Discovering the purpose in creation stories

The Jewish month of Tishray began this past new moon, on Oct. 4. On that day, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, our Jewish New Year of 5766.

Ten days later, we celebrated our holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, at-one-ment.

Finally, five days later, on the full moon of Tishray, we began our fall harvest festival of Sukkoth, the Feast of Booths.

This very full month of holy days concludes today with Shabbat Bereishith, the Sabbath during which we read the beginning of the Book of Genesis or, in Hebrew, Bereishith, the story of the creation of the universe.

Most Jews are not literalists. Most Jews do not believe that the universe was actually created 5,766 years ago. We do believe that our patriarch Abraham and matriarch Sarah lived about 4,000 years ago and that we descended from them.

Most Jews believe that the creation story as told in the Book of Genesis is an accounting of what the early Jews believed to be the creation story. They asked, just as we continue to ask today, basic questions such as: How did we get here? Where are we from? Who put us here? What is our purpose? How did this all come about? What is the nature of our universe? What is the nature of God?

In answering these same basic questions today, we have such awesome aids in discovering our origins, including the Hubble telescope as well as other eyes into our past. Disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, archaeology, anthropology, zoology, genetics and other critical studies allow us to understand our world with greater depth and with verifiable data and information.

These studies use scientific methodology and research to explore new theories and uncover deeper understandings.

Science does not diminish our belief system or our belief in a God or in the Mystery or in the Unknown.

Rather, scientific knowledge adds to our spiritual sense of Wonder and Awe. For me, God is this sense of Mystery, Wonder and Awe, and certainly God is the Unknown. Jews believe that the essence of God is certainly imageless and nameless. What could be more Unknowable and more Mysterious than that!

Science does not threaten my theology or religion. Teaching intelligent design or creationism in our public schools does threaten my religion. We are guaranteed freedom of religion in our wonderful country. We can teach our religion freely in our homes, synagogues, churches and mosques. However, teaching religious beliefs does not belong in our public schools.

Last month, I went to my son’s open house at Bangor High School, an exceptional school from which both of my sons have benefited enormously. I visited his ancient history class and afterward talked with his delightful and experienced teacher. She explained to me that before teaching about evolution, she talked about intelligent design. I was surprised and disturbed. Where is our country going?

I am so proud to be an American who benefits from the great freedoms we have. Yet, I also support our strong separations between church and state. Teaching intelligent design and creationism is teaching religion, not science. Ideas need to be tested, studied and proven, not disguised as science.

There is a difference between belief and the scientific process. The motivation behind pushing intelligent design in our schools is to push religion in our schools. We must not let hidden agendas sneak into our public classrooms.

Evolution and science add to our knowledge as questioning and curious beings. Scientific study also adds to our awareness of the world around us and its spiritual elements. Knowledge adds to our awareness of the Mystery, of all that still remains Unknown.

Rabbi Barry Krieger is the rabbinic facilitator for the Hillel organization at the University of Maine in Orono. He may be reached via bkrieger56@aol.com. Voices is a weekly commentary by Maine people who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.