We should maintain that if an interpretation of any word in any religion leads to disharmony and does not positively further the welfare of the many, then such an interpretation is to be regarded as wrong; that is, against the will of God, or as the working of Satan or Mara.

Buddhadasa Bikkhu, a Thai Buddhist Monk


Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Augustine on Genesis

Icon of St. Augustine
In his commentary on the Book of Genesis, the leading theologian of the early church, St. Augustine, wrote concerning different interpretations of the meaning of Genesis 1:
"In matters that are obscure and far beyond our vision, even in such as we may find  treated in Holy Scripture, different Interpretations are sometimes possible without prejudice to the faith we have received. In such a case, we should not rush in headlong and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search of truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it. That would be to battle not for the teaching of Holy Scripture but for our own, wishing its teaching to conform to ours, whereas we ought to wish ours to conform to that of Sacred Scripture. "
St. Augustine
Commentary on the Biblical Book of Genesis

Sixteen centuries later, his advice is as sound as ever.  We read Genesis 1 best when we read it circumspectly, provisionally, and with our faith firmly placed in God rather than an ancient, pre-scientific worldview.  The Bible is best read faithfully, which is a very different thing from reading it literally.
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