21 - Erikson - The Origin of Humanity

Question 1

Who believed that there is no loss in abandoning the view that the account of Adam and Eve records historical events?

Answer 1

Emil Brunner

Question 2

What is the view of naturalistic evolution?

Answer 2

It is an attempt to account for the human species and other forms of life without appealing to a supernatural explanation.

Question 3

What is the view of fiat creationism?

Answer 3

It is the idea that God, by a direct act, brought into being virtually instantaneously everything that is.

Question 4

What is the view of deistic evolution?

Answer 4

The view that God began the process of evolution, producing the first matter and implanting within the creation the laws its development has followed.

Question 5

What is the view of Theistic evolution?

Answer 5

God began the process by bringing the first organism to life. He then continued by working internally toward his goal for the creation.

Question 6

What is the view of progressive creationism?

Answer 6

It sees the creative work of God as a combination of a series of de novo (created afresh) creative acts and an immanent or processive operation.

Question 7

What are four conservative views regarding the age of the Human race?

Answer 7

1. The issue is of no consequence
2. Toolmaking is the mark of humanity (500,000 - 2 million years)
3. The practice of burial of the dead (50,000 years)
4. Humans are distinguished by the use of language (30,000 - 40,000 years)

Question 8

What are some solutions suggested for the problem of neolithic elements in Genesis 4?

Answer 8

1. Pre-Adamite theory - Adam was the first human in the Biblical sense but not in the anthropological sense
2. Cain and Abel were not direct descendants of Adam. They may have been several generations removed from him.
3. The Hebrew word ‘adam’ is used symbolically of the entire human race
4. Cain and Abel were not really domesticators of plants and animals, but in the language of Moses and our translations, only appear to be such.
5. The domestication of plants and animals may be much more remote in time than the Neolithic period.

Question 9

What are the theological meanings of Human creation?

Answer 9

1. Humans have no independent existence. they came into being because God willed that they should exist.
2. Humans are part of creation.
3. Humans have a unique place in creation.
4. There is kinship among humans.
5. Humanity is not the highest object in the universe. Worship is to be given to God alone.
6. There are limitation upon humanity. Only the Creator is infinite.
7. Limitation is not inherently bad.
8. Proper adjustment in life can be achieved only on the basis of acceptance of one’s own finiteness.
9. Humanity is something wonderful, made in the image of God.