THEORY OF EVOLUTION.

Evening Star, Issue 25419, 26 February 1945, Page 6

THEORY OF EVOLUTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —To the evolutionist the allimportant factor is the “ millions of years ” period required for his “gradual changes.” It seems to be quite insignificant that neither “ millions of years ” nor “ gradual changes ” can be demonstrated. Of course, a mind which regards the “impregnable rock of Holy Scripture ” (as Gladstone called the Bible) as theory, and admittedly unproven imaginings as believable, does does feel the least bit abashed when someone points out that the greater the length of time allowed for the gradual changes the more millions of intermediate forms there should be present now. Millions of. years' of gradual changes and the entire absence of the millions or billions of intermediate forms! Why, it is a wonder that evolutionists can pass each other in the street without laughing! 1 suggest that “ W. 8.8.” is all but ignorant of the ease for "the Bible. This is proved by his words, “ No tittle of evidence is there that all or. any of the statements are true.” When he has read the Bible completely through once., let him read Paley’s Evidences, and he should think differently. For his consideration I shall give two samples of Bible truth from that scientifically exact chapter Genesis i. My first calls to mind the statement of , Herbert Spencer (‘ First Principles ’), that if the unknowable could become manifest, such a manifestation must, for scientific reasons, take five distinct forms—viz., space, time, matter, motion, and force. Is that not exactly what we, have in the first two vesses of Genesis i.: “In the beginning” (time) “God created the heavens ” (space) “ and the earth ” (matter), “ and the Spirit of God ” (centre of force) “ moved ” (expression of motion). Had Spencer devoted himself to the Holy Scriptures he need not, near life’s end. have lamented, “ I have passed my life in beating the' air.”

Then let “ W. 8.8.” apply his “ Godgiven power of reason” to the following statement by Charles F. Juritz. M.A., D.Sc., F.1.C., F.R.S.E., joint secretary of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, in a meeting in South Africa as recently as 1937: “ Science is the sum total of organised, systematised knowledge, particularly of Nature. When we attempt to define science we have to remember that human knowledge is incomplete. God revealed to man that which science could not reveal to him. Revelation is therefore the complement of science. During the course of thousands of years many religious systems have been devised. These include Monotheism, Polytheism, Pantheism, and Atheism, and all the while teaching of Scripture on the point lias remained rigidly consistent in the Old and New Testaments. Let us confine ourselves to only seven out of the list in Genesis. How, except on the ground of divine revelation, can we account for the fact that Genesis arranges the following seven occurrences with the' very same order as modern scientific discovery;—(l) The existence of a universal ocean; (2) emergence of dry land; (3) commencement of vegetation; (4) introduction of invertebrates and fishes; (5) appearance of great reptiles and birds; (6) appearance of mammals; (7) the reign of man?” Dr Juritz went on to say that the Bible is not only abreast of, but in advance of, science. It is God’s Book!—I am. etc., ' » February 23. - • TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —In reply to “W. 8.8.,” we would suggest that the “ theory,” of evolution is acknowledged. Dr Pettit’s protest is that it is being taught in our primary and post-primary schools as “ fact,” but while “ W. 8.8.” acknowledges the “theory” he seeks to drag down, and this in the capital city of Otago, the Bible,’ to ■which we owe _£o much; to the same level. When the. ever-changing textbooks on evolution have had their short day, the Bible, which has stood more crucial tests than these, will continue on its way. “W. 8.8,” refers to the account of Jonah and the whale (Matthew xii., 40), says: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” These are the words of the Founder of Christianity. Jonah’s experience was a sign divinely given, that as lie was preserved in the whale’s belly so the Son of Man would he preserved incorruptible in the grave. Lastly, “ W. 8.8.” compares Dr Pettit’s protest to Nazism and the Bible to ‘ Mein Kampf.’ I voice the judgment of many against such an absurdity. - His admissions and pronouncements suggest “ a Jonah swallowing a whale.” —I am, etc., February 23. J-M. . TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—lt is indeed strange to find men believing in evolution as a universal law and yet admitting that they cannot find one instance of its operation. If evolution is a proven fact, where may we find the’ intermediate stages in its operation to-day? The truth of the matter is there are none. Why then teach children a theory that is not supported by even a shred of reliable evidence ?’ Sir J. W. Dawson once said: “I know nothing of the origin of man, except what I am told in the Scriptures—that God created him. I do not know anything more than that, and I do not know of anyone who does.”—l am, etc., February 23. A.