Thank you to everyone who joined our session on the Creation Stories in Genesis, where we explored key themes, context, and authorship. Our session recording and PowerPoint presentation are available for anyone would would like to revisit the discussion.

QUICK GENESIS OVERVIEW

Key Takeaways:

• Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Bible (what Christians commonly call the “Old Testament”).

• Genesis is divided into three main parts:

  • Primeval History (Genesis 1-11)

  • The Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36)

  • The Joseph Story (Genesis 37-50)

CREATION IN CONTEXT & SOURCE CRITICISM

Key Takeaways:

• The creation stories written in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are just one of many “creation stories.” The Enuma Elish, a Babylonian creation story, shares several creation motifs with the Genesis narratives.

• Traditionally, authorship of Genesis has been attributed to Moses. However, biblical scholars propose that the first five books of the Bible were composed by multiple authors and later edited together to form the cohesive text we have today.

POWERPOINT FOR VIEW & DOWNLOAD LINKED HERE

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

Please join us for one of our upcoming sessions! Registration will close 24 hours prior to the session time. Pre-work will be sent one week prior to session.

The Fall: Register here

• September 20, 9:00am (PT)

• September 23, 4:00pm (PT)

Gender in Genesis: Register here

• October 25, 9:00am (PT)

• October 28, 4:00pm (PT)

Topic TBD: Register here

• November 15, 9:00am (PT)

• November 18, 4:00pm (PT)

What better way to start than at the beginning? Join us for our first Agnostic Bible Study session, which will focus on the creation stories.

Register for one of our two live sessions.*

• August 23, 9:00am (PT).

• August 26, 4:00pm (PT), register here!

Note:

• *We offer two session times to create the most availability. Both sessions will cover the same discussion questions and presentation.

• Meeting Zoom link will be made available closer to the time of the session.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Welcome and overview of session

• Guided discussion on Genesis 1 & 2

• Brief presentation on history and authorship of Genesis

• Closing comments and questions

PRE-WORK

[Optional but Encouraged]

Read and assess Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 (NRSVUE)

As you read each chapter, consider:

• How is God described?

• What actions does God take?

• What is the relationship between God and creation?

• What is the relationship between humans and the earth?

• When are humans created?

• How are humans created?

• What is the order of creation?

• What other observations do you have?

Download: Genesis 1 & 2

147KB ∙ PDF file

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Contains reflection questions Contains full text for Genesis 1-2:4 (NRSVue)

Download

Interested in joining the Agnostic Bible Study (ABS)? Start with our orientation materials. Our meeting recording and PowerPoint slides will provide insight into how we will approach our study, guardrails for our space, and expectations for participation.

Sign up for our next session, linked here!

Orientation Deck

7.11MB ∙ PDF file

Download

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These orientation sessions are designed to introduce our format, core concepts, and participation guidelines. You’ll learn how readings and discussions are approached, with practical guidance to engage respectfully and productively in future sessions.

Each session covers the same information. Choose the time that works best for you:

• August 2: 9:00am (PT), register here!

• August 5: 4:00pm (PT), register here!

Although not required, we encourage all new participants to attend an orientation before joining a study session. It’s a great opportunity to learn what to expect, ask questions, and become familiar with the collaborative discussion format.

We look forward to welcoming you and exploring these conversations together!