http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/index.php/2011/01/?plan=2&version=31
The link above is for day one of a read the Bible through a year plan. I am in a Facebook group that is reading through the Bible together. I’ve only seen two familiar names in the group so far. It will be interesting to read and discuss with people I know so little about.
Genesis 1-3
For many years it was important to me to believe in a literal, 7 day creation account. As I got older I began to go with the idea that it was acceptable to believe in a longer account of creation – a day is like a thousand years to the Lord after all. I have been recently challenged with a question – What if the creation story is just a story given by God to man to help us understand that He is the creator, and to introduce the problem we have with sin and our need for redemption? What if we didn’t take each detail as we would in a history book, but rather read it as prose?
Years ago that sounded like heresy to me. Now that question does more to strengthen my faith than believing in the literal 7 day account.
I have no idea what the answers are by the way. 7 days, thousands of years, millions of year, beautiful prose? Ultimately this account establishes that there is a Creator. It gives validity to for the arts – acting in His image to create. It also shows us that our tendency to blame others when we get in trouble is nothing new. It also brings up a lot of questions – especially if taken literally – Why wasn’t Eve surprised when the serpent spoke? Did all of the animals speak? Why did the Lord only mention green plants as a food source for the animals? Was no one a carnivore? Is that because there was no death until God banished Adam and Eve from the garden and did not allow them to eat of the tree of life? Why does chapter one say He made male and female in His own image, seemingly at the same time, but later He created Eve seemingly at a different time? I could go on…..
My favorite part – the realization that God putting Adam and Eve out of the garden is what ultimately gives us all a chance at redemption. Would Adam and Eve have chosen to live forever in their sinful state? Would we? Knowing that there is an end to life, believing that there is a creator to meet at the end – isn’t that a first step towards recognizing a need for redemption?
Minister Like a Girl 
Jan 01, 2011 @ 15:30:47
I LOVE it! I just suscribed to this, so even though we are doing it together on FB I want to hear more of what you have to say… It makes what I read and what i got out of the passages feel so muc fuller! I’ll start a blog roll on my blog and include yours! my journal blog is thewordin365.wordpress.com I’m glad you are doing this!
Hugs!
Erika
Jan 01, 2011 @ 15:34:42
Interesting thoughts
Jan 01, 2011 @ 16:59:10
Great job…a liberating thing for me was the separation between literal translation and an understanding of symbol/metaphor/archetype. I was raised with a “loose” interpretation of the bible, but understand the abstraction can be hard for some who were taught to take things strictly literal. I think the symbolism makes it more beautiful, and eternal. Conspiracy-theory: Questioning the meaning is the point.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 20:39:01
I did a research paper in seminary arguing the intent of God for humans to be vegetarian, based on the pre-fall account of creation. Animals were only given for food after humanity became sinful. I don’t remember exactly where the paper ended up, but I remember it being an interesting research project! You have great musings, great questions for the start of the new year, Donna! I look forward to hearing more from you! We’re reading through the New Testament in 90 days in our church, with worship and Bible studies tying into it as well.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 23:57:44
I really appreciate the feedback! @Erika – I will add a blog roll soon and put you on it! Thanks for putting the group together. @Mom – Thanks. Next time write more. 🙂 @Kenton – We were raised very differently! It will be interesting to compare notes as we go along. @Lynn – you were the first “minister like a girl” friend I ever had. 🙂 I’m sure I’ll send you some questions!
Jan 02, 2011 @ 14:35:19
Donna, it seems that you have a lot of the same questions that I do about a literal 7 days. And also about God creating male and female and then Eve coming later. I personally do not believe that it was a literal 7 days mainly based on “a day being like a thousand years” to God. I think that leaves room for a lot of the theories by scientist today, for example how many millions of years old the earth, and when did the dinosaurs roam the earth…etc. I know that I’m kinda out there but I tend to try to make today’s science match the bibles history and it all has to fit together somehow.