The Origin of the World According to Revelation and ScienceDawson, John William, Sir
Religion
The Origin of the World According to Revelation and Science
Dawson, John William, Sir
Bible and science; Religion and science
I omitted to notice in the text a criticism of my explanation of the
word _bhemah_ in "Archaia," made in Archdeacon Pratt's "Scripture and
Science not at Variance" (edition of 1872). He opposes to the meaning
of "herbivorous animals" which I have sought to establish, two
exceptional passages. In one of these, Deut. xxviii., 26, the word is
used in its most general sense for all beasts, which the context shows
can not be its meaning in Gen. i. In the other, Prov. xxx., 30, he
says it is applied to the lion. The actual expression used, however,
merely implies that the lion is "mighty among _bhemah_," the
comparison being probably between the strength of the lion and that of
oxen, antelopes, and other strong and active creatures. It does not
affirm that the lion is one of the _bhemah_. While I have every
respect for the erudition of Archdeacon Pratt, and highly value his
book, I must regard this objection as an example of a style of
biblical exposition much to be deprecated, though too often employed.
I.--ANCIENT MYTHOLOGIES.
The current views respecting the relations of ancient mythologies with
each other and with the Bible have been continually shifting and
oscillating between extremes. The latest and at present most popular
of these extreme views is that so well expounded by Dr. Max Mueller in
his various essays on these subjects, and which traces at least the
Indo-European theogony to a mere personification of natural objects.
The views given in the text are those which to the author appear alone
compatible with the Bible, and with the relations of Semitic and Aryan
theology; but, as the subject is generally regarded from a quite
different point of view, a little further explanation may be
necessary.
1. According to the Bible, spiritual monotheism is the primitive faith
of man, and with this it ranks the doctrine of a malignant spirit or
being opposed to God, and of a primitive state of perfection and
happiness. It is scarcely necessary to say that these doctrines may be
found as sub-strata in all the ancient theologies.
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