Episode 129: 19th Century Modern Geology (Continued) The Harmonizers

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En provenance du cours de University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

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University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

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This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

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Geology & the Biblical Flood

Over the 20 years that I have taught this course, I have found that religious students struggle the most with the topic of Noah’s flood in the Bible (Genesis 6-9). The first half of this section is a brief history of geology, beginning with the worldwide flood as the central paradigm and ending with its complete elimination from science. This is another example of science powerfully impacting religion. In the second half, the three basic views of the biblical flood are presented—Global Flood, Local Flood, and Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory. In particular, the challenging topic of whether or not Noah was a real person in history is explored. We also consider the notion that the biblical flood (Genesis 6-9) is composed of two original sources (Jahwist and Priestly sources).

Episode 117: Key Thoughts. Biblical Texts on the Flood6:11

Episode 118: Biblical Texts on the Flood (Continued) Brief History of Geology & the Biblical Flood4:10

Episode 119: The Early Church & the Flood. Flood Scholarship4:07

Episode 120: Flood Scholarship (Continued). St. Augustine on the Flood4:23

Episode 121: St. Augustine on the Flood (Continued)5:51

Episode 122: The Middle Ages & the Flood. The Early Modern Period & the Flood5:27

Episode 123: The Early Modern Period & the Flood (Continued)4:57

Episode 124: Niels Steensen & Principle of Superposition. Global Flood Theories5:43

Episode 125: The Beginning of Geology. James Hutton & Principle of Actualism4:37

Episode 126: Catastrophism. Adam Sedgwick’s Recantation5:05

Episode 127: Conclusion: The Beginning of Geology. 19th Century Modern Geology4:43

Episode 128: 19th Century Modern Geology (Continued) The Anti-Geologists3:53

Episode 129: 19th Century Modern Geology (Continued) The Harmonizers4:55

Episode 130: Conclusion: Brief History of Geology & the Biblical Flood7:00

Episode 131: What about Noah’s Flood? (1) Global Flood Theory7:37

Episode 132: (2) Local Flood4:19

Episode 133: (3) Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory5:34

Episode 134: Re-Cycled & Re-Interpreted Flood Motif Theory (Continued)5:28

Episode 135: Origin of the Biblical Flood Account (Gen 6-9)4:39

Episode 136: Evidence for Two Sources in Biblical Flood Account (Gen 6-9)9:24

Episode 137: The BIG Question: Who Was Noah?5:28

Hermeneutics 13B: The Heavens & Ancient Astronomy (Part I). The Firmament8:33

Rencontrer les enseignants

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 129.

The second theological response to 19th Century Geology,

comes from the Harmonizers.

They appeared during the last two thirds of

the 1800s and many of them are the best geologists of the day.

The last chapters of their geology books often have a theological chapter.

Notably, these leading Christian geologists accepted scientific concordism and tried

to align or harmonize Geology and Genesis one.

There are two basic ways to align scripture and geology.

The first was the gap theory.

This was the minority position.

The millions of years of geological time were put in a gap between

Genesis 1: 1 and Genesis 1: 3.

To be more specific,

The Gap Theory suggests that Genesis 1:1,

refers to an initial creation,

where in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Then, in Genesis 1: 2,

there was a deterioration of the earth whereby the earth became formless and empty.

The Hebrew language allows for the translation became according to Gap theorists,

this is a gap or period of millions of years long.

And then in Genesis 1 3,

there was a second creation.

When God said, "Let there be light," and this is

a recreation of the world in six literal days.

And according to The Gap Theory,

there was a global flood but it only caused surface effects.

The Day- Age Theory,

also known as progressive creation,

was the majority position of Harmonizers.

They believed that the Days of Genesis one,

were Geological Periods millions of years long.

These Christian geologists noted,

that both Genesis one and the fossil record have

living organisms appear from simple to more complex.

In this way, they claim that God created plants and animals progressively

and that he intervened at different points over millions of years.

You might ask why these geologists were progressive creationists?

It was because the fossil record was sparse and

transitory fossils had not yet been discovered.

Day Age theorists believe that Noah's flood was

local in the Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

An excellent example of

a leading geologist who promoted the Day Age Theory, was James Dana.

His Manual of Geology was one of

the most important geological textbooks in the second half of the 19th century.

Please turn to page 26 in the handouts,

where I have reproduced a page from Dana's fame Geological Textbook.

You can see how he attempts to align the six days of

Genesis with the scientific evidence found in geology.

However, by the end of the 1800s,

harmonisation dies out and Geology books no longer have a religious final chapter,

like this one found in Dana's text.

Let's now draw some conclusions regarding nineteenth century Modern Geology.

First and foremost, we again see that science impacts religion.

With regards to divine action,

there is no God of the Gaps in Geology.

Why? It's because natural processes is can explain all the features in the earth's crust.

With regards to Biblical interpretation,

there was no gap theory before the 1800s.

Why? It's because the exceedingly old age of the earth was only established in the 1800s.

As well, there was no day age theory before the 1800s.

Why? It's because the geological column was only established in the 1800s.

The very existence of the Gap Theory and The Day Age Theory

is proof that science impacts Biblical interpretation.

And finally, conclusion number two;

By the twentieth century,

Geology is completely free from religion and the biblical flood.

For some, this is an argument against religion but others like me,

this is an argument for not using the bible like a book of science.

End of episode.

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