Scientific Twaddle vs. the Truth.
By C. P. Bollman
The Christian at Work, of July 29, in noticing some recent Egyptian discoveries which go to confirm Bible history, inflicts upon its readers the following bit of scientific twaddle:— “In this relation it may be noted that not only did the Hebrews borrow parts of their religious forms from the Egyptians, but Professor A. H. Sayce has recently directed attention to the striking resemblances existing in the religious symbolism of the Hebrews and Assyrians, which latter people seem to have borrowed largely from the Babylonians.”
There is nothing at all strange in the fact of a “striking resemblance existing in the religious symbolism of the Hebrews and Assyrians;” nor is it at all difficult to account for a like similarity between the Assyrians and the Babylonians, since out of the land of Babylon “went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh,” the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Gen. 10:11. But why say that “the Hebrews borrowed parts of their religious forms from the Egyptians”? Why not settle the whole question in accordance with the Scriptures, rather than against them, by stating the simple and evident truth, i. e., that the heathen worship of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Egyptians resembled the “religious forms” of the Hebrews because it was simply a corruption of the forms which God had ordained for his own worship,—forms which were appointed immediately after the fall and were preserved through the instrumentality of such men as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? They who suppose that either the “religious forms” or the moral code of the Hebrews does not antedate Egyptian bondage or the exodus, have read the old Testament to very little purpose. That parts of both had been lost during the sojourn in Egypt, there can be no doubt; and this is why they were given in a written form at Sinai; but that they were “borrowed” either in whole or in part from any other nation is contrary alike to Scripture and common sense. The Hebrews did, however, borrow one “religious” form from the Egyptians, a form which materialized into the golden calf, which Moses found them worshiping when he descended from the mount after having received the tables of the law. C. P. BOLLMAN.