Walton writes, \u201cThe Bible considers it much more important to say that God has made everything work<\/em> rather than being content to say that God made the physical stuff. The purpose, the teleology (which is the most important part), is located and observed in the functional, not the material\u201d (p.144).<\/p>\n Walton also emphasizes the important status this theological viewpoint gives to humans. \u201cHe has tailored the world to our needs, not to his (for he has no needs)\u201d (p.149). I suspect it might not be inaccurate to summarize Walton\u2019s point in the following way: From the standpoint of material<\/em>, human beings are a tiny, almost unnoticeable speck in the universe; but if we ask about the purpose<\/em> of creation, then humans and their relationship to God can and should be thought of as central. And so that\u2019s just one more reason why a theology of creation ought to focus more on questions of purpose<\/em> rather than mere material origins<\/em>.<\/p>\n In related news, I\u2019m happy to say that John Walton will be speaking at Butler in the Spring!<\/p>\n Proposition seventeen in John Walton\u2019s book The Lost World of Genesis One emphasizes that the theology of creation that one can elaborate on the basis of his understanding of Genesis 1 is stronger rather than weaker. In support of his point, Walton appeals to an Orson Scott Card novel, Prentice Alvin, which features a dialogue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/7622297540113836091-8790966213201055274?l=exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com\")