Genesis Creation and Early Man by Fr Seraphim Rose Complete

GENESIS, CREATION AND EARLY MAN

HIEROMONK SERAPHIM ROSE 1934-1982

GENESIS, CREATION and EARLY MAN The Orthodox Christian Vision FR. SERAPHIM ROSE

SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA BROTHERHOOD 2OOO

Copyright 2000 by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood First Printing Address all correspondence to:

St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood P. O. Box 70 Platina, California 96076 Front cover: The creation of the sun, moon and stars ("lights in the firmament of the heavens") on the Fourth Day of Creation. Wall painting from the Far Monastery of St. John the Forerunner, Greece. Back cover: Fr. Seraphim Rose right after being ordained to the priesthood. St. Herman Monastery church, Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, April 11/24, 1977.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Rose, Fr. Seraphim (1934-1982). Genesis, creation and early man: the Orthodox Christian vision. Library of Congress Catalogue Number: 00-190128 ISBN 1-887904-02-6

Contents Editor's Preface: THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK by Hieromonk Damascene

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1. The Intellectual Milieu of Fr. Seraphim's Formative Years

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2.From the Evolutionary Worldview to the Orthodox Worldview 3. The Roots of Evolutionism 4. The Mind of the Holy Fathers 5. Evolution and Chiliasm 6. "Traditionalists" in Favor of Evolution 7. The Scientific Side of the Question 8. The "Survival Course" and the Courses on Genesis 9. The Plan of the Book 10. Developments in the 1980s 11. Developments in the 1990s: Phillip E. Johnson 12. Changes in the Orthodox World 13. Beyond Darwinism . ; 41 14. The Present Book 15. This Book's Primary Contribution to the World 16. The Nature of Man • 46

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Introduction: FR. SERAPHIM ROSE AND 21ST-CENTURY SCIENCE by Phillip E. Johnson

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1. The Mechanism of Evolution: Mutation and Selection 54 2. The Common Ancestry Thesis 58 3. Evolution (in the Scientific Sense) Is Inherently Godless 60 4.Conclusion: Can Science Tell Us a True Story about Origins?

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CONTENTS

PARTI AN ORTHODOX PATRISTIC COMMENTARY ON GENESIS Editor's Note Foreword: WHY STUDY THE BOOK OF GENESIS?

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Chapter One: How TO READ GENESIS

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1. Approach 69 2. The Holy Fathers: Our Key to the Understanding v of Genesis 72 3. Basic Principles of Our Approach to Understanding Genesis 82 4. Literal vs. Symbolical Interpretations 84 5. The Nature of the Text 88 Chapter Two: THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION (GENERAL OBSERVATIONS)

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1. Introduction 2. General Remarks about the Six Days 3. Why Six Days? Chapter Three: THE Six DAYS (DAY BY DAY) 1. 2. 3. 4.

The First Day (Genesis 1:1-5) The Second Day (Genesis 1:6-8) The Third Day (Genesis 1:9-13) The Fourth Day (Genesis 1:14-19)

123 5. The Fifth Day (Genesis 1:20-23) 6. The Sixth Day (Genesis 1:24-31)

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