Genesis One-A Physicist Looks at Creation

by Gerald Schroeder

According to Professor Gerald Schroeder, a nuclear physicist from MIT, God’s creation took 15 billion years, but also six twenty-four hour days as Scripture states! The answer lies in time dilation in our universe. Things that look very small, like distant stars, are actually very large. And times that seem very short, like six days for all of creation, become very long—even as long as 15 billion years. “How can these things be?” Just read this book.

Genres: Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 27, 2014

About the author

Gerald L. Schroeder is a scientist, author, and lecturer, who focuses on what he perceives to be an inherent relationship between science and spirituality.

In 1965, Schroeder received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in nuclear physics and earth and planetary sciences. He worked five years on the staff of the MIT physics department. After emigrating to Israel in 1971, he was employed as a researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Volcani Research Institute, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His Doctorate was in two science fields, Earth sciences and physics. He teaches at Aish HaTorah College of Jewish Studies.

He professes Orthodox Judaism, and his works frequently cite Talmudic, Midrashic and medieval commentaries on Biblical creation accounts, such as commentaries written by the Jewish philosopher Nachmanides. Among other things, Schroeder attempts to reconcile a young earth creationism Biblical view with the scientific model of a world that is billions of years old using the idea that the perceived flow of time for a given event in an expanding universe varies with the observer’s perspective of that event. He attempts to reconcile the two perspectives numerically, calculating the effect of the stretching of space-time, based on Einstein's theory of general relativity. Schroeder holds to a theistic evolution view.

Gerald Schroeder lives in Jerusalem with his wife (the author, Barbara Sofer). They've had five children with a changing number of grandchildren.

(Sources: Wikipedia, official website)

Reviews

[Houdini NFO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to ponder Dr. Schroeder's hypothesis that due to mass, acceleration and energy from a Big Bang, that 6 days = billions of years depending on perspective as to which end of Eistein's time dilation equation you are observing. It fit both scientifically and biblically and is so like our God to work it out that way.

[cloudyskye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not into sciences like physics or chemistry or biology, never was. Therefore, the Biblical fact of six days of creation never bothered me. Why would it, if you have the Almighty Creator who by his Word created everything?
That said, even with my rather limited understanding, this was quite amazing and thrilling. It makes total sense. Human time and God's time, fossils and findings, expanding universe - in fact, even now scientists "discover" things that have actually been written in the Bible millennia before our time, like the order in which everything came into being.
(Also, I read in a newspaper a few years ago that scientists determined the maximum life expectancy for humans to be about 120 years. Surprise, surprise, in Genesis 6:3 God says: "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.")
To say it with Psalm 19: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

[Jim Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read of an interesting topic, actually the transcript of a TV show two-part interview by show host, Zola Levitt with his guest, Dr. Gerald Schroeder.

Dr. Schroeder offers his very interesting look at the story of creation as told in the bible from the perspective of his being both a believer and a physicist. His 'finding' which is fully explained in these interviews is that the bible's 6 days of creation Genesis narrative is totally aligned with science's billions of years history of the world, that both the 24 hours days in the bible story are the same as the 6 billions of years epochs of scientific findings, a 'discovery' that he explains in detail under guidance of the interviewer host.

Fascinating read to challenge one's thinking to be open to this message, even if you don't come away fully accepting his message.

[gladys fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

I feel that this is something every Christian should read. It may be a little hard to understand in some places , but overall it makes a lot of sense . Many Christians don't want their children to study science for fear it will lead them away from their biblical believe. Still people must always remember that scientists have made mistakes. Einstein made a mistake in believing that the universe was static and not expanding . He only came to know that it was expanding when he looked through a telescope . I have other books by Schroeder and I would give them all a high rating. Read , learn and enjoy.

[Leinani Aiono Le tagaloa · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant and clearly explained

As a Christian who firmly believes in the accuracy and inerrancy of Scripture, it was a blessing to read such a clearly explained treatise on the actual scientific discoveries that are in harmony with the text, as well as the deeper meanings of the Genesis account. No longer do I have to struggle with either cognitive dissonance as a scientist or threat to my faith. It brings me to my knees even more in awe of the One True God, Maker and Creator of all things!!

[Dwight D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is deluded and a liar having capitulated to the false theories of evolutionism. In actuality, while the Lord did create the universe in 6 literal 24-hour days, He accomplished this 6,000 years ago, NOT billions nor even millions of years ago. Save your money; the book isn't worth purchasing or reading.

[Natalie Hazelrigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and (difficult to comprehend) look at the age of the universe

Read it for a different take on creation, evolution, or the age of the earth than you may have ever been taught.