Creation Stories (genesis, God, divine)

[Lightkeeper]

I hear people debate over creation, these people call themselves scientists and creationists. I consider the Big Bang theory another creation story and in one to two hundred years this theory may look just as silly as other creation stories. Also, I think people who consider the Big Bang theory could be called creationists. What do you think?

[Prima]

I think it's another creation story, also. There's actually Creationists and creationists, I think. Creationists capitalized are those who believe that God was involved in creation, right? So a creationist would be anyone who thought the world was created (which would be anyone except those who believe that the world is an illusion) The Big Bang theory is not Creationist because it does not necessarily include divinity.

I think.

Yes, it may look silly, but it may also be right.

[No*s]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

I hear people debate over creation, these people call themselves scientists and creationists. I consider the Big Bang theory another creation story and in one to two hundred years this theory may look just as silly as other creation stories. Also, I think people who consider the Big Bang theory could be called creationists. What do you think?

I think you're right. All creation stories are models and/or metaphor for creation. The Big Bang model is just a model, and it may find itself outmoded, but it lacks the metaphorical element that can keep it relevant if it becomes no longer applicable in a literal sense.

[Prima]

WAIT...

Did No*s just kinda agree with something I said? Or does it not count because Lightkeeper said it first?

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any creation stories that did not involve the metaphysical/divine that have since been dismissed, particularly ancient ones.

[Lightkeeper]

Originally Posted by No*s

I think you're right. All creation stories are models and/or metaphor for creation. The Big Bang model is just a model, and it may find itself outmoded, but it lacks the metaphorical element that can keep it relevant if it becomes no longer applicable in a literal sense.

Remember that creation stories weren't thought of as metaphorical at the time. It would be interesting to see if we develop so far that Big Bang becomes a metaphor.

[Prima]

I can definitely see it becoming metaphorical...

[No*s]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Remember that creation stories weren't thought of as metaphorical at the time. It would be interesting to see if we develop so far that Big Bang becomes a metaphor.

Oh, I realize they were originally considered models as well, but that doesn't change the fact that they were also metaphorical. For instance, it's very easy to read Genesis not as a strict model, but also as an attempt to actually refute other conceptions of what gods are like.

Ancient creation stories have staying power, because they are more than a model. The BB is just a model, and if it loses its claim to being literally factual, it cannot continue to hold force. Ancient stories can .

[No*s]

Originally Posted by Prima

WAIT...

Did No*s just kinda agree with something I said? Or does it not count because Lightkeeper said it first?

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any creation stories that did not involve the metaphysical/divine that have since been dismissed, particularly ancient ones.

OK, OK I retract the statement. We can't allow us to agree on anything

[Lightkeeper]

I think we can advance so far in our knowledge the the BB can be a metaphor.

[Godless Dave]

I think there's a big difference between a story and a description based on systematic observation of evidence and mathematical modeling. Our understanding of the Big Bang will be expanded and refined; many things that don't make sense now will be understood; some of the ways we explain things now will have better, more precise explanations. But this will be because of new research and new observations. Creation stories change for cultural reasons, not scientific reasons.

Creation stories don't generally correspond to the physical realities of origins. They tell us about the perceptions of the people who wrote the stories.