Table of Contents
Prologue 7
Introduction 9
Proposition 1 Genesis 1 Is Ancient Cosmology 16
Proposition 2 Ancient Cosmology Is Function Oriented 23
Proposition 3 "Create" (Hebrew bara) Concerns Functions 38
Proposition 4 The Beginning State in Genesis 1 Is Nonfunctional 47
Proposition 5 Days One to Three in Genesis 1 Establish Functions 54
Proposition 6 Days Four to Six in Genesis 1 Install Functionaries 63
Proposition 7 Divine Rest Is in a Temple 72
Proposition 8 The Cosmos Is a Temple 78
Proposition 9 The Seven Days of Genesis 1 Relate to the Cosmic Temple Inauguration 87
Proposition 10 The Seven Days of Genesis 1 Do Not Concern Material Origins 93
Proposition 11 "Functional Cosmic Temple" Offers Face-Value Exegesis 102
Proposition 12 Other Theories of Genesis 1 Either Go Too Far or Not Far Enough 108
Proposition 13 The Difference Between Origin Accounts in Science and Scripture Is Metaphysical in Nature 114
Proposition 14 God's Roles as Creator and Sustainer Are Less Different Than We Have Thought 119
Proposition 15 Current Debate About Intelligent Design Ultimately Concerns Purpose 125
Proposition 16 Scientific Explanations of Origins Can Be Viewed in Light of Purpose, and If So, Are Unobjectionable 132
Proposition 17 Resulting Theology in This View of Genesis 1 Is Stronger, Not Weaker 142
Proposition 18 Public Science Education Should Be Neutral Regarding Purpose 152
Summary and Conclusions 162
FAQs 169
Notes 174
Index 191
