Death Before the Fall

January 20, 2014
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.

Starred review from February 15, 2014

Osborn (Anarchy and Apocalypse) has written a thoroughly distinctive book on the suffering of animals--the cruelty we impose on them and that they impose on one another. His ingenious argument is that a too-literal reading of Genesis tends to make us too complacent about animal suffering, and a more nuanced, open approach makes us better advocates for animal rights and better witnesses of the proposed coming redemption. VERDICT Although written with an eye to Osborn's Seventh-Day Adventist community, this compassionate volume should speak widely to Christians, whose environmentalism can usually use a little bolstering. Highly recommended for church groups of all denominations.

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