Prelapsarian carnivores
In a discussion of NT Wright’s new book on evil, the question of pre-fall carnivores came up. Both Wright and his respondent basically agreed that animals killed and ate other animals before the fall, and that this was not incompatible with Yahweh’s judgment that this was “very good.” But both also emphasized that this was part of the immaturity of the original creation. That’s as good a way as I’ve heard to make sense of the biblical data: Animals were created to kill and eat one another; that’s good, but it’s not best.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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