V. Non-Western Science of Origins

Now understanding that a science is modeled after one's Theory, Habit, Prejudice and Culture, we take a look at what a Non-Western Scientific Model of Origins would look like, this study will be based on the Hebrew culture and using the Bible as the Source of Reliable Knowledge.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Universe: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origen of the Universe from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Universe: Using Revelation as the Source of Reliable Knowledge.

The Hebrews believed in an Open System, their God communicated with them and told them how He had created the universe, but He warned them to be careful not to worship the creation, only the Creator is worthy of worship.

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Universe: Created with Purpose.

In this lecture we are going to look at the purposes that include: 1.) To divide the day from the night; 2.) They shall be for signs to mark seasons.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Universe: Created as a Timepiece.

In this lecture we look at the purpose of the heavens to mark days, and years. The universe works like a timepiece, as it was created to.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Universe: Why a 7 day week?

In this lecture we explore the reason why we observe a 7 day week, the only measurement of time not recorded in the heavens.

This lecture series will present the Origin of Time as Revealed through the Scriptures, which were written and understood by the Hebrews, a people of Non-Western Cultural Tendencies. This will focus more on the debate of how much time the creation account represents. Is it a Young Earth? An Old Earth? And why does it matter? Again we need to keep in mind the Non-Western Hebrew perspective of time.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Time: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origen of Time from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Time: The Meaning of the Hebrew term Yom = translated day.

The meaning of a word is determined by the immediate context the word is found in. So how many meanings of the Hebrew term Yom can we find in the first chapter of Genesis?

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Time: Fitting It Into Western Thought.

First Attempt at Reconciling the Hebrew Creation account with Western Cultural concept of Naturalistic Science. To reconcile Evolution with the Biblical record there must large amounts of time hidden away in the Hebrew narrative. The strategy here is to equate each day of creation as representing long periods of time. This strategy has become known as the Day/Age Theory.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Time: Fitting It Into Western Thought; Another Option.

Since the possibility of Evolution requires large amounts of time, the search for time continues. If a day cannot be stretched out that long, how about putting a gap of time into the Biblical record? This documents the strategy of some as detecting a creation in verse one, and then a re-creation in verse two of Genesis chapter one, with an undetermined amount of time filling that gap.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Time: Maintaining Intellectual Integrity.

We should attempt to maintain the original author’s intention and cultural tendencies without imposing foreign preferences if we are to understand the meaning of the original document.

This lecture series will present the Origin of Life as Revealed through the Scriptures, which were written and understood by people of Non-Western Cultural Tendencies. Examining their source of Reliable Knowledge we understand that the Hebrews believed that life is a gift from God; that God breathed life into Adam, and it is only then that Adam became a living being.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origin of Life from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: What Western Culture Once Believed.

The Western Cultural concept of the evolution of life from non-life is actually a very old belief that dates back to the very beginning of Western Culture (Greek).

3.Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: What Western Culture Still Believes.

Belief in Spontaneous Generation is still alive and well today. In fact it is a Basic Belief that is foundational to a closed system.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: Beginning Of Life As Revealed In The Hebrew Scriptures.

We now start exploring the Biblical record to understand the Hebrew concept of life and its origin.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: The Composition Of Life As Revealed In The Hebrew Scriptures.

The Hebrew Scriptures teach that man is composed of both matter and spirit; matter composes the temporary body while the spirit that gives life is eternal.

6. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Life: All Have Eternal Life As Taught In The Hebrew Scriptures.

When the body dies what happens to us? The Scriptures teach that the body returns to dust but the spirit returns to Him who gave it, and then is judged as to where that eternal spirit will spend eternity.

This lecture series will present the Origin of Species as Revealed through the Scriptures, which were recorded and understood by a people of Non-Western Cultural Tendencies.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Species: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origin of Species from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Species: The Creation of Beast and Man.

In the Biblical record there is clear distinction between the creation of animal kinds and that of man. Biblically man is not a descendent of a beast, but created in the image of God.

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Species: Man Was Endowed With Understanding.

The Biblical difference between man and beast is not material, but it is in his capacity to understand.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Species: What Happens To The Man Who Does Not Understand?

Biblically man was created with higher capacities that separated him from the beasts, but surrendering those capacities by not understanding renders man equal to a beast.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Species: What Is Man’s Attitude Before God?

Pride and arrogance are two attitudes that take away understanding of who we are before God. We are called to walk humbly before the Lord God our Maker.

This lecture series will present the Origin of Man as Revealed through the Hebrew Scriptures, as recorded and understood by people of Non-Western Cultural Tendencies.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin Of Man: Setting The Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origin of Man from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Man: God Created Man; Man Created The Concept of Races.

God created man is His image, but that image is spiritual in nature. The concept of race is a social tool for categorizing according to physical appearances but has no scientific base to it.

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Man: Created good — and with Personhood, But With Free-will To Chose.

Man was created good but chose to disobey. This disobedience brought with it the consequences we deal with today.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Man: The Consequences of the Choice.

The creation now suffers the consequences. Sin nature, suffering, and death, now all permeate the once good creation and create separation from the Holy Creator God.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of Man: Man Has Another Choice.

Because of man’s first choice he isolated himself from hope and help, but God in His grace offers man another choice. Will we accept it or reject it?

Fossils are fascinating, if they could talk they would have quite a story to tell. Why is that? Because to become fossilized is not the usual end of life. What happened to provide the conditions necessary to create the great fossil beds found today? We will study the Hebrew Biblical source using Non-Western Cultural Tendencies as the guide to understanding.

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: A Record of Life Slowly Unfolding or A Registry Of Sudden Death?

Obviously the Fossil Record is a record of death, because all those included in the record are dead. So how does this fit into the Biblical account of Origins?

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: Is A Record Of Death, When Did Death Enter Into The Once Good Creation?

According to Biblical parameters a consequence of Adam’s disobedience was the creation now struggling under the curse of suffering and death; to the point of infecting man’s thoughts with evil. This condition brought God to decide to judge this evil by water.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: God’s Provision.

First God provided a man that He declared to be righteous and blameless; secondly He now uses that man to build a boat that would provide safety to those that entered into it.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: A Flood of Waters That Brought Sudden Death.

Then the flood came with the purpose of wiping out all life that breathed air from the face of the earth. This event would have provided the necessary conditions to have formed the fossil record.

6. Non-Western Biblical Origin of The Fossil Record: The Promise.

God’s promise was to never judge the world with water again. But just as there was one judgment by water, He does promise there will be another judgment by fire. But, He has again provided a way of escape to those that choose to enter in His protection through Jesus Christ.

This lecture series will present the Origin of The Dinosaurs as Revealed through the Hebrew Scriptures, as recorded and understood by a people of Non-Western Cultural Tendencies. So if we were to view history through the lens of the Hebrew culture, where would they put the dinosaurs? Assuming creation to be the true starting point, and all was created in six literal days, then God created the dinosaurs and man all in the same week. Does the Bible record any such encounter between the two?

1. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: Setting the Stage.

Using the tools of Worldview and Philosophy, and considering the four factors of Stephen Jay Gould, we set the parameters for interpreting and understanding the Biblical Origin of The Dinosaurs from a Non-Western Cultural perspective.

2. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: They Existed, But Now They Don’t; What Happened?

There have been different theories posited about what caused their demise. One such theory is that of an asteroid impact, the other is that of massive volcanic eruptions, but neither one of them on their own account for the fact that the remains are found fossilized in sedimentary rock.

3. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: Let The Biblical Account Speak.

God answers Job, “Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you…” The description is of a powerful and majestic animal which reflects the glory of God. Then God refers to Leviathan, a strangely powerful aquatic animal. Western commentators have suggested these were actually a hippopotamus and crocodile; suggestions that are not that awe-inspiring.

4. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: The Search For Leviathan.

Leviathan is a creature that might remind one of a mythical dragon; but he is now described as worthy of punishment, as the crafty serpent.

5. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: Who Is This Leviathan?

Leviathan has been identified as the crafty serpent of old, and thus the reason for his deserving of punishment.

6. Non-Western Biblical Origin of the Dinosaurs: They Did Exist; And Even Had A Dark Side After The Fall.

The Biblical record does mention some majestic animals that reflected the glory of their Creator. Since dinosaurs existed, they were created; thus the description in the Biblical record could be of dinosaurs, or, even more exotic, of dragons that possessed spiritual powers.