24 June 2020

The re-mythologisation of reality

Every so often it happens. Some bright theologian or minister resiles from the exposition of Scripture and turns it into myth.

Genesis is usually the butt of their myth-making: anything from 1-11 fades from this world and ends up on Mt Olympus, in the Dreamtime, or the Theogonistic battles of Enuma Elish.

Dis-interpreting Genesis 1 always involves denying its real-world placement, its anti-mythic posture and backs it into the world of 'not-in-this-world'. It then is supposed to be about this world without having a this-world reference.

But this means that it is not about this world, our experience, or God's connection with his creation.

Walton is the latest in this long line of deceit. Tim Mackie, whose work on The Bible Project is very helpful does it in his talk on Genesis 1. Alas.

With these characters we've got a Genesis that is off in myth-land. It breaks our connection with God and God's connection with his creation. May as well be a pagan, then.