by Tom Schiavon

Created on: February 18, 2007   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

A good book on hermeneutics (bible interpretation) would be helpful here. There are different genres of books in the Bible. Something like Genesis, Chronicles, or Acts would be a historic book. Some of Daniel, part of Ezekiel, and Revelation would be apocalyptic literature, heavy in symbolism. There are also poetry, narrative, and a few others. The point is that none of them are meant to be a modern scientific textbook. In fact, what we understand as a "science book" has only existed for a very small portion of humanity's existence.

We live in a world that has been heavily influenced by the Enlightenment. Rationalism has gained such a grip on our society that it is almost unfathomable that truth can exist outside of something quantifiable in the lab. For that reason, most view the Bible as simply another book alongside others that must explain itself in direct, straightforward language without having any symbolism or mystery in it. So in a sense one could say that the Bible is not to be used as scientific literature.

One might also consider how the Bible can be used legitimately as a science book. It gives us a historical understanding of what was deemed scientific knowledge at a certain time. It would be irrational to assume that because an ancient Jew or Greek was unable to explain the nature of heavenly bodies in a way that fits what is now understood that they were "wrong." They were using their minds and explaining the empirical natural evidence that they had and creating sophisticated explanations of the world the best they could, in a manner that seems wholly laudable given the technology they had available to them.

Having said this, it is also important to not listen to what someone told you the Bible says. The Bible nowhere states that the earth is the center of the universe. The idea was not taken from the Bible. It would be difficult to have any other explanation without the technology of the microscope. A heliocentric universe did meet opposition by some ecclesiastical authorities when it first was proposed, but it was also possible to be a reputable scientist in the 19th Century and explain the world in terms of containing an intangible, unmeasurable component named "ether."

In light of these two ideas, it would seem that it would depend on one's intention for using the Bible as to whether or not it has legitimate use as a scientific textbook. It would be difficult to support using it as a textbook similar to one on geology given that it was not created with the intention of being an expert on such a matter, and that modern geology is still building on its knowlege, whereas the Bible has been a completed work for nearly 2,000 years.

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