Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig.

Today, the creation of life and biological diversity, part 20.

For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonable faith.org.

On the basis of the metaphoricalness, the plasticity, and the flexibility of myths, we've seen

from both anthropological studies as well as ancient Near Eastern literature that myths are

not always best interpreted literalistically. Now we want to make application of these

insights to Genesis 1 to 11. When we consider the biblical narratives that are at the heart

of our study, namely the creation of the world in chapter 1 and the origin

and fall of Adam and Eve in chapters 2 and 3, then it seems to me that a non-literal

interpretation of these narratives is very plausible. First and foremost is the creation of the world in six consecutive 24-hour days.

A description that doesn't require a knowledge of modern science to recognize as metaphorical. We've already seen reasons in our previous

lessons to interpret the six days non-literally. Next is the humanoid deity which appears in

chapters 2 and 3, in contrast to the transcendent creator of the heavens

and the earth in chapter 1.

The anthropomorphic nature of God, which is merely hinted at in chapter 2, becomes inescapable in Chapter 3, where God is described

as walking in the garden, in the cool of the day, calling audibly to Adam who is hiding

from him. Genesis 3, 8 to 9, state, they heard the sound of the Lord God

walking in the garden, in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves

from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him,

Where are you?

Genesis 3, 8, and 9.

Read in light of Genesis 3, God's creation of Adam in Genesis 2

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