Evolution and an Orthodox Patristic understanding of Genesis

[joasia]

jckstraw72

Very good website. Do you have more? I have been contemplating about this lately and just came across this post. Also, if you know of any Orthodox explanations about dinosaurs and the neanderthal man(evolution), would be much appreciated.

I especially like the explanation, by Fr. Seraphim, that we cannot possibly consider the nature of the creation of the world in comparison to the natural laws we live in now.

That nature was before the fall and incorrupt and therefore did not follow the laws of the nature of our world now....it was supra-nature.

Joanna

[jckstraw72]

i know of some other pages, but im not sure of any that deal directly with dinosaurs and what not. in Fr. Seraphim's book he covers the assumptions that are made in evolutionary science and the many fake transition fossils that have been found and what not.

http://www.tserkovnost.org/articles/evo ... oigne.html
http://www.robibrad.demon.co.uk/Contents.htm

I think Fr. Seraphim addresses dinosaurs in his book at some point. I think the answer is basically they were created with other animals and became extinct at some point, possibly at the flood. Things like leviathan and behemoth mentioned in the Bible are sometimes seen as dinosaurs.

[joasia]

Actually, a friend mentioned that dinosaurs might have lived at the time of the flood. That makes me wonder why the scientists give such a big explanation as to them becoming extinct with the ice age. It was a flood, not ice.

I'm not questioning the Bible. I just want to know how to respond with a theological explanation.

Joanna

[jckstraw72]

theres also www.answersingenesis.com that goes into a lot of that kind of stuff. its Protestant, but you may find some of it useful.

[Pensees]

Please tell me if I am mistaken in believing that the traditional Orthodox understanding of Genesis is diametrically opposed to Western science's theory of evolution. What is the traditional Orthodox understanding of Genesis, and what should the Orthodox Christian's opinion be of Darwinian theory?

Peace.

[jckstraw72]

The Patristic understanding is of a young earth, with absolutely no death of any kind in creation until man sinned. Thus the theory of evolution is absolutely false.

If God created through evolution then God instituted death and thus He declared death to be good when He declared all of creation to be good. Then the question is why did Christ come to save us from death if death is a good thing? Why does all of creation groan in anticipation of its renewal if it is in fact the way it has always been meant to be?

[Pensees]

What makes it hard for many Orthodox Christians to accept the traditional patristic understanding of Genesis?