The point I am trying to make is that the universe was not created
in six literal days. Everything in the oral tradition that relates to the
spiritual significance of Bereish't is accurate, but, in my opinion, the
physical process by which HaShem's commands of creation were
manifested were governed by the laws of physics. (Of course, the
laws of physics, themselves, are also part of HaShem's creation.)
Here's how I see it, based on my very limited understanding of
Torah, Halacha, history, and the laws of physics. When Moshe Rabeinu
ascended to Mount Sinai to receive our Blessed Torah, HaShem
communicated to Moshe, besides the commandments and oral law,
the story of creation.
Now, think about it, for a second.
The Creator of the Universe communicates to His beloved Moshe the story
of creation! This was no mere dictation, but rather a majestic, glorious
vision of the entire creation story. Imagine a combined production of
the History Channel, Discovery Channel, Hollywood computer-generated
special effects, surround sound technology, IMAX theater visuals and audio,
and magnify this awesome experience by a billion, and you'd still be
nowhere near what Moshe must have seen and heard and felt as
HaShem was running for him a replay of the story of creation in
fast-forward (so to speak), starting with "Let there be Light" (Big
Bang), on through star dust cooling and gathering to form planets,
suns, constellations, atmospheres, oceans, flora, fauna, and culminating
in the creation of mankind that will appreciate and worship HaShem,
all under HaShem's benign and loving guidance.
By all scientific accounts, the first few billion years of creation are not
particularly interesting, in the sense that during this time mostly what
happens is that cosmic dust is cooling, slowing down from the Big Bang,
and attracted together to form planets. So you can imagine it would
make sense to run this part of the "tape" faster. As you get closer to our
time, it makes more sense to slow down the "tape," as more interesting
things are starting to happen. An atmosphere and oceans appear on
planet Earth. Vegetation covers the ground. Life forms begin to
appear (i.e. are created by HaShem) inside and outside the oceans.
Gigantic dinosaurs roam the Earth (imagine Moshe experiences this
breathtaking sight just like the awestruck guests of Professor Alan in
the movie Jurassic Park).
At this point, the Torah stops the flow of the narrative and emphasizes
that HaShem
also created "HaTaninim HaGedolim." The literal
translation of HaTaninim HaGedolim is "big alligators." You can interpret
it literally, but I interpret it as an allusion to the dinosaurs, which, to
Moshe looked like very big alligators. And so the Torah tells us that
even these majestic, gigantic, incredible creatures,that only Moshe was
privileged to see, and that today we, too, can see thanks to computer
animation, were part of HaShem's creation, so that when our generation,
scientifically advanced, but, sadly, morally and spiritually backward,
discovers the remains of those marvelous creatures, instead of doubting
the story of Creation, it will serve for us as an affirmation of the timeless
truth of the Torah.
(Sadly, we know that exactly the opposite has happened. The discovery
of dinosaurs' bones only served to give ammunition to the atheist
ignoramuses in their relentless war against HaShem's Word and His
believers.)
As the story of Creation approaches the creation of Mankind, the
fast-forward of the "tape" slows down further and further, because
this is the most interesting part of the story, and it is saved for last.
Whereas the first "day" lasted in reality billions of years, the sixth "day"
lasted tens of thousands of years. Moshe witnessed tribes of pre-modern
man inventing primitive tools and weapons, hunting, gathering, and
cultivating the land, exploiting HaShem's world, ruling over the beasts
of the field and the fish of the sea. That's where the vision of the
story of creation ends.
That is my interpretation. Back to your comment.
Please elaborate on this. I'm not sure of what point you are making.
My point is this: If the science-friendly interpretation above causes you
to have doubts, is confusing, and clashes with your faith in HaShem, then
don't believe in it. Stick to the literal interpretation of the world created
in six literal days. Because either way, the spiritual meaning of the story
of Creation is far more important than the actual physical processes through
which our world was created. The concepts of Havdala (separation between
opposites such as Light and Darkness, Good and Evil) and the inherent
goodness of creation (at the conclusion of every day HaShem was pleased
with his creation of that day) are the essence of creation, and are relevant
for every generation, in particular ours, which is practicing such abominations
as political correctness, multiculturalism, moral equivalence, and the denial
of HaShem's rule over this world.
Otherwise, if the above vision inspires you, gives you a better appreciation,
an expansion of consciousness, affirms your belief in the sanctity and truth
of the Torah, then maybe you can consider it a pausible interpretation of
the story of creation, which agrees with the limited body of knowledge
(limited compared to HaShem's omniscience) that diligent and curious
students of physics, astronomy, archeology and biology have accumulated.
Whatever strengthens your faith---that is what you should believe.
In any event, this is all speculation and philosophizing we can discuss
at our leisure over a cup of coffee and cake
after we've taken
care of more urgent and critical matters, such as eliminating the evil
Erev Rav hellenists ruling our people, after which fulfilling the commandments
of eliminating the evil Muslim Amalek beasts, purging the Temple Mount of
their abominations, and building the third and final Temple will follow
automatically and easily.
Topic: Bible Is Scientifically Accurate!!! (Read 7309 times)