Are we learning from history?

   By Bernie Dehler                  9-17-07

  I think "Theistic Evolution" is something that Christians should seriously consider, based on modern biological evidence for evolution (common descent with modification).  (Click here to read an article I wrote regarding three strong biological evidences.) 

  There is a good history lesson in what happens when religion fights established scientific facts... and religion loses.  It is the case of Galileo.

  Galileo discovered that the earth rotates around the sun (click here for the story) in the 1600's (400 years ago).  The earth is not the center of the solar system (or the universe), as common belief held.  There are a few Bible verses that could be cited to argue that the earth is the center of the universe and the solar system:

Psalm 104:5
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

(The Earth is not on a foundation, and it is racing around the Sun.  The Earth certainly does move… and spins at constant velocity…)

Ecclesiastes 1:5
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.

(Actually, it is the Earth rotating, not the Sun moving around the Earth or hurrying anywhere in respect to the Earth.)

  Did Christians argue with this new scientific revelation, because of their (false) interpretation of the Bible?  Yes.  Were they wrong? Yes. 

  Is the modern scientific hypothesis of evolution in the same situation?  I'm still studying, but I think it is.  I think there is room for "theistic evolution."  That means that God designed everything by way of evolution, rather than "poof" creating things from no pre-existing biological matter.  (The Bible says God formed Adam from the Earth-- that is what is at issue (see footnote).  Is this another case of a literal interpretation of the Bible being incorrect, as proved by science?  I think it may well be.)

  Some cling to a literal interpretation of Genesis because of the "terrible" consequences to theology if they don't.  In other words, they are trying to protect the Bible (as if God needed protection from mere mortals).  I'm not so sure there should be such panic there, and I'll save that for other articles. 

  The main point of this article: religion has fought science before, and was wrong.  Let's not repeat past mistakes.  The literal interpretation of the Genesis account of God creating man from from a scoop of dirt could be just as wrong, and the implications are even much more impactful for the Christian faith than that of the situation with Galileo.

  For more on sciligion and related topics, click here.

Footnote:

Genesis 2
7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Comments

[Aaron]

Certainly not! That is of course to the question: Are we learning from history?

Having the faith to move a mountain or subscribing heartily to Proverbs 3:5-6, should never dissuade you from seeking the truth in whatever manifestation that takes. I believe that if you open your mind, the evidence of God is everywhere in science. Let's take the Bible for instance (this should upset a few of my brother and sister in Christ) if we accept strict literalism, without exercising any degree of critical thinking, we must come to the ultimate conclusion that God makes mistakes (how else would he have selected to enter into an eternal covenant with such a thick necked, rebellious people). However, when you read the Bible with a critical eye you see both the didactic nature, the historical nature and most of all the divine nature of the various books.

Those that do not embrace the most simple and overwhelming truth (that God is so amazing that we can seek knowledge of Him our whole life and yet never even begin to embrace His infinite complexity which is manifest in our scientific universe) spend way too much time trying to put Him in a box of ignorance, to make Him finite enough that they are not constantly reminded of their smallness by comparison. These are the leaders of your "loonyligion".

Loonyligionists are the group that see only the sins of homosexuality, bestiality, adultery and idolatry in the context of the Old Testament, but completely miss the God's message throughout the Law and the Prophets: Be courageous, God is sovereign and in control, seek justice, practice humility, care for those in need, and we are all equal in His sight and loved beyond our capacity to understand.

So do we learn from History? Not even when God himself tries to teach us. Everything gets unfocused and base when we view it through our bias.

Good luck on your new endeavor. Tread lightly...or don't. I will be praying for your success!