British scriptural geologists in the first half of the nineteenth century
During the first half of the nineteenth century (particularly 1820-1845) in Britain a number of laymen and clergymen tenaciously fought against new geological theories. These men became known as the ~Scriptural geologists.~ They held the traditional Christian view that Genesis provided a realiable, historical account of the creation of the universe and the early history of the earth. In particular, they believed that the Noachian deluge was a unique global catastrophe, which produced most of the geological record, and that the earth was roughly 6,000 years old. From this position they responded with equal vigour to the old-earth theories of the uniformitarian and the catastrophist geologists. They also rejected, as misinterpretations of Scripture, the ~gap theory~, the ~day-age theory~, the ~tranquil flood theory~ and the ~local flood theory.~ These writers have received limited scholarly analysis. Gillispie, Millhauser and Yule have given them some attention and are the historians regularly cited by others. Much current research addresses the issue of religion and science in the nineteenth century but none has focused on the Scriptural geologists. They deserve more study because they were ~an important irritant
Mortenson, Terence J.
Geology, Bible, Christianity, Flood, Noah, Scriptures,
British scriptural geologists in the first half of the nineteenth century. During the first half of the nineteenth century (particularly 1820-1845) in Britain a number of laymen and clergymen tenaciously fought against new geological theories. These men became known as the ~Scriptural geologists.~ They held the traditional Christian view that Genesis provided a realiable, historical account of the creation of the universe and the early history of the earth. In particular, they believed that the Noachian deluge was a unique global catastrophe, which produced most of the geological record, and that the earth was roughly 6,000 years old. From this position they responded with equal vigour to the old-earth theories of the uniformitarian and the catastrophist geologists. They also rejected, as misinterpretations of Scripture, the ~gap theory~, the ~day-age theory~, the ~tranquil flood theory~ and the ~local flood theory.~ These writers have received limited scholarly analysis. Gillispie, Millhauser and Yule have given them some attention and are the historians regularly cited by others. Much current research addresses the issue of religion and science in the nineteenth century but none has focused on the Scriptural geologists. They deserve more study because they were ~an important irritant
british scriptural geologist particularly britain number layman fought new geological theory men become known scriptural hold traditional christian view genesis provide historical_account creation universe early_history earth particular believe unique global catastrophe produce geological record earth position respond equal old earth theory geologist also reject misinterpretation scripture gap theory day age theory flood theory local flood theory writer receive_limited scholarly analysis give attention_historian regularly cite others much_current address_issue religion science none focus scriptural geologist deserve study important