Creationism - National Center for Science Education
Creationism - National Center for Science Education
Creationism - National Center for Science Education
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Was there any way by which all desirable ends should be met? Only one suggests itself. God might lead<br />
inspired men to use such language, that, without revealing scientific facts in advance, it might accurately<br />
accommodate itself to them, when discovered... If there be terms or phrases which, without suggesting<br />
puzzling enigmas, shall yet contain within themselves ample space <strong>for</strong> all the demands of growing human<br />
knowledge; if the Bible may, from imperfect human language, select terms which may hold hidden truths,<br />
till ages to come shall disclose the inner meaning,—this would seem to be the best solution of this difficult<br />
problem. And when we come to compare the language of the Bible with modern science, we find just this<br />
to be the fact. [1886:114-116]<br />
Pierson goes on to show, using numerous examples, that despite its non-scientific<br />
language, the Bible is indeed scientifically inerrant. “Again we say, show us one<br />
undoubted fact, revealed by scientific studies <strong>for</strong> two thousand years, that cannot be<br />
harmonized with the word of God!” He devotes considerable attention to the Genesis<br />
account of creation, explaining how the six creation days, interpreted as geologic ages,<br />
are fully in accord with the latest discoveries of science.<br />
In evaluating the evidences <strong>for</strong> Christianity, says Pierson, we must prize<br />
“perspicuity” of argument and evidence; also, “It is safe to distrust any argument that<br />
insults common sense.” “It is always possible, if one has a thought worth anything, to put<br />
it in plain words; and why not in good, homely Anglo-Saxon?” (1886:24). After all, this<br />
is what God Himself did when he divinely inspired the translaters of the Authorized<br />
(King James) Bible.<br />
“From the facts it becomes evident that the Christian faith, like science, rests upon<br />
clear and positive facts.” So says F. Bettex, who goes on to write that “the Christian<br />
religion, like science, is founded on clear, daily-recurring facts, easily recognizable by an<br />
impartial observer” (1901:249, 252). Bettex shows that though Darwinism is refuted by<br />
geology, the Genesis account is in perfect accord with science.<br />
The Biblical final resolution (not annihilation) of all elements through excessive heat (see St. Peter ii), and<br />
the new Creation which will result from it, is a scientific, astronomical, chemical, absolutely correct<br />
conception. Spectrum analysis, the science of the elements revealed by fire, is a true image of the last<br />
judgment. [1901:186]<br />
Bettex goes on to present scientific explanations of various biblical concepts. “The Bible<br />
and nature in nowise contradict each other, though many things in nature contradict what<br />
men have put into the Bible” (1901:187).<br />
Gerald Winrod presented many examples of science in the Bible in <strong>Science</strong>,<br />
Christ and the Bible (1929). “<strong>Science</strong> is exact knowledge, gained and verified. True<br />
science never asserts; it always proves” (1929:33). <strong>Science</strong> is proved knowledge gained<br />
from the facts of nature—or from the facts contained in the Bible.<br />
When blatant men of science have attacked the Bible, some timid believers have sought to politely excuse<br />
themselves by saying that the Bible is not meant to be a scientific book. There is no reason why we should<br />
apologize <strong>for</strong> the Bible. It is in harmony with every true fact of science, but, of course, it would be<br />
expecting too much to hope to reconcile the Bible with the theories of all the scientists. (1929:47-48]<br />
We cannot read the books which Moses wrote, without being impressed with the fact that he was one of the<br />
greatest scientists that ever lived. Score of instances can be pointed to in the writings of Moses wherein he<br />
gave voice to some of the most gigantic scientific truths, which modern science knows anything about.<br />
[1929:84]