Commentary of the first chapter of Genesis

Creation and the Harmony Between Science and Faith

Dear brothers and sisters and members of the Universal Christian Church, Welcome to all of you. Today, we gather to reflect upon one of humanity's greatest mysteries: the creation of the universe. Our faith guides us, and at the same time, modern science provides us with tools and knowledge to better understand the world that God has created. Today, I wish to speak to you about how we can integrate these two aspects to enrich our understanding and our faith. In the first chapter of Genesis, we read how God created the world in six days. This narrative, symbolic and profound, demonstrates the divine power and will in the creation of all things. Concurrently, science recounts the story of the Big Bang, the expansion of the universe, and the evolution of life on Earth. These two accounts, seemingly distinct, can actually coexist in harmony and complementarity. When we read "God said: 'Let there be light!' And there was light," we can see an allusion to the cosmic event of the Big Bang, the moment when everything began. The light emerging from the darkness represents not only the energy and particles that form the universe but also the divine hope and guidance that illuminates our path. The creation of the earth, seas, and complex life is a process that science explains through geology, biology, and astronomy. Beyond scientific understanding, however, there is a profound spiritual meaning in each creative act described in Genesis. Each day of creation reminds us of the love and care with which God shaped every detail of the universe and invites us to recognize the sanctity of every living being and element of nature.

Finally, the creation of humankind "in the image of God" speaks to our capacity for reasoning, creativity, and morality. We are called to be stewards of the world we have been given, to use our intelligence and resources to preserve and enhance the divine creation. In this context, science is not an opposition to faith but a tool through which we can better understand and appreciate the gift of creation.

At the Universal Christian Church, we believe that faith and science can coexist harmoniously. Our faith guides and inspires us, while science provides us with the knowledge and tools to further explore and appreciate the created world. Together, we can build a future in which the wonder of divine creation is recognized and celebrated in every aspect of our lives.

In the first chapter of Genesis is a foundational text for many religious traditions, including the Universal Christian Church. This chapter narrates the creation of the world in six days and provides a symbolic and theological account that reflects the power and will of God. Let us examine how this narrative can be interpreted scientifically and how it aligns with the principles of our church.

Day 1: The Light

Biblical Text: "God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light."

Scientific Interpretation: The emergence of light can be seen as an allegory for the Big Bang, the cosmic event that gave rise to the universe. According to our scientific understanding, the Big Bang was the moment when all matter and energy in the universe expanded from an infinitely small point. The “light” represents the energy and elementary particles that formed during the first moments of existence.

Day 2: Separation of the Waters

Biblical Text: "God made a firmament that separated the waters from the waters."

Scientific Interpretation: This separation can be interpreted as the formation of the Earth's atmosphere. In scientific terms, the atmosphere is a “dome” that separates the water on the Earth's surface from the water present in the form of vapor. This process is crucial for creating a stable environment for life.

Day 3: Land and Sea

Biblical Text: "God said, 'Let the waters gather into one place, and let dry land appear.'"

Scientific Interpretation: This phase can be seen as the formation of continents and oceans on Earth. Through geological processes such as plate tectonics, land masses emerged from the oceans, creating the first continents.

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars

Biblical Text: "God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night."

Scientific Interpretation: The formation of the Sun, Moon, and stars can be interpreted through the process of stellar formation. Stars, including our own, form within nebulae, large clouds of gas and dust in space. Our Moon likely formed from a significant impact that expelled material from Earth.

Day 5: Marine Life and Birds

Biblical Text: "God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, and every winged bird."

Scientific Interpretation: This phase represents the beginning of complex life in the oceans and the emergence of birds. From an evolutionary perspective, marine life began with simple organisms that evolved into more complex creatures. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Mesozoic era.

Day 6: Land Animals and Humanity

Biblical Text: "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God created mankind in his own image."

Scientific Interpretation: This phase represents the appearance of land animals and humanity. The evolution of mammals and, eventually, humans was a long process that took millions of years. The creation of humans "in the image of God" can be interpreted as a reference to our capacity for reasoning, creativity, and moral ability, which distinguishes us from other animals.

Imagining a God who has no physical form and who created everything is a profound concept. According to many religious and philosophical traditions, God is a transcendent reality beyond space and time, incapable of being limited by a physical form.

Pure Essence: God might be conceived as pure essence or divine energy. In this vision, God is the source of all existence, a vital force that permeates everything and cannot be contained within a material form. This divine essence is omnipresent, immutable, and infinite.

Universal Consciousness: Another way to conceive a formless God is as a universal consciousness. From this perspective, God is an eternal and infinite mind that encompasses and sustains all realities. This divine consciousness is the source of wisdom, love, and creativity that guides the universe.

Infinite Light: God can also be imagined as infinite and divine light. This light is not confined by physical boundaries and represents divine purity, truth, and goodness. The divine light illuminates and guides existence, revealing the path of justice and truth.

Divine Love: Love is another powerful metaphor for understanding a formless God. God can be seen as infinite and unconditional love that embraces and sustains all creation. This divine love is the unifying force that connects all creatures and guides the universe toward harmony and peace.

Ordering Principle: God can also be conceived as the ordering principle that bestows structure and order upon chaos. This divine principle is the universal law that governs nature and physical laws, creating a harmonious and coherent universe.

Amen.

Eleazar I

First Patriarch of Universal Christian Church