Science and the Bible by George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1916

Science and the Bible

By George B. Thompson

It is remarkable how often those who have exalted science and many of its deductions and speculations at the expense of the Bible, have been confused by the overturning of their conclusions by some later developments along scientific lines.

About the time that some historical inaccuracy is supposed to have been discovered in the Scriptures of Truth, the spade of the explorer unearths some tablet which confirms the integrity of the sacred narrative.

One of the things which unbelievers of the Bible have ridiculed is the flood, and the building of the ark in the Euphrates valley. They have declared that the ark was an “old tub,” and the whole story a myth. On this point the Los Angeles Times of Nov. 15, 1915, in an editorial says:—

Unbelievers were not lacking to declare that the old ark was a tub and the whole story ridiculous, but when the real critics went to work to dismantle the legendary vessel rib by rib, they encountered a miracle.

There is something about this experience that appeals especially to Californians, as it has to do with our famous battleship “Oregon,” and the part it played in the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. The “Oregon” was built in the docks of the Union Iron Works at San Francisco, under the direction of George W. Dickie, noted scientist and marine engineer. Mr. Dickie is a Scotchman by birth, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, ex-president of the California Academy of Sciences, and a talented Biblical student. His story of the similarity between the ark and the “Oregon” is substantially as follows:—

“At the time when the plans for the ‘Oregon’ were under discussion, Mr. Dickie’s attention was called to an article ridiculing the idea that Noah and his sons could have built a vessel in the Euphrates valley that would be seaworthy. He took the book of Genesis, and proceeded to reduce the Biblical cubits to feet and inches, in order to determine what the general design of the ark was like. To his surprise he discovered that each of the nine dimensions given in the Bible for the construction of the ark corresponded, with but one minor difference, exactly to those proposed for the ‘Oregon.’ The only difference was that the ‘Oregon’ was just one-seventh smaller in each dimension than the ark. Struck by this remarkable coincidence, he took the question up the next day with the United States Navy Department, with the result that the plans finally adopted were a duplicate of those for the ark, except that one of the dimensions were still one seventh less. The remarkable speed maintained by the ‘Oregon’ on its trip around the Horn to join Sampson’s fleet is now a chapter of history. The proportionate dimensions of the ‘Oregon’ have been maintained by our navy in building larger vessels.”

It had never rained before the flood. Noah had never seen a boat. To claim that he built such a large ship, on such scientific proportions, under all these circumstances, without any divine guidance, as some of the infidel critics seem to claim, makes his work much more miraculous and incomprehensible than to accept the simple Bible account of the flood, and the provision made to save those who would believe. Better to believe the Word that says, “God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood,” etc. Gen. 6:13, 14.

The Old Book stands. Its critics have done their best through the ages to consign it to oblivion, but it is being multiplied more and more each year. It lives forevermore, while its critics lie down in obscure and forgotten graves. The record of Moses regarding creation, the flood, the exodus, and all the history of men and nations recorded by other men found in the Bible, are of God. To believe these things is both reasonable and scientific, and brings life and hope to the soul.

G. B. T.