Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-24
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SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE.

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SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE. 81
1t is notorious fact that some persons be-
lieve, or pretend to believe, that there is con-
fict between science and the Bible. It is as
serted by those persons that science teaches
one thing, and the Bible teaches another. 1t
is taken for granted that science teaches the
truth consequently, the teachings of the Bible
must be false. This is grave charge, and if
it can be substantiated, destroys the credibili-
ty of the Bible, since it is manifest that any
book that teaches doctrines which are plainly
contradicted by facts, must be unworthy Of
the credence of an intelligent being. @
Now, wherein does this conflict between the
Bible and science lie? What does the Bible
teach that science contradicts? One exam
pie that the friends of science and enemies
of the Bible cite, is the history of creation as
stated in the Bible. Well, suppose we dis
card all that the Bible teaches about creation ?
Suppose we regard the whole of the book of
Genesis as an ill-gotten up fiction, and follow
science. What does science teach US about
creationf This is the point Of inquiry. We
are not allowed to adopt anything on this
subject from the Bible. What does science
teach? What can we know? Ask blind
man what he sees q deaf man what he hears?
What beauty is there in the landscape to the
former, or music in the singing of birds to the
latter. What can any mind discover about
the origin of either mind or matter? Science
is what we know. How much does the wisest
man on earth know? What does he know
about power, about light, about motion, about
space, about the essence of matter, about life,
about death? What is life Who can an
swer the question? Who can tell what is the
power that holds the particles Of matter to
gether in some instances, and keeps them
apart in other instances? Can any scientific
man tell US the process by which an acorn be-
comes tree? Where does the rose get its
beautiful color and deliciousodor? Are these
things the product of evolution? Suppose
it is. We may be permitted to ask what is
evolution? What is it capable of efecting,
and what can it not doS If it does all things,
by what law is it governed? If it cannot ef-
feet all things, what power effects what evolu'
ton does not? What science can give us
reason why hair grows on the horse, and wool
on the sheep? Is there something in the blood
of the horse thatproduces hair; and something
in the blood of the sheep that produces wool ?
We grant it; butask why have the sheep and
horse blood at all? Who put it in their
veins. What is b:ood? Who can tell us
all about it?
1t is no difficult thing to ask questions
which no man. car answer. Not questions
about the sun, moon or stars; but questions
about those things which come under our OBJ
servation every day. ... ..,.-...
If the human family are to discard the
Bible and depend wholly upon the discove-
ries of scientific men for knowledge, it is pre-
cious little that they will ever know. 1t will
not be denied that the Bible, and many of
what are called scientific discoveries, or rather
theories, of what are called scientific men, are
in conflict. Common sense and the Bible
never come in conflict. ......:
The plain truth is, the discoveries of science,
on all subjects, are very unsatisfactory, and
there are class of subjects that science has
no data by which to make any discoveries
whatever. 1t would certainly humble most
men, even those who claim to be the most
learned, if they would honestly compare what
they know with what they do not know. That
man who will honestly subtract from his stock
of knowledge what he has learned from the
Bible, will be astonished at the smallness of
the remainder. If he will proceed one step
farther, and subtract what he does not clearly
understand from his stock of knowledge, he
will find that he has more faith than knowl-
edge, though his faith be less than grain Of
mustard seed. 1t may not be faith in God,
but still, it is belief in testimony.
Scientific theories are constantly changing,
and, consequently, are in as deadly conflict
with themselves as they can be with the Bible.
There is really no conflict between true science
and the Bible Gods word and His works
agree perfectly.