Science and the Bible by Bolton Davidbeiser Chairman, Science Division Biola College TH E P ILTDOWN H O A X
GODS WORD
- so needful for spiritual growth— made attractively
available for DAILY READING
T e n y e a r s a g o , on the 21st of No vember, 1953, it was announced to the world that the famous fossils found at Piltdown in England and long considered the oldest human re mains, constituted a hoax which had deceived the scientists for 40 years. There were a number of reactions to this disclosure. One was the view that now the fundamentalists would have something to gloat over for a while. The implication of this is that we should admire the scientists for their honesty and that it is unfair to point out their lack of astuteness in observ ing the signs of forgery. Bernard Ramm, writing for a Chris tian audience, stresses the fact that the findings were proved fraudulent by scientists and not by fundamental ists. A series of investigations which in cluded seven chemical tests was made before the remains were pronounced a hoax, and it is utterly unreasonable to expect a fundamentalist who is not a scientist to have gained permission to examine the fossils and to have proved them fraudulent. When Ar thur Kieth, one of the leading Eng lish authorities in this field, wished to examine them soon after their dis covery was announced, he was al lowed only 20 minutes to look at them. At the time the hoax was ex posed, 40 years later, these fossil fragments were being kept locked in a safe at the British Museum. Moreover, there were laymen who did declare the fossils fraudulent while the eminent scienitists were making extravagant claims for them. Professor Weiner mentions by name four men who were not professional scientists and yet declared the Pilt down material to be fraudulent. One of them, who was a clerk in a bank, had in his collection a flint from the Piltdown pit which he had labeled: “ Stained by C. Dawson with intent to deceive.” With it was a card on which he had written: “ I challenge the S [outh] K [ensington] Museum au thorities to test the implements . . . which the imposter Dawson says were ‘excavated from the pit!’ ” He believed the important canine tooth found at the pit had been imported from France. Charles Dawson was the man who discovered the pit and in
whose honor the Piltdown man was named Eoanthropus dawsoni. The main controversy among the scientists was whether or not the jawbone belonged with the skull, be cause the jaw was so ape-like. It turned out that the jaw appeared ape like because it really was from an ape, but the controversy arose because it was found with the skull and be cause the molar teeth were flattened in a way never observed in apes. The scientists did not notice that the forg er had overdone it by filing the teeth too flat, in a manner which could not occur naturally in any living crea ture. Some scientists who believed that the jaw belonged to the skull even went so far as to say that the jaw was not really ape-like if proper ly reconstructed! The canine tooth was missing from the jaw, and the scientists described it as they thought it should be. The forger obligingly ground one down to their specifications and placed it where ‘it could be found convenient ly. A dentist who was consulted showed that it could not have been worn down in a natural manner, but his testimony was disregarded. Then Mr. Dawson found a tooth and some bone fragments about two miles away, which “ confirmed” the opinion of those who held that the jaw and skull belonged together, and convinced others who had held the opposite view. This important tooth and the canine both plainly showed scratches made by the abrasive agent used by the forger. The fossils found at the second site were in a pile of stones which had been raked up so that the field could be tilled. It did not appear strange to the scientists that a single tooth would be raked up with stones. The fact that the findings at Pilt down were proved to be a hoax does not mean that other discoveries are also fraudulent. But there is no need to dismiss lightly the gullibility of the scientists in overlooking these and other "clues as to the real nature of the findings at Piltdown. One cannot help wondering about evolutionary pronouncements which cannot be checked.
This beautiful religious calendar presents a care fully-chosen verse for each day of the year. Full- color reproduction of a famous painting for each month and many other features. For half a cen tury Messenger Calendars have inspired Christian living through faithfulness in Daily Bible Reading. Front Cover, in full color, lovely painting of “The Boy Jesus” in pastoral setting. Back Cover, suitable for framing, “The Twenty-third Psalm," in full color, a work of typographic art. Single copy 45ji—3 copies $1.25—12 copies $4.50 —25 copies $7.75—50 copies $15.00—100 copies $27.00. Prices on larger quantities upon request. Church imprint at slight additional cost. Minimum of 50 calendars. N o business imprints accepted. Also ask to see Messenger’s attractive as sortment of Scripture Text Christmas and Everyday Cards. ORDER Messenger Calendars and Cards through your denominational publishing house or Christian bookstore. MESSENGER CORPORATION Dept. KB AUBURN/ INDIANA HOW CAN THE JEW know CHRIST This 75-year old mission was found* ed to bring a Christian witness to the Jew. Every day in many cities in the U. S. and Israel a staff of dedicated workers make their way along the streets in business and residential areas to engage Jews in conversation concerning Messiah - Jesus. Children are gathered for club meetings and are won to the Saviour. Radio messages reach millions of Jews every week, in North America and Israel. The results — the Lord says, "Sow the seed . . . and I will give the in crease." Will you share in this seed sowing ministry? A copy of the A.M.F. Monthly will be mailed to you free if you write today to: Archie A. MacKinney, Director American Messianic Fellowship 7448 N. Damen Ave., Chicago 45, III.
37
NOVEMBER, 1963
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker