This is the introduction to my new book on Unpacking the Creation Narrative.
This is a a paid subscribers only series, but this post is free.
Most books on Creation focus on the first two chapters of Genesis. They write at length about the six days of Creation and why the Theory of Evolution is wrong. They explain how the geological evidence is misread by the experts. And talk about the split between Science and Faith.
This approach limits itself to the material realm. Young Earth creationists use the same frame as the materialists, which assumes only physical things exist and everything immaterial are simply illusions, unprovable and irrelevant. This is a Modern worldview and one which was not shared by the writers of the Bible.
In this book, I want to view the Biblical Creation narrative through the eyes of the pre-Modern world. I will abandon the materialistic frame and replace it with a worldview which treats the Seen and Unseen as one whole Creation.
I will also be looking beyond Genesis 1 and 2 for my sources. Even though they are important when discussing Biblical Creation, they are not the only parts of the Bible which address this.
A good example of why we should do this, is we can’t prove Creation was ‘ex nihilo’, which means created from nothing. This isn’t in the first chapter of Genesis, which suggests God made everything from a pre-existing substance. The idea that God created everything from nothing is found in later verses in the Bible.
There are over thirty sections of the Bible which talk about how and why God created the Heavens and the Earth. Our journey will start in the Book of Revelation and we will work back towards Genesis 1.
The book will be published in instalments on SubStack and I may even publish it as a physical book. If I do, then all my paid subscribers will get to choose whether they want a free physical book or a pdf.
I plan to publish every two to three weeks. I am expecting to cover over thirty different sections of the Bible, and each one will give an additional flavour to the whole Biblical Creation narrative.
By the end, we should all have a comprehensive grasp of why and how God created everything. And it won’t rely on the old dusty arguments derived from a materialistic worldview.
For this book, I won’t necessarily quote the sources I use, but here is a list of podcasts and YouTube channels I have found useful in writing this book. Some of the ideas I share in this book come from these sources, but other ideas I have developed myself (as far as I am aware). I encourage you to check these out as the information they provide is very helpful.
Lord of Spirits Podcast
Ancient Egypt and the Bible YouTube Channel
Inspiring Philosophy YouTube Channel
Jonathan Pageau - Symbolic World
Matthieu Pageau
Sentinel Apologetics YouTube Channel
Seraphim Hamilton
Dr Michael Heiser
Church of the Eternal Logos
Lambda Bible Studies
Paul Vanderklay
Finally, I want to thank all my paid subscribers. Without your encouragement, I would not have the unction to get this written and published.
If you want to become and paid subscriber and read this book as it is being written, please upgrade your free subscription.
All verses are from the NIV Bible Translation, unless otherwise stated. I will be using the Protestant Canon of the Bible.
I’m super excited to embark on this journey with you!!! Can’t wait!
Also look to The Bible Project. Tim Mackie's multi-session course called "Heaven and Earth" is fascinating. They did a podcast series on Genesis as well in early 2022.