Comparing Schlimm's This Strange And Sacred Scripture

The goodness and worthiness of the land, plants, and fruit that God created is proven to be so in both Genesis 1 as well as thought-out theories from This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities by Matthew Richard Schlimm. Through the knowing of the land being God’s creation, readers first understand that every plant, fruit, vegetable, and grain of grass was created by God, showing that He is both well-ordered and detailed, creating every single type of living thing as well as strategizing how it lives and grows. God creates beauty through nature and the land. Secondly, Schlimm explains that, “The first three days, or categories [the dry land being created on the third day], describe the realms in which

Readers first know this because humans are not merely made from the blood of a slaughtered god or just merely existed like some believe, but created by a God to do His work, also showing humanity’s worth since they are created in the image of Him. Therefore, people were created naturally caring, loving, and just. Secondly, it gives humanity a worthy and thought-out identity. Schlimm explains that, “We are made in the image of God, blessed with infinite worth, even though we are, like animals, mere creatures.” (Schlimm 42) They are also created to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28) Humans without a good Creator are not naturally equal or good. “Natural Selection” comes into play, forcing humanity to fight against each other to survive, rather than work together to accomplish the work God as given them. There is also evidence to show that humans were created to be good. Humans are just as valuable as the rest of God’s creation, which are also considered good and beautiful. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) Like the non-violent God and Son of God, men and women are not naturally made to compete with each other, but to love and form communities. Schlimm explains, “Christians can subscribe to such a line of thought, seeing human communities as divine gifts that let us better reflect the God of Genesis 1, who sees all humans as having infinite worth, who sees violence as unnecessary, and who has blessed all forms of life.” (Schlimm 38) We are also able to do good because we were created by a good God, in Him image. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27) Humans