SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE.

Evening Star, Issue 19662, 15 September 1927, Page 11

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE.

TO TUB EDITOE tMr, —Dr Pettit must havo been in a pugnacious mood when he delivered his lecture on tho above. After taking the Creation story in Genesis from tho castiron mould which it has until of late occupied, he throws over it *i Jiulo ot eloquence, and regards the result apoetry. I havo heard of chfleient interpretations of Scripture, but lo regard any part of it-—especially a cardinal fact, upon which the whole Christian religion is based—as poetry is indeed new to me and astounding in its audacity. May 1 ask if tho first chapter of Genesis is poetry? Is the second and different one also poetry? Then one cannot help asking just where the poetry ends and concrete fact begins. If the creation of the universe is poetry, may not tho figures of our first parents, Adam and Eve, also merge into obscurity in the samo accommodating way? And if these figures arc rather poetical, than concrete reality, what becomes of tho faff of man from grace? The disappearance of these things deals a staggering blow at tire Atonement and the miracles associated with Christ’s life and death. 1 am afraid that, regarding tho first chapter of Genesis as poetry helps not at all, and will not hinder the sceptical from looking on tho Bible story of the Creation as myth pure and simple. Perhaps this is really what Dr Pettit meant. Dr Pettit says that science can find no flaw in tho "first chapter of Genesis. I am of opinion that there is rather not one statement in that chapter which agrees with the verdict of science. But without going into detail, allow mo to point to one “fact” of Genesis i. which is flatly contradicted by science. !t is that birds were made before, and inhabited this earth before animals and creeping things. 'The indisputable “ record of the rocks” shows that reptiles and animals made their appearance long ages before birds, but the Bible reverses what we know lo havo boon tho true operation of the forces. Then will Dr Pettit explain how science is to lie made to subscribe to a world filled with “grass and herb yielding seed after his kind, and trees yielding fruit,” etc., before there was a sun to propagate tho growth to maturity of these things? Science docs not affirm that man was the last act of creation or tho last actor to appear on the evolutionary stage; but the Biblo does. 1 cannot lay claim to any large amount of scientific; knowledge, hut tho points hero stressed will, without making ton great a demand on your space, servo to show that then? aro flaws aplenty in the first chapter of Genesis. Dr Pettit was certainly depending on the ignorance and prejudice of Ids audience when lie affirmed that science could find no flaw in Genesis. One is reminded of Huxley’s remark on the same subject when "ho said; “One can only _ stand aside and marvel at _the flexibility of a language which will allow of such diverse interpretations.” If Dr Pettit will explain the points brought out by this letter and enlighten those of your readers who are interested wherein science and tho Bible lio down together in peace and harmony, bo will bo doing a great service to ns all.—l am, etc., September 11. E.M.E,