The Denver Jewish news., 1925-07-16

IN II, anti-birth control people insist
that contraceptive information must
not be given, though today we suffer
from a serious danger of overpopula-
tion. America bars the insane and
the physically unfit from entering
this land, but those within our bor-
dors, no matter how unfit, are per-
mitted to reproduce their kind. Every
move to deny parenthood to those
who have no right to be parents, be
they sub-normal, suffering from ven
ercal disease, or likely to produce Off
spring which will menace society is
met with most bitter opposition from
theological circles. Because church
men accept as divine spare the rod
and spoil the child" the hands Of edu-
cation have been sadly held back. No
one will deny today that this is bad
pedagogy. Is it not high time that
we turn from the Bible as a textbook
in every scientific domain and accept
the latest advances by university pro-
fessors, who consecrate their lives to
intensive study, as our real guides.
Why shall we not use the Bible for
what it is, the most glorious source
of spiritual solace and inspiration
which this world has ever known?
Selecting isolated sentences, often
with no proper understanding of their
meaning works ruinous harm. Does
not the Psalmist say "all men are
liars
When understood properly in con-
nection with its context, it becomes
the hasty expression Of the hot temp
cred man.
When the Tennessee folks insist
that the Bible teachings on creation,
as found III Genesis, be our final
guide, l would ask them which Bible
story do they mean? There is not
one, there are at least two different
stories in Genesis, and four within
the pages of the Old Testament In
addition to the two in Genesis, there
is magnificent creation story in
Proverbs, Chapter VIII, and most
sublime, as well as daring, creation
description in Job, Chapter XXXVIII.
If we follow the first story of Gene
SIS, bpu Cftultu Tie SUM- HiOOn anu
stars on the fourth day" U:l6). But
in Job, the heavenly luminaries were
in existence before creation. (v:O.
My point is this. Let US quit decid-
ing everything according to some
Bible verse, and realize that the Old
Testament is something more than
book of facts. On the contrary, it is
a wonderful library, wherein are
found historical date, poetry, philoso-
ply, law, medicine, astronomy and
much folk lore. 1t is ridiculous and
absurd to estimate all these several
parts as of the same value.
Thus far the controversy has been
raging chiefly in non-Jewish circles.
Inasmuch as the Bible was written by
Jews and given to the world through
our inspired seers and saints, we,
whose sacred possession it is, should
interpret these pages to an ignorant
world. The Rabbis in Israel, who
know, should tell the world that the
Genesis creation stories were the sim
pie narrative of facts as understood
by the people Of that particular age.
What is more, they were intended for
ethical instruction, and not to take
the place of scientific teaching. The
Talmud knew that Job was not his
torical; chat there We're at least two
Isaiahs, and throughout the ages we
have always had notable illustrations
of Bible criticism. When America is
torn asunder in contending came
about Bible teaching, it becomes the
duty of Israel to stand forth and ex-
plain the true facts concerning the
pages of Holy Writ.