My biggest complaint about the 2nd edition:
Fr. Seraphim did not want the issue to be about evolution. He wanted us to see how the Holy Fathers thought about and taught about Genesis before the theory of evolution ever existed.
The 2nd edition is saturated with repeated reminders of the existence of the theory of evolution.
The 2nd edition junks up (clogs up) Fr. Seraphim's work with heaps of more scientific evidence against the theory of evolution. Added quotes from Holy Fathers are carelessly thrown onto the heap. And the essence is lost... Fr. Seraphim wanted to avoid a creation vs. evolution debate. Fr. Seraphim wants us to see the Church teaching of creation as it was before the theory of evolution ever even existed.
The holy Fathers viewed Genesis without ever having heard of some idea of men coming from monkeys.
It is nearly impossible for us in our times to see Genesis like the Holy Fathers, outside the backdrop of Darwin. But this is what Fr. Seraphim wanted us to see – he wanted us to see what the Church Fathers saw.
The 1st edition does better job of reaching Fr. Seraphim's goal.
Also, the 2nd edition does not convey the reality of the connection of the beginning of time with the end of time. I saw it in the 2nd edition only because I knew to look for it.
Used 1st editions are today (2015) sold on Amazon for a reasonable price. less than $50
Order the 1st edition: specify:
• blue cover
• published year 2000
• 708 pages
• 1st printing
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