Humanist Association

The Leisure World Humanist Association will meet on Sunday, April 6, at 10:30 a.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 1.

Robert Richert, a club favorite, will give a PowerPoint presentation titled, “The Genesis of Genesis 1.” The opening verses of the Old Testament present two separate and distinct creation stories. Genesis 1 tells of the six days of creation by God, and Genesis 2 tells the Adam and Eve story. Most mainstream churches interpret Genesis 1 metaphorically. Some attempt to harmonize the six day creation account in Genesis 1 with modern understanding of the cosmos, including the Theory of Evolution. However, most evangelicals believe the colorful six day account of creation in Genesis 1 is literally a true account of the origin of the universe and life, including humans. Most oppose the Theory of Evolution because they believe it is in direct conflict with their interpretation of the text.

The belief that Genesis 1 creation story is literally true has had profound societal consequences. For decades, conservative Christian activists have attempted to remove the teaching of evolution from public schools. As a result of pressure on school boards, in many parts of America the teaching Darwin’s theory has been eliminated entirely, or has been given insufficient attention.

The importance given to the Bible’s first creation story in society poses questions that demand answers: What is this colorful tale really about, who wrote it, and where did it come from? The Bible’s first creation account cannot be understood in proper context without knowledge of the creation stories of cultures surrounding Palestine at the times Genesis 1 was written. Drawing upon the research provided by Bible historians and scholars of ancient Near-Eastern mythology, Richert will provide answers to the above questions.