The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life Sýnishorn

Origins and Genesis – Reading an Ancient Text Today

The other day I overheard our sons having an argument. They’d been learning the difference between ‘fiction’ and ‘non-fiction’ and decided to rearrange their bookshelves accordingly. However, a dispute arose over where to put their Bible. My oldest thought it belonged on the non-fiction shelf, insisting, ‘It’s true!’ But my youngest was not convinced, pointing to a picture of Noah’s ark with a giraffe poking out of the window. It was left for me to settle the matter. In a cowardly move, I suggested the Bible belonged on their bedside table, not on ordinary shelves, anyway. 

The underlying issue of whether the Bible can be taken seriously is not going away: perhaps you agree with the atheist Richard Dawkins who asserts that science has disproved the Bible and we need to grow up and move on. Or do you agree with my eldest son: ‘It’s true . . . no matter what science says.’ Actually, that response risks making a false choice: the Bible or science? Instead, if we understand Genesis on its own terms, we realise that it operates at a deeper level. Science may be the best place to go for how questions: How big is the universe? How does DNA reproduce over time? But it cannot answer the deeper why questions that even children ask: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why am I me? These questions reflect our human desire for meaning.

In one short chapter, Genesis captures the birth of the entire cosmos. The conservative word count is actually a clue: the author is not attempting an in-depth description of exactly how God made the world; instead, the focus falls on how humans should relate to God, each other and the environment in order to flourish. So don’t get stuck dissecting the details. Think of it more like a telescope, providing footage of distant galaxies. Precisely because of the scale, it is able to capture the enchanting beauty of our universe. On a recent podcast, the astronaut Tim Peake spoke about his mission to the International Space Station. Apparently, when astronauts step outside, they are so overcome by the view that NASA now builds ‘awe-time’ into their schedule. Before they can do any work, they need a few moments just to take it all in. In a similar way, Genesis gives an expansive vision that stirs a sense of wonder. 

REFLECT: Take a leaf out of NASA’s book and schedule in five minutes of awe-time today. Remind yourself of things that amaze you and recover a sense of wonder within your routines.