Video Transcript: Dr. Feddes Reflects on Dr. Clouser's view of creation

Hi, I'm David Feddes, reflecting on Dr. Roy Clouser's views that he expresses  about creation. Dr. Clouser says that a fundamentalist approach to Scripture is  based on the encyclopedic assumption, the notion that scripture contains  inspired and thus infallibly true statements about virtually every conceivable  subject matter. Now rejecting this approach, Dr. Clouser suggests that the  biblical writings are first foremost and always about religion. In his view, Genesis focuses on God's covenant and does not provide scientific information. It does  not answer our scientific curiosity. Well, Dr. Clouser is right, that the Bible should not be viewed as an encyclopedia that provides specific truths on virtually every  subject matter. The Bible is not an encyclopedia. It's not a science textbook. It's  not a political charter. It's not a psychology manual. God does not intend the  Bible to answer all of our questions on every conceivable subject. Dr. Clouser is  right about that. However, although the Bible is not an encyclopedia, it does  make statements about events. And those statements about events are true.  While Scripture reveals God's covenantal purposes, it also describes the events  that really happened. Genesis 1 gives a brief majestic account of the Creator's  work in the beginning, and it says that God made everything in six days. Exodus 20:11, declares, in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. Now, Dr. Clouser views the six days of creation as a  literary framework, not as a literal sequence of events. This view is held by some contemporary Christians, but has not been held by most Christians throughout  most of history, belief in six actual creation days has been held and continues to  be held by many people who are not fundamentalists, and do not hold what Dr.  Clouser calls the encyclopedic assumption. As President of Christian Leaders  College and Provost of Christian leaders Institute, I'm pleased that our students  can study with a brilliant Christian philosopher such as Dr. Clouser. I trust that  he'll stimulate hard thinking on many important subjects. At the same time, Dr.  Clouser's views of Genesis and creation are his own and differ from mine and  from other faculty and administration. Studying his views will help to understand  the way some Christians think, but his views should not be regarded as the  stance of Christian Leaders.