Seven Glorious Days: A Scientist Retells the Genesis Creation
Story by Karl W. Giberson drew my attention by the blurb on the back
cover:
"This provocative work recasts the ancient Genesis creation story within
the framework of contemporary science. Seven Glorious Days takes
readers on a grand ride through the history of the universe--from the big bang,
to the origin of stars and planets, to the appearance of living creatures
bearing the image of God and living in community."
There was far too much science in this book and not enough spirituality to
put it in the 231[1] Dewey range, in my opinion. I would have classified it in
the 523's [2] since there was nary a mention of God at all. The final chapter,
"The Seventh, Final Day of Creation" resembled a new age blissfest where
Giberson revealed that the greatest power known to man is the power of love. I
had to withhold swearing as I cast my glance heavenward as I read about the
healing and restorative powers of love. What does love have to do with the
origin of the cosmos? Where was the scientific analysis comparing the
opening verses of Genesis to the astronomical record? That's the kind of book I
was expecting. Instead I got the lowdown on atoms and molecules and spinning
globs of molten mercury--Giberson did go overboard with the spinning globs
imagery--while the religious analysis was hardly touched upon. I cannot complain
about the science, even though it was a tad boring, however I did finish the
book in two days so it was engaging enough in its presentation of cosmology. I
appreciated most of all the detail given to the Drake equation, which Giberson
acknowledged was "little more than a series of educated guesses multiplied
together". In that I agree. Seven Glorious Days was a quick read but
didn't give me the science-versus-Genesis
[1] Scientific and Christian viewpoints of the origin of the universe
[2] Expanding universe theories (including the Big Bang)
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