The Goodness of Creation

What does it mean to say that God created everything? What about all those other creation myths that look a lot like Genesis 1? What do each of the "days" of creation mean? What does it mean to be human, and what does it mean to "rule and subdue" creation? Besides, why does it all matter -- isn't this world just doomed to destruction, and isn't everything about this world "bad"? How in the world can Christians seriously call creation "good", given all the ways they have undermined its supposed "goodness"?

 

In this episode, we take a closer look at Genesis 1, and walk through how the Hebrew narrative subverts the ancient near east way of understanding the Most High God, the gods, creation, being, images, and humanity. This Genesis 1 narrative gives us a glimpse of theology that doesn't hurt -- one that affirms the glorious vocation of humanity, displays a very different kind of God than the pagan nations, and which loudly proclaims that everything he creates is good. Come join us on the journey of reconstructing religion.

 

Resources for further study:

The Lost World of Genesis One (John Walton)

Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters (Carmen Imes)

The Biblical Cosmos: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Weird and Wonderful World of the Bible (Robin A. Parry)

Rediscovering the Goodness of Creation: A Manual for Recovering Gnostics (Robin Phillips)