Science in Christian Perspective

Letter to the Editor

More Criticism of Kessel
Marc Horisberger, Ph.D.
12 Route de Areneys
CH-1 806 Saint-L6gier
Switzerland

From: JASA 36 (June 1984): 127.

I was distressed by the paper of E. L. Kessel entitled: "A proposed biological interpretation of the virgin birth" (Journal ASA 3, 129-136 (1983)). Distressed not because old blasphemies are once more uttered, but distressed because the Journal ASA is the vehicle of such lack of taste wrapped in scientific terms. Nothing indeed is too holy to escape discussion by inquisitive human minds. The paper is too loaded with hypotheses, too replete with "may's and could's" to be much affected by scientific criticism. However it calls for words of warning to the Editor, the referees and the readers:

-Through the lengthy list of references, it is most remarkable to note that the Bible is never quoted. This demonstrates obviously where the weight of authority resides.

-Christians should reject forms of thinking which are sins, i.e. when reason is above revelation. The Bible is not an object to be discussed. It is the Word of God to be believed and explained. In doing so, the only attitude, though difficult to accept for all of us, is to bow humbly before God in the presence of mysteries. Under the Old Convenant, peeking inside the ark, the most holy vessel of the Tabernacle, brought death. As Christians, we have to "demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). But in what is revealed to us by the Scriptures, we can have "the full riches of complete understanding" (Colossians 2:2).

Job at the end of his struggle with God said: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You ask: who is this that obscures my council without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know!" (Job 42:2-3). And he repented.

The tragedy of this paper is that Kessel does not know the forbidden area of thinking for Christians. His conclusions are merely a new form of paganism under the scientific pretense.