Understanding Creation: Answers to Questions on Faith and Science

Dr Lynden Rogers
Senior lecturer, School of Science and Mathematics
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Understanding Creation: Answers to Questions on Faith and Science (Pacific Press 2011) unpacks an exciting range of Seventh-day Adventist perspectives on origins. It includes essays by 20 Adventist authors, mostly scientists, although the fields of archaeology, education and medicine are also represented. Joint editors are Dr L James Gibson, director of the Geoscience Research Institute, and Dr Humberto Rasi, now retired, a former director of education for the worldwide church.

This book is generally written well. It is also readable, although it offers no support to the suspicion scientists never use a short word when a long one will do!

A number of questions are addressed, such as: why do scientists interpret the same data so differently? The book includes discussions on the nature of science—these are excellent—and, as expected, on design, from cosmic anthropic considerations to the complexity of living organisms.

To argue the book represents predominately new ideas is misleading. Its central thesis is that of a recent, six-day creation. However, it also demonstrates Adventism is still a “movement,” presenting some views that would have been unacceptable to our pioneers. Many of these would still have been controversial in the days of the great Adventist creation warrior, George McCready Price. These include:

Two creation events, not one. The first, “in the beginning,” billions of years ago, saw the creation of most of the cosmos, possibly including our earth. In the second, six-day event, less than 10,000 years ago, God developed this earth and created life. Perhaps deGroot’s article on the Big Bang gives fullest expression to this idea. Although this may not be the majority view among Adventists, it is gaining ground, particularly in Adventist institutions.
The admission the fossil sequences of the geologic column present some problems for recent creationists, as they do for evolutionary theory.
The recognition the Flood is not responsible for all sedimentary rock.
The recognition the data does not overwhelmingly support recent creationism. Burdick’s closing article explores options for surviving in the face of evidence for which there are no apparent answers. This sets the book apart from much creationist literature.

The book also provides frank treatments of topics often ignored by Adventist publications, including:

Tectonics. Among other mentions, it is good to see an accurate presentation of plate tectonics and continental drift by Clausen. He notes the success of this theory and the difficulties of alternative young-age models.
Theories of human origins. Although noting in his opinion this data is not convincing, Nalin presents a useful summary of current scientific ideas on human origin.

I found some logic a little difficult.

One author cites the Galileo incident in the context of his contention that the theistic or atheistic nature of a scientist’s worldview plays a major interpretive role in their science. However, the same author admits later that, since Galileo was a Christian, this was not really a Bible/atheism conflict but one involving biblical interpretation.

Another author notes some systems, such as viper envenomation, appear well designed—to kill, no less—while others, such as the human back, appear not so well designed. He argues these factors do not mitigate against design but does not develop a rationale for regarding them as the handiwork of an all-provident God or explaining them in terms of the fall. Of course, word count may have been against him.

Also, one author implies most creationists believe dinosaurs disappeared during the Flood. Three pages later, he states most creationists believe dinosaurs disappeared during or shortly after the Flood. I believe the latter statement is more correct, as early Adventists were almost unique in placing the disappearance of dinosaurs at the Flood, a position inferred from Ellen G White’s Spiritual Gifts.

Finally, if a wider readership is intended, the frequently implied or explicit exclusive association of theism with recent creationism might offend other Christians prepared to consider longer age options.

I recommend Understanding Creation to those interested in learning more about mainstream Adventist thinking on this important topic.

Understanding Creation is available through Avondale Library or at Adventist Book Centres.