Faith and reason are not contradictory but complimentary counterparts. Their joint existence can explain natural and religious phenomena where the other cannot. Through this understanding of faith and reason with the themes of the kingdom of God, the scientific method, allegorical exegesis, the Creation museum and the Natural History museum, the genesis 1-3 account may be examined.
It is not important for a Christian to possess a literal understanding of the genesis 1-3 account because reason through the notion of evolution offers the best explanation of the creation of the world and its inhabitants. The theory of evolution is heavily supported by valid data; has the power to predict the outcome of certain …show more content…
This criterion specified by Dr. Bird is that a theory be testable and compatible with natural law. God’s attributes of supernatural powers and miracles lie outside the realm of the scientific method and cannot be tested by any empirical method. However the literal understanding of the genesis account offers a more naturalistic creationism explanation, which connects God with the natural events of creation ("Can Creationism Be Scientific? (1998)"). This theory can be assessed by the scientific method. This can be seen through San Diego’s Creation museum in the Age of the Earth Mineral Cave where minerals and data that support a naturalistic creation theory are presented. Yet in contrast with the theory of evolution, creation can be better explained by the general principles of evolution, natural selection and mutation of an organism’s genes. Therefore in conclusion some theories within the literal understanding of the genesis narrative account are scientific while others are …show more content…
Evolution is merely a scientific theory and its explanations are locked within the domain of science. Faith however, can answer theological questions and provide insight where science cannot. The genesis narrative account if interpreted symbolically, one can decipher aspects of the kingdom of God. This theme perhaps starts in genesis, as God infuses within humanity the five characteristics of the kingdom of God.
Adam and Eve is the Kingdom of God incarnate as they are perfect models of God’s creation. Symbolically, Adam and Eve both exist in a supernatural plane, perhaps Heaven, where they live in harmony with creation and the universe. As well as Adam and Eve living under God’s rule. These three aspects of the genesis narrative account: perfect humans, the domain of their existence, and the spiritual rule with which they live under, construct the view that the Kingdom of god is present from the beginning of the bible ("Beginning with