#3 WHICH FATHER OF GEOLOGY?

This is IOPNA's 3rd article of 6 in our 'Missing Link' series:

So you’re still with us as we dust off the 19^th Century and earlier, following an obscure trail that takes us through the suspect ‘foundations of modern geology’, towards where?........................ a surprising destination!                

We found that lawyer Charles Lyell (1797-1875) turned his geology hobby into an international success story with his publication ‘Principles of Geology’ 1830, but who did he listen to along the way?

Rev. William Buckland (1784-1856)…

was an amateur geologist/paleontologist who lectured in theology at Oxford University and was appointed Dean of Westminster. One of his students was Charles Lyell. He taught the ‘Gap Theory’ popularised by Thomas Chalmers co-writing the Bridgewater Treatise in 1814. (more on that later)

James Hutton (1726-1797)…

is called the ‘father of modern geology’ but actually he was a doctor of medicine who manufactured chemicals, owned properties including two farm estates, and took an interest in geology as a hobby. He shifted the focus from sedimentation to volcanic upheaval so was known as a ‘Plutonist’.                                                    

His theory of Uniformitarianism in ‘Theory of the Earth’ (1788) that geological processes were the same in the past as they are today, was adopted by Lyell, and can be seen to be deeply rooted in Hutton’s personal philosophy but was rejected by Abraham Werner.

Abraham Gottlieb Werner (1749-1817)…

was a professional mineralogist and taught mining at the renown Bergakademie in Freiberg, Saxony. He was labelled as a ‘Neptunist’ because of his study of stratification of sedimentary rock from global deluge. Since he rejected Hutton’s Uniformitarianism, popular opinion demoted him to ‘father of historical geology’.

Nicholas Steno (born Niels Stenson 1638-1797)…

was another medico with geology as a hobby, who also has been called ‘the father of geology’. A Danish surgeon, he published ‘An Introduction to Rocks’ in 1669 and established the Law of Superposition that describes the horizontal stratification of sedimentary rock. He devoted the remainder of his life to being a Catholic bishop in Italy.   

So it looks as if the ‘millions of years of evolution’ was founded on observations by amateurs interpreting from philosophy, while rejected by professional geology, and you could pick who you wanted to be ‘father of geology’ depending on your point of view!                           

Huh?..this is science???

NEXT:  ‘The Missing Link?’                                                                 

What is this Gap Theory all about and just who is Thomas Chalmers?

http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/which-missing-link.html

Image credit: twitter.com

#2 CAN'T BEAT 'EM?...THEN JOIN 'EM!

This is IOPNA's 2nd article of 6 in our 'Missing Link' series:

We dusted off some 19^thCentury history and found a British theologian cum naturalist named Charles Darwin is being honoured to this day for publishing his racist title 'Origin of Species…’, 28 years after first opening a book titled ‘Principles of Geology’, written by a lawyer whose hobby was geology, namely -

Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875)…

as a student at Oxford University, attended imaginative lectures by Reverend William Buckland, an amateur geologist, then abandoned his legal career to also pursue this hobby of geology.

‘Principles of Geology’ first published in 1830 is unashamedly based on assumptions and philosophy in order to ‘free the science from Moses’. It led to meteoric recognition and honour for Lyell, with professional appointments, international lecture tours, a knighthood in 1848 - and a baronetcy in 1864!

Through reading philosopher John Playfair, Lyell had learnt of James Hutton and his book, ‘Theory of the Earth’ (1788), which also assumed that geological processes in the past are the same as what is happening today, all it took was millions of years: subsequently relied on by Darwin who needed ‘millions of years’ for his theory in ‘Origin of Species…’.

Lyell was horrified to find his notion of ‘millions of years’ was being linked with theories of evolution from naturalists like Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829), by young guns like Alfred Wallace, Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley, but finally it came down to…….. ‘if you can’t beat ’em – join ‘em!’

Acknowledgement:

James A. Secord, introduction to ‘Principles of Geology’, Penguin Books, 1997

Tell me…back in 1830 were the continents covered with sea water?….were mountains being uplifted and folded?...or were land animals being turned into fossils by sudden catastrophe?

Notice the common thread of theological lectures at university.

NEXT: ‘Which father?’

What did Lyell learn from Rev. Buckland and from James Hutton?  Click on:
http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/which-father.html

#1 DUSTY 19th CENTURY

How about we explore some 19th Century characters in dusty old history?                    

We're not going to 'bag' the dearly departed; we'll just share some factual tid-bits.

Promise you won’t just take our word for it – check the facts for yourself.
Be warned though!....this won't be boring , it may even be life changing for you (like it has been for me).

Can you imagine that?...our lives transformed by dusty old history??

Here goes………

Notice the skin colour change from dark to light

In 1839, a British naval officer named Port Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, to honour the British naturalist:

Charles Robert DARWIN (1809 - 1882)

Darwin was born on the same day as…….Abraham Lincoln!
Sunday 12 February 1809.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Cambridge in 1831.
While travelling on H.M.S. Beagle as an amateur naturalist for 5 years he received Charles Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’, first published 1830.

The full title of Darwin's publication in 1859 was:

"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life."
(the last bit is normally ignored) 

The town was established under South Australian administration as ‘Palmerston’ in 1869 but under federal control reverted to ‘Darwin’ in 1911, only to be flattened by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day 1974.

Mmmm…have we got this straight?...

...a young theologian whose hobby is nature study, devours with relish a book written by a lawyer whose hobby happens to be geology, and then himself writes a racist book and is honoured by having a capital city named after him in a land already inhabited by indigenous people that were rounded up and shot for evolution specimens in European museums ??...and this hero of ‘modern science’ was further honoured with a state funeral and interment beside Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey??

Meanwhile, three years after Darwin’s book sold out on the first day of publication, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Thursday, 1 January, 1863 – ‘The Day of Jubilee’ – for African-Americans, not aboriginal Australians under British rule.

By the way, to this day the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution states in Part III, Section 25:

“For the purposes of the last section (membership of the House of Representatives), if by the law of any State all persons of any race are disqualified from voting at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State, then, in reckoning the number of the people of the State or of the Commonwealth, persons of that race resident in that State shall not be counted.”

Also in Part V, Section 51: "The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
(xxvi) the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws." 

NEXT: 'Can't beat 'em?...join 'em!'
Why was young Darwin so taken with Lyell and his book?  Click on:

 http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/cant-beat-emthen-join-em.html

Photo credits:

evolution / dailymail.co.uk
Darwin / en.wikipedia.com

Tribute to Zac Young

 

In among our IOPNA's let's have a tribute to my 19 year old friend, Zac Young, who tragically died yesterday (Saturday 30th) on a beach at Coffs Harbour, NSW, after being mauled by a shark while body-boarding.

I met Zac for the first and only time on Wednesday at a Youth for Christ seminar for years 9 & 10 at Westport High School, Port Macquarie. As a local YFC intern he was boldly sharing with current students that Jesus Christ had turned his life around and later he told me his story...

Not one for tears, it all came undone for Zac after a wild party when he fell to his knees in the shower and sobbed, begging God to forgive him. Realizing that only God could have done this he then dedicated the rest of his (short) life to serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He later gave testimony in a local church, predicting it may need a tragedy to occur for us to wake up and get real about this 'Jesus business'.

Farewell Zac. We will miss you but we know you are in safe hands and your death will not be in vain after touching so many lives in your brief Christian walk.                 
You're a hard act to follow, mate!

 

Acknowledgements: theaustralian.com.au

  

#9 EXCLUSIVE OR SEPARATE?

IOPNA concludes the ‘Exclusive Brethren’ series:

 

What was that Scripture these Exclusive Brethren quote as their ‘charter’?

Here it is in 2 Timothy 2:19….

“… Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity.”             

But that’s addressed to individuals – so if somebody is being unjustly treated by the fellowship I would be under obligation to withdraw myself from that injustice to uphold honour of the Lord’s name!

That’s not how they see it and it’s interesting you should say that. They say: “we maintain a clean place for the Lord” – which is not a biblical expression while the bottom line is always: ‘keeping your place in the fellowship’ – another idea not biblical. In fact, the onus should be on me personally to ‘withdraw from iniquity’ and ‘purify myself from uncleanness’ then I will find others ‘that call on the Lord out of a pure heart’. It’s about qualifying, not about keeping my place by staying out of trouble.                                                 

So what about this business of upholding honour of the Lord’s name?

That’s what it’s all about!....in my day to day activity and whenever ‘church discipline’ is necessary:

…in the case of wicked behaviour, ex-communication:                                     

“For I, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged as present, to deliver, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…him that has so wrought this: to deliver him, I say, being such, to Satan…with such a one not even to eat…Remove the wicked person from amongst yourselves.”  1 Corinthians 5

…or in the case of disorderly conduct, avoidance –                           

“Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother walking disorderly…” 2 Thessalonians 3:6

I doubt if there’s many churches that practise that these days – if any!              
Nobody really cares much what you do so long as you front up to church – with your wallet.   
So why won’t these people even have a cup of tea with their neighbour?

They claim that ‘eating is fellowship’ so avoid eating or drinking with anybody they are not having communion with at the Lord’s Supper.

Huh??  No wonder they’ve been called exclusive!                                       
Okay, from what you’ve shown me I guess Christians are meant to be circumspect when it comes to socialising with other so-called Christians who bring dishonour on the Lord’s name because of their behaviour – although no-one seems to take much notice of that……BUT…

…yeah, but that’s not how Paul saw eating; if we avoided social activity with every wicked person: “since then ye should go out of the world.” We might as well shut ourselves away in a commune from all unbelievers…and forget about witnessing to them!                                     

Of course, that doesn’t mean that we can just join anything that suits us – separation from the world is a core biblical principle:

"Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness...or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever? ...Wherefore come out from the midst of them and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean..." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Oh, that’s just means a Christian shouldn’t marry a non-Christian.

Does it now?  Where does it mention marriage here?

Mmm…you’ve got a point there, but that would be very restrictive…no trade associations, no union memberships, no share trading, no business partnerships, no directorships, no club memberships, no politics…no nuthin’!

That’s why Paul has already said in chapter 4:

“…every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up; persecuted but not abandoned…”

Do you know something?...I think these Exclusive Brethren people would be a brilliant witness in this evil world if only they would publicly admit that somewhere they have lost the plot, they have left a trail of families destroyed, and they need to get back to the authority of Holy Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, instead of hanging everything on this ‘elect vessel’ guy and what he says.

 

Image credit: jonathoncliff.com  

#8 ROBINHOOD

IOPNA shares the 8th article in our 9-part ‘Exclusive Brethren’ series:

 

Getting back to this Exclusive Brethren sect or whatever you want to call it – ‘Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’…let’s see if it really is Christian.   
What happened to your father’s family was appalling but what about since then?           

Even though the Brethren will never publicly admit to having broken up families, they have made some private apologies years later.

So they’re being dishonest??

I’ll leave you to decide that.  My father-in-law had grown up in a farming family but found employment as a motor mechanic after his father suffered a serious accident. Eventually he established a business making Robinhood rangehoods and gave quite a few people employment, especially Brethren. In 1980 he was accused by their ‘elect vessel’ leader of operating a business organisation that rivalled the Church so was ex-communicated for 6 years, losing contact with their daughter still at high school. The only Brethren employee who didn’t walk out was then ex-communicated too.

What!!?     

I was a commission agent for Robinhood Industries but felt compelled to give that up. Two years later I questioned a botched discipline matter only to find my wife and I ‘confined’ according to:

"Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from (stello:avoid) every brother walking disorderly and not according to the instruction which he received from us…..But if any one obey not our word by the letter, mark that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed of himself; and do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."                           2 Thessalonians 3

…then ex-communicated for 3 years after trying to appeal to the ‘elect vessel’ leader in USA.

Man, somebody sure had it in for your family didn’t they!                           
So what happened to your immediate family?

As was the custom, we had allowed two of our boys to live meanwhile with the Brethren but finally the oldest went off to do his own thing – he’d had enough.

I don’t blame him!...and then?

After 3 more years back in the fellowship I found myself being publicly censured for trying to send him photos of himself that he’d asked us for. When I challenged that injustice we were ex-communicated again for being ‘contentious’.      Expecting that it would all be quickly sorted out once more, we reluctantly let the next two sons leave home to live with the Brethren, but it took 13 years for the elders to admit they’d got it wrong.

Surely your family has now been happily reunited or is at least on speaking terms?

Both sons are now married and as far as we know, working for the current ‘elect vessel’ leader in Sydney. We briefly met one of the families under strict supervision 12 years ago; as for the other son’s family, we have seen him only twice in 20 years - the last time 15 years ago, and have never set eyes on his wife or 3 children.

Why??...surely the apologies have been made…

My wife’s Christian parents had an enviable reputation for integrity and generosity. They were again ex-communicated and abandoned by the Brethren when Father listened to yet another victim of family break-up. He battled cancer until dying in 1995 and Mother suffered dementia before dying in 2010 - without receiving any apology. I am regarded as a rebel for questioning the Brethren’s antics when I was expected to “give in and get right” submissively.                                                  

Why this is unbelievable stuff!!  How do these people justify wrecking families like this and then expect ‘charitable status’ recognition?

They claim their charter is:                 

"Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity"  2 Timothy 2:19

Huh! If you ask me this church dishonours the name of the Lord, is iniquitous and you’re better off where you are - out of there!

NEXT:  Exclusive or separate?
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/exclusive-or-separatist.html

#7 OUR OWN PASTOR?

IOPNA shares the 7th article in our 9-part ‘Exclusive Brethren’ series:

Never-mind the Exclusive Brethren for the moment and getting away from this clerical hierarchy idea, why not just let the congregation choose their own pastor?  What’s wrong with that?  
Don’t forget, we live in a different culture - this isn’t the 1^st century.                                                                                    

That's him/her on top!

Is that really a good excuse for now doing whatever we like in God’s house?   The apostle Paul gives us clear instructions in his letters to Timothy and Titus:

"These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly; but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth."  1 Timothy 3:14-15

Besides there being no biblical authority for this modern idea, we get a hint in the last Revelation address to Laodicea, from laos meaning ‘people’ and dike meaning ‘decision’ – the people get to choose!

Really??...in a church that’s wealthy but lukewarm for Christ, hey.  Sickening!

So where is the pastor’s allegiance?...to Christ or to staying popular with his congregation?

Yeah, I suppose he has to be careful not to upset people or he’s out of a job but I still think you’re being a bit of a pedantic fundamentalist.

Let me show you how it works by relating what I heard a pastor teaching recently, but first of all here’s what early Christians were meant to avoid:

“…abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication…” Acts 15:29

Fair enough….you can keep your idols and blood puddings but fornication is still an issue for us today - although modern translations seem to mostly leave that word out.                 

Just by the way, the word 'fornication' is translated from Greek: porneia which refers to not only fornication but prostitution, adultery and even incest: all sexual perversions...it’s the root word for pornography….

…and with the internet, that is a BIG problem!....even among Christians.

Now this well-respected conservative pastor was teaching that, if for example a guy in the congregation is known for being a womaniser we’re not to judge him because Jesus said:

"Judge not, that ye may not be judged..."      Matthew 7:1-2

….he just needs some private counselling, based on:    

"Brethren, if even a man be taken in some fault (paraptoma: a sideslip), ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted."  Galatians 6:1

This guy sure needs counselling but he hasn’t just slipped up, he’s got a public reputation as a womaniser!

You said it!...as a result you’ll often find people like this present at communion, while here is what the apostle Paul taught on that:

“…if any one called brother be fornicator...not to mix with him; with such a one not even to eat…do not ye judge them that are within?...Remove the wicked person from amongst yourselves." 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Whoa!!...this pastor was using the teachings of Jesus for individuals to contradict Paul’s teachings for the church!

Yep!...to immature Christians who didn’t know any better and liked what they were hearing.  If you read that chapter carefully you’ll see that rather than avoiding upsetting anybody in the congregation, Paul’s concern is that honour of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be upheld:

"For I, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged as present, to deliver, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….him that has so wrought this…”   1 Corinthians 5:3-4

I see what you mean…it’s all downhill once you get away from the authority of Scripture.

NEXT: Robinhood
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/robinhood.html

Image credit: firstbaptistchurcharchdale.com