Genesis Response

1. What meaning are associated with light and darkness in the first chapter of Genesis?

The literal associations are simply night and day. Interpretation can take us further and bring forth the allegory of Good and Evil. It is a common theme throughout religious history and is often represented by light and dark, day and night. For example, the Egyptians represented Good and Evil with their Gods, Horus and Set. Horus was "The Sun," "The Light," "The Good One," and Set was his compliment "The Moon," "The Dark," "Evil." In Genesis, the connections between good, evil, light and dark are not implicit or even strong, but in the context of religious history, they are brought out.

4. What are the implications of the relationship established between humans and the rest of creation?

Genesis 1:28 clearly places humans as the highers of the rest of creation, telling them to replenish and subdue the earth and to have dominion (rule) over it and its animals. Historically, the implications could very well have meant that humans should harvest the earth and the animals as they need for food or as tools, however in the current generation, the verse could be taken to mean that we should develop as much as possible regardless of habitat or animal and environmental concerns.
Genesis does not directly state that animals have no soul, but it can easily be inferred because when God "...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7) he neglected to bless the animals with the same gift. This gives way to human behavior that neglects to treat animals with respect or at least civility because they are on a lower level. This is in contrast with other religions such as those of the Native American's, which respect animals based on the fact that they depend on them, or Hinduism, which places animals on an almost equal plane because of their connection to Brahma.

5. Why do you think God links "the knowledge of good and evil" with death?

The knowledge of good and evil is linked to death due to the death of innocence and the way of living they had that occurs when good and evil are discovered. Before Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they had no conceptions as to good or evil, almost like infants. They were relatively morally indifferent to everything, such as their nakedness. Things were viewed simply as they were. However, after they ate the fruit, that indifference and innocence died because now, they had to recognize the difference and behave "well" because they were aware of good and evil. Also, their way of living (Things are as they are) died as well because they now were required to make decisions and judgments based on the knowledge of good and evil.