In Chapter 2: Creation, I several problems, if not questions, about his claims. I would call myself a skeptic, in general, but only because Plantinga states so many things that are assumed facts. When I read C. S. Lewis, he rarely rattles off things that we should just, "know because of being alive." Lewis rights from a better perspective of humility...that he simply wonders about God's creation and allows us to decide whether we can agree with him. Plantinga, on the other hand, assumes such things like Jesus Christ mediating creation, or God resting intermittently during the days of creation. He says that, "Each of these days also has a night. And God rests then, too?" What??? Plantinga assumes entirely that the word 'day' during creation, referred to 12-hr days of which we have today. The problem with this assumption is that, more than likely, these days were not 12-hr days! They could have easily been 24-hr days...or even an unspecified amount of time. The original language for this term does not specify how long a day was. For example, "In the day of your fathers..." Anyway, I felt that this bizarre statement was made on feeble ground. I enjoy hearing the bizarre and provocative, but not if they are based on feeble assumptions.
The other thing I had a problem with was the mediation of creation by Jesus Christ. I do not necessarily disagree with Plantinga on the statement, I just dislike the evidence on which he makes this statement. "...Christ is not only the son of God but also the "wisdom of God" and the "word of God."" Okay so far..."These metaphors suggest that the work of Jesus Christ represents the intelligence and expressiveness of the triune God." Here's where I have a problem. Plantinga assumes that intelligence or expressiveness could simply not come from anything other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is indeed a from of God, but not the only one. There is a burning bush, as well as what Jacob wrestles with. There are the words in the book that inspire me to be more faithful and there is are the words the hobo on the street speaks to me. To just assume that Jesus is the only "one" who can function in this way is very assuming.
There are other things such as this that I have encountered since delving into the book, but I feel as though I must express my frustration. I will try to get over these things, and I believe that I can. I know that Plantinga does not base his faith on these little issues, I guess I just wich he were C. S. Lewis...
I think it's good that you are confronting Plantinga on issues you don't agree on because you are examining what he's saying. Concerning the words day and night, could Plantinga have used night to emphasize the fact God rests? Because even when not taken literally, for every day there must be a night.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you can find areas where Plantinga assumes things too. The God resting at the end of every day seemed odd to me as well. I agree that this point is weakly supported. And I also agree with Erica that perhaps he is just trying to (over) emphasize that God rests.
ReplyDeleteI also wondered about God resting at night after he worked during the day. I have never heard of that before and I think it draws away from the real importance of the Sabbath day, which is for spiritual rest. As far as Jesus working in creation, however, I agree with Plantinga, and I believe that this is Scriptural as well. You agreed that Christ is the "Wisdom" and the "Word" of God. Remember that each creature was called forth by God's Word. He spake and it was done. Look at Hebrews 11:3 for instance: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Also, it might be helpful to check out Proverbs 8 (particularly verses 22-31), and every time you read the word "wisdom," replace it with the name "Jesus Christ." I hope that this will help your understanding of the issue!
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