the first in a series that will explore that question. In Bible Connections, I’m highlighting John Walton’s “Interpreting the Creation Story” (published by Seedbed). Walton likens the difference between the scientific and biblical origins accounts to the difference between a “house story” and a “home story.” Science tells us how our earthly house was built; Genesis tells us how God made it a sacred space, a home, where he would dwell with us.
In Science Connections, you can explore the fascinating connection between us and the matter that was created at the beginning of our universe in the Big Bang (really—it’s amazing—so, make sure you don’t miss it!)
As we learn, may we grow in love, wonder, and an ever-deepening awareness of “God with us.”
