Death Before the Fall: Biblical Literalism and the Problem of Animal Suffering

Osborn (Anarchy and Apocalypse) approaches the question of how to make sense of animal suffering in a world created by a beneficent God. In the first two-thirds of the book, he argues that biblical literalism and creationism often force a view that animal suffering is a result of the curse of the Fall. Osborn rejects this and claims that creationism is actually a manifestation of scientism that demands literal scientific readings of Genesis that do damage to the text without providing novel insights. In the last third, Osborn turns to animal suffering, which he largely defines throughout the work as moments of predatory death. Using C.S. Lewis, Job, and a theology of the crucifixion and Sabbath, Osborn offers a response to animal suffering that does not require seeing their actions as the result of a curse. A more sustained and broader definition of suffering as well as a clearer picture of what the Christian ethical response should be would strengthen his claims. The book will be of particular interest to those seeking a gentle but faithful critique of creationism. (Mar.)