1. The Third Story of Creation
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, it was beautiful.
God bestowed upon man the responsibility to be stewards, that man is to fill the earth
and subdue it, and have dominion over all creation.
Then man said, “Let there be darkness over all the earth.” And it was so. Man
saw that it was good. Thus evening came, and morning followed – the first day.
Then man said, “Let there be deleterious smoke rising from the earth to the
heavens that it may pollute the air. And it was so. Man saw that it was good. Thus
evening came, and morning followed – the second day.
Then man said, “Let there be pernicious wastes in the sea and in the earth, that
it may pollute the waters, the vegetation, and the land.” And it was so. Man saw that it
was good. Thus evening came, and morning followed – the third day.
Then man said, “Let there be simulated lights to illumine the earth and to
produce superfluous heat. And it was so. Man saw that it was good. Thus evening came,
and morning followed – the fourth day.
Then man said, “Let there be countless hunters of animals that swim in the seas
and animals that fly in the heavens that their number might decrease. And it was so.
Man saw that it was good. Thus evening came, and morning followed – the fifth day.
Then man said, “Let there also be countless hunters of animals that walk and
crawl upon the earth that their number might decrease. And let man be enemies with
one another; inflicting upon their neighbours indifference, inequality, injustice, and
transgressions. And it was so. Man saw that it was good. Thus evening came, and
morning followed – the sixth day.
Man looked at everything that he had done, and he found it very good. He
rested on the seventh day so that he might have the strength to do his deeds indefinitely.
God, on the other hand, saw what had happened. How man destroyed His
masterpiece, His handwork, His creation. How man abused his gift of freedom, his
power and his authority over all creation.
And God was deeply saddened.