Jewish - Genesis

• ORTHODOX

  Literalistic views of the story - believe these stories are true accounts of the origin of the world.

  Believe they were revealed to Moses by God and argue different accounts to contradict each other as we haven’t understood them properly.

  See Genesis accounts as a historical fact, so would have difficulty accepting modern scientific ideas.
• REFORM

  Liberal views and question if Moses was the actual writer of Genesis.

  Argue that there are different stories as they were written by different authors and only put in the Torah at a later date.

  Accept scientific theories like Big Bang and evolution - but suggest God started universe through the Big Bang and guided creation of life through evolution.
• Jews believe there is one God who is the source and purpose of all life.
• Book of Genesis is the first book in the Torah and tells two different stories about the origin of the world.
• First creation story (Genesis 1) - God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day - goes from day one, “God created the heaven and the earth” to day six of creation, when he created humans imago dei.
• Second creation story (Genesis 2) - gives different account of God’s creation, with Adam and Eve being created and placed in the Garden of Eden.
• The second creation story also includes the story of the fall where Adam and Eve disobey God and eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.