I became a Christian later in life, and so probably have a different view of Genesis 1 from most.
First, it seemed to me that the chapter had originally been passed down verbally from one generation to the next. The division of creation into days and the repetition of the phrase ”And God saw that it was good’ seemed to me to be devices that helped story tellers to repeat it accurately.
Second, imagine not knowing anything at all about God and hearing Genesis 1 for the first time (which is what happened to me). It is frightening! God just says "let there be light" - that’s all He has to do! Imagine what He could do to me! But then the orderliness of the following lines and the repetitions bring some reassurance that’s He’s not out to get me.
What I’m thinking is that the availability of bibles and familiarity with Genesis 1 stops us from seeing the big message, and we concentrate on the detail instead. That the big message can be true without having to believe the literal detail. That the detail was never intended to be a prescription.
As far as I know, Jesus never said one word about creation, presumably because the Good News is way more important. I have a suspicion that He wants us to see the big picture and not get bogged down in the detail. To go beyond the letter of the law and see the meaning.
Anyone help?
There is no harm in doubt and skepticism, for it is through these that new discoveries are made - Richard Feynman
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