Genesis and Cosmos
Subtitle: Basil and Origen on Genesis 1 and Cosmology
Publisher: BRILL
Published: 2019
Language: eng
Number of pages: 209
ISBN-13: 9789004396920
Subjects: Basil, saint, bishop of caesarea, approximately 329-379; Origen; Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., o. t. pentateuch; Cosmology; Cosmogony; Religion and science
Description: In 'Genesis and Cosmos' Adam Rasmussen examines how Basil and Origen addressed scientific problems in their interpretations of Genesis 1. For the first time, he offers an in-depth analysis of Basil's thinking on three problems in Scripture-and-science: the nature of matter, the super-heavenly water, and astrology. Both theologians worked from the same fundamental perspective that science is the "servant" of Christianity, useful yet subordinate. Rasmussen convincingly shows how Basil used Origen's writings to construct his own solutions. Only on the question of the water does Basil break with Origen, who allegorized the water. Rasmussen demonstrates how they sought to integrate science and Scripture and thus remain instructive for those engaged in the dialogue between religion and science today.