In the Beginning 01: Creation

In contrasting the creation narratives & cosmologies of other Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cultures with those of Genesis’ writers, Tim pointed out that the Biblical narrative is unique in two key ways: * First, the gods in the other cultures emerge from nature, but the Hebrew God exists wholly apart from the creation &  * Second, the creation acts in the other ANE narratives originate in violence of some sort, while the Hebrew God’s creative acts were creative & entirely nonviolent.  What do you make of these differences? What do they tell you about what Genesis conveys about the Hebrew God? What does it suggest to you about the ancient Hebrew mindset and worldview? What’s the value in holding this conception of a foreign, ancient, and, in many ways, unknown mindset as we consider our own experience of reading and engaging with the book of Genesis?

On the attached slide, Tim highlighted some important differences between the first and second creation narratives in Genesis.  What’s your response to the consideration of the dual narratives in Genesis? Is this approach to the creation stories different than what you have been exposed to in the past? If so, what do you make of it? How does the shift in how you conceive of the Bible’s telling of creation affect you? Your sense of what the Bible conveys? How to respond to and receive the Biblical narratives? What emotions, questions, or thoughts emerge for you as you consider? Tim also said, including both of the Biblical narratives, that “creation is clearly left unfinished.” He also pointed out that neither narrative mentions perfection.  How do you respond to each of these two ideas? (Feel free to discuss them separately for simplicity’s sake) Are you aware of any spaces of curiosity as you consider each of these ideas? Are you aware of any spaces of internal resistance? What do you make of these personal responses?

Tim also taught that the Genesis telling of creation tells us that:  a) since the very beginning, God has been with us in our struggles with chaos (being overwhelmed by too much) and barrenness (not having enough of what we need to flourish).  & b) the only way forward for all of humanity is to find a way to live in partnership with the Divine.  Spend some time discussing these ideas and responding to them as a group and as individuals.