Posted on 11/18/2005 6:02:24 AM PST by truthfinder9
by Mark Whorton, Ph.D. Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media, 2005. 256 pages. Paperback.
Reviewed by Krista Bontrager, MA., M.A.
NASA scientist, Mark Whorton, shrinks the divide separating young-earth creationists from old-earth creationists down to two words. Everything hinges on the question, what did God mean when He called the creation "very good"?
The real strength of Peril in Paradise is that Whorton approaches a classic debate from a different angle. Genesis 1 is nowhere in view. Rather, Whorton asserts that the discussion about the age of Earth is intertwined with a debate about the similarities and differences between Eden and the new heavens and Earth.
Whorton identifies two vastly different paradigms for understanding creation-the perfect paradise paradigm (used by young-earth creationists) and the perfect purpose paradigm (used by old-earth creationists). Advocates of the perfect paradise model believe God's pronouncement that the pre-fall creation was "very good" indicated that Eden was the best of all possible worlds. It was absolute perfection, a kind of "heaven on Earth." And although humans have ruined this paradise through sin, God will restore the earth to its Edenic state.
The perfect purpose paradigm, by contrast, asserts that the chief purpose of creation is to glorify God, who causes even wicked beings to testify to His glory. This universe is but one part of God's overall plan of creation and redemption.
Beckoning from the background, however, is the realization that what Whorton is really arguing concerns the nature of God's sovereignty over creation. Did He have to implement Plan B-the cross-after creation was spoiled by Adam's sin? Or, was it all part of His master plan?
Whorton tackles this theological powder keg with a surprising depth of knowledge of Scripture and the history of theology, despite the fact that these disciplines rest outside the realm of his formal education. He places himself squarely within classical Protestant theology, quoting from John Calvin and the Westminster Confession, in order to build his case.
But Peril in Paradise is far from a rehash of time-worn arguments. Whorton tills new ground in the age of the earth debate by helping readers to reflect more deeply about what the Bible means when it describes Eden. And the book's release is timely, given the increasing charges of heresy coming out of certain creationist organizations, including the young-earth concern that animal death before Adam's fall undermines the atonement of Christ. They reason that human sin introduced death to God's creation, necessitating the Savior's redemptive work. Therefore, predation (death and bloodshed of animals) could not have been part of a "very good" creation prior to human sin. Whorton demonstrates why such thinking is biblically unfounded.
Whorton's case could have been made even more powerful with better organization of his material. At times it is hard to track how the points of each chapter fit together to form a cohesive whole. I found myself on more than one occasion flipping back to re-read the chapter title, asking, what is he arguing here again?
And there isn't a lot of literary drama to keep the reader motivated to turn the page. It lacks a certain, so what? or what difference does all this make? factor. Peril in Paradise is a straightforward information-driven approach that will largely appeal to those Christians already interested in the topic.
That's the major limitation of Whorton's book. It's not written at a popular level, but it's not exactly an academic treatment of the topic either. It seems to be a book in search of an audience. Whorton could have infused the book with more popular appeal, which I think is the readership he hopes to reach.
For this reason I would not be inclined to pass this book on to a young-earth friend, unless he or she was already well versed on the controversy. It might, however, be a good resource to provide a pastor or church leader, especially one who has expressed concern about the death-before-the-Fall issue.
But most importantly, Peril in Paradise will equip the old-earth creationist with powerful biblical and theological reasons for why animal death before Adam need not be a point of confusion or embarrassment, but rather an integral part of God's eternal plan.
work now read later
As for emotion, there is plenty of that to go around on all sides.
Not true: Exodus 20:11 is often held up as undeniable proof of 24-hour creation days. If that is true, what of Leviticus 25:1-4, which uses the creation week pattern in terms of years? Apparently the creation week is used as a pattern of “one out of seven” in both cases, not a real-time reference. Another type of pattern is the eight day “Feast of the Tabernacles” in Leviticus 23:33-36. It celebrated God’s protection in the desert that lasted forty years - obviously eight days is not a one-to-one correlation with forty years. Also consider that Moses authored both of these passages.
That's a little something the YECs forget to mention.
Ping for later
Day-age recognizes that the point of view of the writer changes from Gen 1:1 to Gen 1:2. There is an unspecified period of time between these verses, but it doesn't warrant the claims of many traditional "gap" theories.
The author of the book doesn't subscribe to the gap theories or theistic evolution either.
Closing the Gap: A Scientist’s Response to the Gap Theory by theologian John Rea and astronomer Hugh Ross details the history of and problems with gap theories.
Thanks for another excellent post!
Eden simply cannot be the best of all possible worlds for the simple fact that Adam was able to sin. In the Eschaton redeemed man will not sin; he will be perfected in union with Christ. Genesis presents a world that must develop into something fuller and greater. Adam does not represent the height of humanity; he represents the potential of humanity, and that potential diverted into sin. Christ is the height of humanity; only in Him is man able to reach true perfection and glory.
FWIW God himself authored Exodus 20:11. Moses just wrote down the words. Later God himself wrote the words in stone with his own hand.
Unless that was all a bunch of hokey.
How long do you figure it will take God to make a new heaven and a new earth, as foretold in Scripture that He will do? What about all the other miracles of the Bible? How long did those take?
All together now...
"And the E V E N I N G and the M O R N I N G were the first day..."
(Hard to miss that.)
Yea, but it was a reeeeal long evening and a reeeeal long morning.
What's your take on the talking serpent?
"What's your take on the talking serpent?"
No more implausible than a talking ape!
:)
Seriously, I ask because that part of the Creation story is not to be taken literally - the serpent represents evil. According to my NKJ Bible, Gen 3:15 is Messianic prophecy.
"I ask because that part of the Creation story is not to be taken literally"
Why do you think that is not to be taken literally?
This version of the old-earth idea sounds a lot like Mormons who don't believe The Fall was a bad thing(tm).
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