Re: Accomodation (was Re: Scripture and the ASA; Robt Rogland's post)

From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Fri Jun 21 2002 - 19:24:05 EDT

  • Next message: george murphy: "Re: Accomodation (was Re: Scripture and the ASA; Robt Rogland's post)"

    >But is this anything more substantial than a rhetorical "dodge"?
    >Note the two principal hermeneutical options here undestood:<
    >1. Moses had no privileged science-like information and spoke with
    >integrity within the limited vocabulary and knowledge of the day.<

    >2. Moses did have privileged science-like information but was led by
    >God to suppress it and to speak as if he knew no more than what
    >could be said within the limited vocabulary and knowledge of the
    >day.<

    >How would Aquinas or Calvin (or anyone else) be able to tell that
    >option 2 was the correct one?<

    I am not certain that they entirely rule out 1. Calvin, commenting
    on Genesis 1, seemed to contrast Moses' intent with that of an
    astronomer more than contrasting Moses' writing with what Moses
    actually knew. Thus, his point was that Moses was not trying to
    convey astronomical truth rather than that Moses actually knew better.

    The translator of Calvin seemed to take option 2 with regard to
    Calvin's passing remarks that appeared to favor geocentrism. The set
    that I have at home is a compilation of translations made at various
    times, with some subsequent editing, so I do not remember the date or
    identity of the individual responsible for the footnote.

    Given our evidence about Moses' opinion is confined to the texts at
    hand, I do not see a clear way to test between 1 and 2. Certainly
    Moses had a better education than most of his audience, but this
    would have given knowledge of the Egyptian science of the day, not
    modern astronomy. Perhaps Aquinas and Calvin did not think that the
    astronomy of their day was significantly advanced relative to that
    known in Moses' day.

         Dr. David Campbell
         Old Seashells
         University of Alabama
         Biodiversity & Systematics
         Dept. Biological Sciences
         Box 870345
         Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
         bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com

    That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
    Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
    Droitgate Spa

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