Rather than write an in-depth review of each chapter in Asimov's book, I will attempt to give examples of his views. I hope that these examples will explain the following: his blind faith in evolutionism, his literal interpretation of Scripture, and how his views compare/contrast with those of progressive creationists.
Asimov begins chapter one by proclaiming that Moses didn't write Genesis or any of the other books of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). Instead, he believes that the first five books are "a carefully edited compilation of material from a number of sources."[1] On what authority does he make such a bold assertion? He freely admits that his authorities are "modern scholars" whose theories (the J.E.P.D. document theory) were non-existent before the nineteenth century.[2] Up until then Moses was considered the uncontested author of the Pentateuch. In the 1800's some men theorized that the Pentateuch, instead of being written by Moses, was actually a combination of four different hypothetical documents, J, E, P, and D, all of which were supposedly written hundreds of years after Moses. Although there is no historical proof that these four documents ever existed, "modern scholars" were confident that these documents were the basis for Genesis instead of the inspired Moses. (See article: Did Moses Write Genesis?) Rejecting the Mosaic authorship of Genesis in favor of the J.E.P.D. theory despite any shred of historical evidence shows that Asimov truly was a man of faith- blind faith.
For sake of brevity, I cannot reply to everything that needs to be addressed in chapter one. Instead I will focus on Asimov's view of the meaning of the text of Genesis. Does he think it should be interpreted allegorically? Does he see within the text an allowance for millions of years? On the contrary. He interprets the text literally. For example, in speaking of the age of the earth, Asimov takes the Bible's genealogies as literal and chronological. He says, "Thus the usual estimates for the age of heaven and earth from Biblical data run from about fifty-seven hundred years to seventy-five hundred years."[3] Although Asimov doesn't agree with the Biblical data regarding the date of creation, at least he agrees that the author of Genesis intended for the genealogies to be taken literally and that a literal hermeneutic leads to a young earth/universe conclusion.
Another example of his literal understanding of the Genesis text is that he correctly interprets the passage as saying that light was created on day one and the sun being created on day four. This is against his big-bang theory but nevertheless he understands the text to mean that God created light first and then the sun.[4] Speaking of the word "day" in Genesis One he says,
I wrap up this discussion of chapter one by pointing out that Asimov clearly understands from the Biblical text that all creatures, human and animal, were described as being vegetarian in the beginning. He says, "It would appear from this verse (Gen. 1:29) that humanity was created with a purely vegetarian diet" and "Apparently all animal life was created with a vegetarian diet."[7] Of course, evolutionary theory has death and suffering by predatory killing for millions of years before man evolved. Asimov rightly points out that the Bible and evolution are clearly in conflict over this issue. Unfortunately, in an effort to prove the earth is millions of years old, progressive creationists deny the clear teaching of Scripture that there was no death in the beginning. Instead they say that millions of years of animal death and carnivorous animal activity was all part of God's "good" creation.
Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions. I appreciate the feedback. In my next post I will cover Asimov's chapter two.
NOTES:
[1] Isaac Asimov, In the Beginning...(New York: Crown Publishers, Inc, 1981), 5.
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid, 9.
[4] Ibid, 41.
[5] Ibid, 32.
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid, 65.
Asimov begins chapter one by proclaiming that Moses didn't write Genesis or any of the other books of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). Instead, he believes that the first five books are "a carefully edited compilation of material from a number of sources."[1] On what authority does he make such a bold assertion? He freely admits that his authorities are "modern scholars" whose theories (the J.E.P.D. document theory) were non-existent before the nineteenth century.[2] Up until then Moses was considered the uncontested author of the Pentateuch. In the 1800's some men theorized that the Pentateuch, instead of being written by Moses, was actually a combination of four different hypothetical documents, J, E, P, and D, all of which were supposedly written hundreds of years after Moses. Although there is no historical proof that these four documents ever existed, "modern scholars" were confident that these documents were the basis for Genesis instead of the inspired Moses. (See article: Did Moses Write Genesis?) Rejecting the Mosaic authorship of Genesis in favor of the J.E.P.D. theory despite any shred of historical evidence shows that Asimov truly was a man of faith- blind faith.
For sake of brevity, I cannot reply to everything that needs to be addressed in chapter one. Instead I will focus on Asimov's view of the meaning of the text of Genesis. Does he think it should be interpreted allegorically? Does he see within the text an allowance for millions of years? On the contrary. He interprets the text literally. For example, in speaking of the age of the earth, Asimov takes the Bible's genealogies as literal and chronological. He says, "Thus the usual estimates for the age of heaven and earth from Biblical data run from about fifty-seven hundred years to seventy-five hundred years."[3] Although Asimov doesn't agree with the Biblical data regarding the date of creation, at least he agrees that the author of Genesis intended for the genealogies to be taken literally and that a literal hermeneutic leads to a young earth/universe conclusion.
Another example of his literal understanding of the Genesis text is that he correctly interprets the passage as saying that light was created on day one and the sun being created on day four. This is against his big-bang theory but nevertheless he understands the text to mean that God created light first and then the sun.[4] Speaking of the word "day" in Genesis One he says,
"Until the nineteenth century there was never any question about this. It was universally assumed that the days referred to were literally days."[5]
"And yet the Bible seems to be specific. As though there were some chance that the word 'day' might be misinterpreted, the P-document carefully states 'the evening and the morning', as though to emphasize that it was one twenty-four-hour period and no more."[6]Amazingly, an atheist could see what some progressive creationist Christians refuse to admit, i.e. that a faithful reading of Genesis can only be understood as referring to six literal, twenty-four hour days. See my article Critique of Hugh Ross's Hermeneutics (found on the side bar of this blog) for an understanding of how progressive creationists twist Scripture to fit an old-earth scenario.
I wrap up this discussion of chapter one by pointing out that Asimov clearly understands from the Biblical text that all creatures, human and animal, were described as being vegetarian in the beginning. He says, "It would appear from this verse (Gen. 1:29) that humanity was created with a purely vegetarian diet" and "Apparently all animal life was created with a vegetarian diet."[7] Of course, evolutionary theory has death and suffering by predatory killing for millions of years before man evolved. Asimov rightly points out that the Bible and evolution are clearly in conflict over this issue. Unfortunately, in an effort to prove the earth is millions of years old, progressive creationists deny the clear teaching of Scripture that there was no death in the beginning. Instead they say that millions of years of animal death and carnivorous animal activity was all part of God's "good" creation.
Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions. I appreciate the feedback. In my next post I will cover Asimov's chapter two.
NOTES:
[1] Isaac Asimov, In the Beginning...(New York: Crown Publishers, Inc, 1981), 5.
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid, 9.
[4] Ibid, 41.
[5] Ibid, 32.
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid, 65.