Episode 22 – Show Notes

We take two topics connected the beginning of the world, at least as presented early in the book of Genesis. Firstly for “Reason and God” we turn to an argument not covered in the 50 Arguments for Faith book but nevertheless well-liked by apologists: the Kalam Cosmological Argument. It will be familiar to many of our listeners so we discuss it in general and make a few personal observations on it rather than cover all the many problems its detractors identify. For example:

Frances discusses a possible conflict with a belief which is cherished by many theists: libertarian freewill,
Andrew enjoys comparing this pure philosophy to Genesis chapter 1, and
Ed hones in on definitions of the term Universe and how this, for him, undermines the whole enterprise.

Here are some links we mention:
Skydive Phil on Unbelievable on the beginning of the universe:
https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Has-the-Big-Bang-gone-bust-Phil-Harper-Jeff-Zweerink
That infinite number of events issue, as discussed on the ‘Atheology’ Podcast
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/realatheology/real-atheology/e/55767664
And the ‘Atheology’ Podcast more generally on Kalam:
https://player.fm/series/real-atheology/ra019-the-kalam-cosmological-argument

Our second topic, under “Christian Diversity”, is on Adam and Eve as actual historical figure. We note a surprising lack of diversity on this in Christian thought. We give a survey of the more moderate end of evangelical thinking as well as the Catholic and Orthodox denominations in a search for Christians rejecting this unscientific idea of one couple being the ‘parents’ of all mankind. Ed had thought it was the preserve of very conservative Christians such as Young Earth Creationists. However, we struggle to give examples of rejection of a historical Adam and Eve outside normal liberal believers. Some notable examples of adherence to traditional views are
NT Wright - from 2m50s into
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BP1PpDyDCw

That 1950 Catholic Encyclical, paragraph 37:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis.html?fbclid=IwAR001cF-lYxNRGLThICzRTvXyuDSbHx07hBW7gy2R1DudK7dtFf0Bgy938o
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences 22 October 1996 document backing up the 1950 Encyclical:
https://humanorigins.si.edu/sites/default/files/MESSAGE%20TO%20THE%20PONTIFICAL%20ACADEMY%20OF%20SCIENCES%20(Pope%20John%20Paul%20II).pdf?fbclid=IwAR2HC4chdX4WB2WqwuKNylV2-s5Bm4hhAJUjpud1g8wF1erif7ino9SU3AM

An Orthodox modern theologian discussing this Irenaeus (130-202 AD) while laying into Ken Ham

http://www.joeledmundanderson.com/irenaeus-of-lyon-and-the-early-churchs-teaching-of-adam-and-eve-part-1/

And Andrew gave us this from “Creation Magazine”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jRlRyrl80E

We should include our friend Denis Alexander and his more nuanced take in our list of links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbgMgOKF9u8

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