“If you do not listen to Theology… It will mean that you have
a lot of wrong [ideas about God]. Many [ideas today] are ones real
Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected”. —C. S. Lewis
The Six-Day War in Creationism goes into the contentious and fascinating debate between Young Earth Creationism (YEC) and the broader theological communities. Nouhan explores the implications of taking the Genesis creation account literally and its impact on the historical understanding of God’s attributes and the nature of divine revelation.
The Case for Young Earth Creationism (YEC)
Young Earth Creationism insists that the Earth was created in six literal days, exactly as described in the book of Genesis. This interpretation hinges on literalism on reading the biblical text and “flood geology”, asserting that the creation process occurred in a structured, Hebrew workweek-like sequence, culminating in a day of rest.
Proponents of YEC, often from fundamentalist branches of Evangelicalism and Vatican 1 Catholicism, argue that this account is a word-for-word, historical report from God handed to Moses and preserved in Scripture.
Theological Implications
Nouhan raises critical questions about the theology of YEC. Does a literal interpretation of Genesis compatible with historical Christian thought about God’s attributes? Does God’s nature provide a corrective for misinterpreting Genesis?
While YEC emphasizes the literal accuracy of the biblical account, it constrains the divine attributes of God by imposing human-like limitations and processes on the Creator.
Science in the Ancient Near East
This book highlights the differences between modern scientific understanding and the observational, naked eye “science” of the Late Bronze Age – the period in which the Genesis account was written. The ancients had their naked eyes to observe the natural world, leading to beliefs that were observationally accurate but not scientific. For example, they perceived the sun, moon, and stars as revolving around the Earth because that is what they observed directly. An authentic account would include such things, not as facts but simple assumptions of the day that have nothing to do with the point the authors make.
Nouhan argues that expecting ancient biblical authors to describe the universe with modern scientific accuracy is unreasonable and denies the context. Biblical descriptions were based on experiences and the ancients limited ability to acquire knowledge. The Bible’s purpose was not to provide a scientific account but to reveal theological truths about God and His relationship with creation.
The Role of Imagination
Thomas Howard’s insights into ancient thought processes showcase the imaginative nature of early human explanations of the world. Ancient peoples used analogies and associations to understand the unknown, correlating natural phenomena with human experiences. This associative thinking helped them relate to the divine through the natural world, even if their scientific knowledge was less than basic.1
Modern Scientific Advances
Nouhan contrasts the imagination of the ancients with the advancements in modern science, such as the discoveries made through the James Webb Space Telescope. These advancements have dramatically expanded our understanding of the universe, yet they also highlight the limitations and evolving nature of scientific knowledge. What we perceive as true today may be revised with new discoveries, much like how Galileo’s observations were once groundbreaking but now are too basic in light of further exploration.
Conclusion
The Bible’s primary purpose is to convey theological truths rather than scientific data. God revealed Himself gradually through Scripture providing what Christianity has called “special revelation.” Special revelation addresses select truths about the nature of God and matters of faith, not to serve as a thorough guide to do science as fundamentalists believe.
Gene Nouhan’s exploration of The Six-Day War in Creationism challenges readers to consider the context of Ancient Near Eastern texts. Genesis had no biblical context when written, as did all other books of the Bible. Nouhan explores the connection between the Ancient Near East and the new theology in Genesis to show how early biblical authors saw their world.
This understanding can help modern believers reconcile ancient views with modern science. It shows the importance of recognizing the contrasting purposes of theological and scientific inquiries, encouraging a respectful dialogue between them.
Endnotes
- Thomas Howard, Chance or the Dance? A Critique of Modern Secularism, Second
Edition (Ignatius Press, San Francisco CA, 2018); New “Foreword” by Eric Metaxas, Tyler
Blanskic, Kindle edition, location 349. ↩︎