Paradigms on Pilgrimage: Creationism, Paleontology and Biblical Interpretation by Stephen J. Godfrey

by J. Godfrey Stephen

In this book the two authors recount the pilgrimages of understanding that have led them from the young-earth, "scientific creationist" position they were taught in their youths to new perspectives on what it can mean to believe in God as Creator. Dr. Godfrey describes the field work he has done as a descriptive paleontologist and the successive paradigm shifts that his discoveries led him through as he sought new ways to understand what he had been taught in light of the evidence he was uncovering. Dr. Smith describes how the integration of his background and training in literary studies with his work in biblical interpretation similarly led him to a new way of understanding the Bible, especially the early chapters of Genesis. The book as a whole presents an alternative way of understanding how the Bible and natural history relate to one another. Dr. Godfrey and Dr. Smith have both given seminars and presentations on the topic of this book in church and academic settings. This book will be of personal interest and practical use to college students and college-educated adults who have evangelical or fundamentalist backgrounds and who are seeking to integrate the study of the Bible with a commitment to academic and scientific inquiry.

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published August 29, 2003

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but I'd recommend you give it a pass. The first part, in which one author discusses his transition from a young earth creationist to an old earth view was interesting, but since his field of expertise is not one I share, I could only take his word that his arguments were as compelling as he found them, or else suspend judgment (I choose the latter). The second half, recounting the story of the second author whose expertise is Biblical and theological, fit more in my wheelhouse. I found his "observational perspective" approach to the Genesis creation account very interesting, and I'd like to give it more thought and study. But his overt denial of inerrancy spoiled his credibility in my view. In the end, he failed to present theological value of the Genesis creation account from his perspective as an alternative to young earth cosmology.

[I have many more fine-tuned criticisms, but I'll mention one: The second author's comment that anyone whose reading of the Bible leads them to be a young earth creationist could only be consistent if they are also flat earth is clearly not calculated to persuade. It's just bad form to try to win an argument by suggesting your opponents ought also believe something ridiculous that none of them do. This is more likely going to offend than persuade, and the use of that kind of rhetoric more likely points to his own misunderstanding of their position than an inconsistency on their part.]

[Kristine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much liked this book. Reminded me of my own journey.

[Paul Bruggink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the personal spiritual and intellectual journeys of two brothers-in-law (a PhD paleontologist and a PhD Baptist minister) from Young Earth Creationism to Evolutionary Creationism (Theistic Evolution).

The first five chapters were written by the paleontologist (Stephen Gopdfrey) and deal a lot with the fossil record. He sums up his discussion by stating that evolution "wasn't devised specifically to deny the existence of God any more than the science of meterology was. It developed like any other branch of science as biologists, paleontologists and geologists sought to "subdue the earth,' that is, to to make sense of it and to provide a natural explanation for what they observed."

The next five chapters were written by the Baptist minister and deal a lot with evolution. He boils down his discussion to two large categories of questions (p. 154): "(1) The character of God: could a God who might have used a process such as evolution in creating the world be the same God revealed to us in the Bible? (2) The position of humans within creation: on what basis can it be said that they enjoy an elevated status, and how could their actions in relation to God have affected all other life on earth?" He then takes up each of these issues.

The final chapter (Genesis cosmology and its Implications) was written by both. It starts with a reading of Genesis 1 as "an observational cosmology, rather than an objective scientific one." Their theme is that "Genesis, when understood as originally intended, does not present an objective scientific account of the origins of the universe. It rather presents a phenomenological account - that is, it describes how things appear and how they appear to have been made."

They summarize their argument very nicely (p. 192): "If you feel that you must believe in a young earth on the basis of a commitment to a literal reading of Genesis, you must also believe in a flat earth on that same basis. But if, as is no doubt the case, you do not feel that you have to believe in a flat earth, even though it has now been shown that this is what Genesis literally presents, then you may have articulated for yourself the reasons why you don't need to believe in a young earth either."

I recommend this book to any Young Earth Creationist or to any Old Earth, Progressive or Evolutionary Creationist who is trying to reach Young Earth Creationists.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This great book tells the stories of two men in their pilgrimage from believing God created the universe and earth in six literal 24 hour days about 6000 years ago to believing that the Genesis story is not meant to be read that way and that natural science can be trusted and shows an older universe.

The first five chapters are from Stephen Godfrey who in his studies as a paleontologist, examining the fossil record, slowly came to believe that the universe is millions of years old, evolution did occur, and the answers his creationist friends gave were insufficient. His story is very honest; we see a man who fought hard to cling to the beliefs he had but who eventually could not dismiss the evidence his own study showed him. Through this he distinguishes between methodological naturalism and metaphysical naturalism: scientists seek natural answers in geology, biology and the rest (methodological naturalism) but this does not mean that nature is all there is for philosophy, religion and other disciplines point beyond a world of mere nature (metaphysical naturalism) to the supernatural. Godfrey's best point is that no Christian meteorologist is forced to argue that rain comes from God despite what our scientific findings say. Christian meteorologists have no problem saying that natural causes produce rain while affirming that in some way, as Scripture teaches, God is the cause of rain. Why then, when we come to biology or geology, are scientists expected to cling to a shallowly literal reading of scripture and ignore science?

The second half of the book is from Christopher Smith, a pastor whose pilgrimage is similar to Godfrey's. Smith studied literature in college and it was this study that allowed him to look at the Genesis story of creation in a new way. While Godfrey's chapters may speak more to scientists, Smith's speak more to Bible teachers and theologians. He shows how no one takes the Genesis story completely literally, basically showing a true "literal" interpretation of scripture would force us to believe in a flat earth.

Overall this is a very helpful book for any Christian interested in the issues of science and religion. It is not too academic, both authors write in a way that will be approachable for all readers.

[Dennis Wahlquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the personal touch. My "thought trajectory" is similar to Dr. Smith's, so it was interesting to follow him on his path. We read this in our church's book club, which includes two longtime science teachers, so our discussion was lively and interesting.

[Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Would enthusiastically recommend for anyone interested in the science / religion debate.