The origin of the universe has long been a point of discussion among Christians, with different views offering distinct ways to interpret the Genesis creation account. Young Earth Creationism (YEC) holds fast to a literal, six-day creation occurring roughly 6,000 years ago, emphasizing biblical consistency above all else. Old Earth Creationists (OEC) accept scientific evidence for a billions-year-old universe but often reject evolution, instead attributing life’s complexity to creative acts by God. Theistic Evolution, on the other hand, embraces modern science, including evolution, while interpreting Genesis as poetic or allegorical. Each approach wrestles with balancing the authority of Scripture and the discoveries of science, often prioritizing one over the other.

Fallen Earth Creationism (FEC) presents a compelling alternative by affirming both biblical literalism and modern science without compromise. In this view, Genesis 1 and 2 are taken as literal descriptions of an unfallen creation, distinct from the world we now inhabit. The Big Bang and evolutionary processes belong to the narrative of a fallen creation, which came into being as a result of Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. Since the Genesis account is presumed to reflect Adam’s perspective, it does not include details of the Big Bang or the fallen universe until after the Fall, as these events were outside Adam’s initial experience.

In this framework, the Big Bang can be understood as a divine act necessitated by the Fall, marking the beginning of the fallen cosmos in which we now live. The absence of its description in Scripture is explained by the context of Genesis: Adam, newly exiled from Eden, perceived his surroundings as consistent with the “very good” creation he had known, even if the natural world had been fundamentally altered by the Fall. This allows FEC to embrace both the scientific evidence for a universe that has developed over billions of years and the theological truths of a historical Adam and Eve, a literal Fall, and the redemptive plan of God.

FEC invites believers to see the Big Bang not as a challenge to their faith but as a testament to the breadth of God’s creative power and the consequences of human choice. By allowing the Genesis account and modern science to inform one another, FEC bridges the gap between faith and reason, offering a harmonious view of the cosmos that upholds both Scripture and scientific discovery. This approach provides a space where believers can marvel at the heavens, confident in the truth of God’s Word.