The document discusses major cosmological approaches and themes that will be covered in a biblical literature course. It introduces the five main themes of the course: the cosmos, God, the human race, sin, and the good life. It explores scientific and biblical worldviews on the creation account in Genesis 1. The document also addresses the limitations of the scientific approach and understanding science from a biblical perspective.

1. Themes InThemes In
BiblicalBiblical
LiteratureLiterature
BIL120BIL120
Workshop 1Workshop 1
Glenn JohnsonGlenn Johnson
Welcome!

2. Intros, WisdomIntros, Wisdom
Principle & PrayerPrinciple & Prayer
The heavens declare the gloryThe heavens declare the glory
of God; the skies proclaim theof God; the skies proclaim the
work of his hands.work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forthDay after day they pour forth
speech; night after night theyspeech; night after night they
display knowledge.display knowledge.
There is no speech orThere is no speech or
language where their voice islanguage where their voice is
not heard.not heard.
Their voice goes out into all theTheir voice goes out into all the
earth, their words to the endsearth, their words to the ends
of the world.of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4Psalm 19:1-4

3. --Who are you?Who are you?
-Who are your-Who are your
people (family, faithpeople (family, faith
community…)?community…)?
-What is your-What is your
work?work?
-What is your-What is your
spiritual heritage?spiritual heritage?
-Fears/expectations-Fears/expectations
of this class?of this class?

4. Themes InThemes In
BiblicalBiblical
LiteratureLiterature
BIL120BIL120
Workshop 1Workshop 1
SYLLABUS REVIEWSYLLABUS REVIEW

5. Themes InThemes In
BiblicalBiblical
LiteratureLiterature
BIL120BIL120
Workshop 1Workshop 1
DISCUSSION TEAMDISCUSSION TEAM
FORMATIONFORMATION

6. COSMIC VOYAGECOSMIC VOYAGE
Film On The Scientific Nature of the CosmosFilm On The Scientific Nature of the Cosmos
-Primer on Up-To-Date Scientific Theory-Primer on Up-To-Date Scientific Theory
-Explores the Realms of the Infinitely Small to the Infinitely Large-Explores the Realms of the Infinitely Small to the Infinitely Large
via “Cosmic Zoom”via “Cosmic Zoom”
Think of the “story” this film tells you about the Cosmos and yourThink of the “story” this film tells you about the Cosmos and your
feelings the story produces in your about it and your place in it.feelings the story produces in your about it and your place in it.
Take notes on the questions as the film goes along (to beTake notes on the questions as the film goes along (to be
discussed as a class afterward)discussed as a class afterward)

7. BREAKBREAK

8. Class Discussion 1.2:Class Discussion 1.2:
“Who Has Made Us?“Who Has Made Us?
(Cosmic Voyage(Cosmic Voyage
Reaction)Reaction)
““What do these themes tell us aboutWhat do these themes tell us about
this way of looking at the cosmos?”this way of looking at the cosmos?”
1.1.Initial Reactions/HandoutInitial Reactions/Handout
2.2.Psalm 19:1-4Psalm 19:1-4
-What are characteristics of God as-What are characteristics of God as
Creator that we learn?Creator that we learn?
-Does this tell us anything about-Does this tell us anything about
WHY God created the universe?WHY God created the universe?

9. The Scientific Approach To The CosmosThe Scientific Approach To The Cosmos
There Is A Great Conflict Still Raging for 500 YearsThere Is A Great Conflict Still Raging for 500 Years
At The Center Of the Controversy:At The Center Of the Controversy: In What Way Is TheIn What Way Is The
Bible Authoritative and Inspired?Bible Authoritative and Inspired?
Began With Copernicus…….Began With Copernicus…….

10. TheThe
ScientificScientific
ApproachApproach
To TheTo The
CosmosCosmos

11. The Scientific Approach To TheThe Scientific Approach To The
CosmosCosmos
HARDCORE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH: Largely ImpersonalHARDCORE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH: Largely Impersonal
THE ENTROPIC PRINCIPLE: All things have a life cycle and tendTHE ENTROPIC PRINCIPLE: All things have a life cycle and tend
toward decay and death.toward decay and death.
THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH: focuses mainly on the process
whereby small and great amounts of energy are transferred and
the physical results

12. The Scientific Approach To TheThe Scientific Approach To The
CosmosCosmos
THEORETICAL PHYSICS & THE WAY ITTHEORETICAL PHYSICS & THE WAY IT
“IS”“IS”

13. ““Singularity” & “String Theory”Singularity” & “String Theory”
THEORETICAL PHYSICS & THE WAY IT “IS”THEORETICAL PHYSICS & THE WAY IT “IS”
SINGULARITY: A place of infinite energy whereSINGULARITY: A place of infinite energy where
mathematics failmathematics fail
STRING THEORY: A branch of physics trying toSTRING THEORY: A branch of physics trying to
reconcile quantum mechanics and Einstein’s generalreconcile quantum mechanics and Einstein’s general
relativityrelativity

14. The ScientificThe Scientific
Approach ToApproach To
The CosmosThe Cosmos
THE CHALLENGE OFTHE CHALLENGE OF
MODERN SCIENCEMODERN SCIENCE
-Difference Between-Difference Between
Ancient View and ModernAncient View and Modern
ViewView
-Old Universe-Old Universe

15. The ScientificThe Scientific
Approach To TheApproach To The
CosmosCosmos
THE LIMITATIONS OFTHE LIMITATIONS OF
MODERN SCIENCEMODERN SCIENCE
--When scientists speculateWhen scientists speculate
philosophically or religiouslyphilosophically or religiously
-There are parameters around-There are parameters around
which science can legitimatelywhich science can legitimately
speakspeak
-Often, the best scientific-Often, the best scientific
theorists found in philosophytheorists found in philosophy
or religion departmentsor religion departments
-Both naturalistic scientists and-Both naturalistic scientists and
fundamentalists share similarfundamentalists share similar
false assumptions of sciencefalse assumptions of science
-Naturalistic scientists do not-Naturalistic scientists do not
relate science to larger reality:relate science to larger reality:
value? Beauty?value? Beauty?

16. The Scientific Approach To The CosmosThe Scientific Approach To The Cosmos
ULTIMATELY…ULTIMATELY…
science fragments thescience fragments the process of knowingprocess of knowing
personal biaspersonal bias in any scientific endeavorin any scientific endeavor
intuitionintuition is important in scientific processis important in scientific process
science isscience is captive to the already pastcaptive to the already past (can’t deal well with(can’t deal well with
“immediacies” of human experience)“immediacies” of human experience)
scientists always work in thescientists always work in the coercive pressure of the scientificcoercive pressure of the scientific
communitycommunity
unable to deal with meaning of whole natural process andunable to deal with meaning of whole natural process and finalfinal
causecause
restricted to therestricted to the observableobservable

17. The Scientific Approach To The CosmosThe Scientific Approach To The Cosmos
““Contact Clip”Contact Clip”
https://youtu.be/oAp3jT8n6Qs

18. BREAKBREAK

19. Discussion 1.3Discussion 1.3
Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account
1.1. Read Together Genesis 1:1-2:4 (commentary to follow)Read Together Genesis 1:1-2:4 (commentary to follow)
2.2. Get Into Groups: One side will argue in favor of theGet Into Groups: One side will argue in favor of the
SCIENTIFIC worldview; the other side will argue in favor of theSCIENTIFIC worldview; the other side will argue in favor of the
BIBLICAL worldview………do the two worldviews exclude eachBIBLICAL worldview………do the two worldviews exclude each
other?other?
WHAT WE WILL DO

20. Discussion 1.3Discussion 1.3
Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account
Read Together Genesis 1:1-2:4 (commentary to follow)Read Together Genesis 1:1-2:4 (commentary to follow)

21. Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account
KEYKEY
Not A Scientific Explanation!Not A Scientific Explanation!
(Scientific methodology was not in the mind of the(Scientific methodology was not in the mind of the
original author nor the original hearers of theoriginal author nor the original hearers of the
message)message)

22. Genesis 1: The CreationGenesis 1: The Creation
AccountAccount
CONTEXT OFCONTEXT OF
GENESISGENESIS
-Pagan View of-Pagan View of
Creation: Many godsCreation: Many gods
-Hebrew View: One God-Hebrew View: One God

23. Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account

24. Discussion 1.3Discussion 1.3
Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account
Get Into Groups: One side will argue in favor of the SCIENTIFICGet Into Groups: One side will argue in favor of the SCIENTIFIC
worldview; the other side will argue in favor of the BIBLICALworldview; the other side will argue in favor of the BIBLICAL
worldview………do the two worldviews exclude each other? (10worldview………do the two worldviews exclude each other? (10
mins)mins)
Reconvene to Discuss Findings (10 minutes)Reconvene to Discuss Findings (10 minutes)

25. Genesis 1: The Creation AccountGenesis 1: The Creation Account
One Grand Cosmology…God Did It….One Grand Cosmology…God Did It….

26. Understanding Science With AUnderstanding Science With A
Biblical WorldviewBiblical Worldview
1. Understand What Science is About
-Method of investigation; how we learn of physical world
-Applicable to:technical sciences; theoretical; descriptive
-Confused: we wind up asking science to do more than what it can (scientists
and religious people equally at risk)
-Science deals with immediate cause/effect and develops general laws
-Science cannot deal with unique unrepeatable events (creation out of nothing)
-Science cannot deal with ultimate explanations (question of God, why there is
a universe in the first place
FOR THE PERSON OF FAITH: THERE IS NOTHING IN GOD’S UNIVERSE
THAT ANY SCIENTIST WILL DISCOVER THAT WILL SHOCK GOD

27. JOB 38:4-7JOB 38:4-7
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you
understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a
measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
STELLAR SEISMOLOGY (Singing Stars)
https://youtu.be/h7TfNrIBKGI

28. SUMMARY: Major Cosmological ApproachesSUMMARY: Major Cosmological Approaches
Will We Ever Reach TheWill We Ever Reach The
Summit?Summit?

29. COURSE THEMES & OVERVIEWCOURSE THEMES & OVERVIEW
WORLDVIEW?WORLDVIEW?

31. COURSE THEMES & OVERVIEWCOURSE THEMES & OVERVIEW
WORLDVIEW?WORLDVIEW?
Your Collection of Beliefs About The WorldYour Collection of Beliefs About The World
5 Themes of This Course5 Themes of This Course
THE COSMOSTHE COSMOS
GOD
THE HUMAN RACE
SIN
THE GOOD LIFE

32. COURSE THEMES & OVERVIEWCOURSE THEMES & OVERVIEW
THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 5 THEMES TO BETHREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 5 THEMES TO BE
ASKEDASKED
First, what does our society say about them?
Second, what difference does it make what we believe about them?
Third, what does the Bible have to say about them?

33. COURSE THEMES & OVERVIEWCOURSE THEMES & OVERVIEW
SO WHAT?SO WHAT?
-Does it makes any difference if you believe that the cosmos is sacred?-Does it makes any difference if you believe that the cosmos is sacred?
-Does it make any difference if you believe human beings were created on
purpose, as opposed to being the product of matter, time, and chance?
-Does it make any difference if you believe human nature is inherently
good, or inherently evil?
-Does it make any difference if you believe there is a rational, objective,
universal standard of right and wrong that applies to all human
behavior?
-Does it make any difference if you believe that there is a universal
human desire for the good life?

34. COURSE THEMES & OVERVIEWCOURSE THEMES & OVERVIEW
BY STUDYING THESE THEMES IN RELATION TO THEBY STUDYING THESE THEMES IN RELATION TO THE
BIBLE, YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE OUTLINESBIBLE, YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE OUTLINES
OF SOMETHING CALLED A “BIBLICALOF SOMETHING CALLED A “BIBLICAL
WORLDVIEW”WORLDVIEW”