Reference no: EM133793754

Homework: Religion Research Paper

Overview

For your course research paper, you will research and write about one of the non-traditional views of the days of Genesis 1 held by some Evangelicals and compare/contrast it with a traditional 24-hour day, young-Earth view of Genesis 1. Overall, the research paper includes the following three homeworks in a scaffolded sequence:

1) Research Paper: Topic Selection Homework;
2) Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Homework; and
3) Research Paper: Final Draft Homework.

Read all of the research paper instructions to familiarize yourself with the homework. After doing that, look over the list of non-traditional views below and select one for evaluation.

Instructions

For this homework, you will complete a final, 1,000 to 1,200 words paper about one of the non-traditional views of the days of Genesis 1 compared and contrasted with a traditional 24-hour day, young-Earth view of Genesis 1. For this paper, you must continue to follow current Turabian format, as this is the preferred format for the Society of Biblical Literature. The paper must be divided into the following sections:

A. A title page. See Explore: Turabian Format Quick Guide for help on how to format a Turabian title page.

B. A 100 to 150 words abstract that summarizes the purpose and findings of your paper.

C. A 350 to 400 words "Overview of [Non-traditional View]" section that documents the view's origin and its specific take on the days of Genesis 1. The goal of this section is to present the non-traditional view concisely but fairly, without editorial comment or counterarguments. Describe and discuss this view as if it were being presented by a well-informed proponent. Topics to address include, but are not limited to:

a. Where and when this view entered the theological discussion on origins.

b. The specific view of how the Hebrew word "day" is translated or understood in Genesis 1.

c. How Creation Week is treated as a whole (e.g., as a historical sequence, literary convention, non-historical myth, etc.).

d. Does this view make specific claims about the timing of creation in history or not? For example, does the view require an ancient Earth and universe, or does it specify if/when the days correspond to Earth history?

D. A 400 to 450 words "Response to [Non-traditional View]" section that critically evaluates the nontraditional view from young-Earth creation sources. The goal of this section is to engage with the non-traditional view, evaluating and responding to its claims. Topics to address include, but are not limited to:

a. How the non-traditional view interprets "day" accurately or inaccurately in Genesis 1.

b. Points of agreement/disagreement with the sequence of creation events in Genesis 1 as espoused by young-Earth creation.

c. Implications for changes to historical Biblical timelines, such as the age of creation, time of creation of Adam, and/or other events recorded in the early passages of Genesis (e.g., Noah's flood).

d. Does this view require significant changes to, or rethinking of, important Christian doctrines?

E. A 150 to 200 words conclusion summarizing your findings and providing your perspective of the views presented.