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BOOK WEBSITE: https://ygodallowsevil.com


The author maintains that his arguments strictly align with the findings of both natural science and the core precepts of Christian orthodoxy (summary available here: https://ygodallowsevil.com/the-fall)? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Yes, the book’s arguments align Christian orthodoxy with the findings of natural science—evolution in particular. Many people argue that if the evolutionary timeline as revealed by the fossil record is true, then the biblical account of direct creation in Genesis must be false. But if the entire material universe transformed from a ‘timeless’ state of being to a ‘time-based’ one as a consequence of original sin, then it is moot to argue that the evolutionary timeline conflicts with direct creation.

To truly grasp why this is the case, you have to move past conceptualizing all of conceivable reality through a time-based lens. This is isn’t easy to do, because our entire experience of life has thus far been time-based. The book helps the reader to envision a type of existence that isn’t governed by time. Once you can conceptualize ‘transcendent being’ in this manner, there is no longer a logical conflict between Genesis and the scientific findings of astronomers, evolutionary biologists, and others.

I don't think that this book actually aligns with Christian orthodoxy. Popular Christian church fathers, such as Saint Basil the Great, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and even Saint Augustine, have writings in which they acknowledge the possibility of suffering and death in the animal kingdom, prior to the fall.

It's better to say that there was never truly a consensus on the matter.

But further, the book of Genesis is many centuries older than Christianity itself. Which means that the early church isn't actually the appropriate context to turn to, in order to understand Genesis and the Fall.

Also, the natural sciences of course do not include discussions of mankind existing in a timeless state, nor a history in which there was no suffering or death in the animal kingdom.

I agree not wholly, but in some portion I agree with both natural science and the core precepts of Christian orthodoxy. Because every religion's core precepts are based on some natural science only, they may vary according to situation, place, and time.

For the most part, I agree. The author did well to reference both Christian literature and scientific documents in this book. I guess, for the most part, the book tries to strike a balance on both.