|
Some of the books of the Hebrew Bible contain descriptions of the physical world. Some claim that these descriptions can be part of developing a history of science during Levant's Iron Age. Others hold that the descriptions are not themselves scientific, and can as such have no place in the history of science. Panbabylonianists regard the Hebrew Bible as entirely derived from the culture and mythology of Babylonia as it stood during the 6th century BCE, during the Babylonian captivity. Current mainstream views suggests the possibility that some elements, particularly of the Torah, are independent of Babylonian influence, dating perhaps as early as the 9th or 10th century BCE, but the significant influence of Babylonian mythology and Babylonian cosmology on the worldview presented in the Tanakh is still beyond doubt. The Christian New Testament is a product of the Roman era and reflects the worldview of that epoch in some instances, e.g. in references to astrology or demonic possession. == Cosmology and astronomy == Biblical cosmology provides sporadic glimpses that may be stitched together to form a Biblical impression of the physical universe. There have been comparisons between the Bible, with passages such as from the Genesis creation narrative, and the astronomy of classical antiquity more generally.〔Kurtz, J. H., and T. D. Simonton. (The Bible and Astronomy; An Exposition of the Biblical Cosmology, and Its Relations to Natural Science ). Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857.〕 The worldview of the Tanakh (or Old Testament) appears to be that of a flat earth (e.g. , ) in a geocentric universe (e.g. , , ), a view in line with Mesopotamian astronomy of the period.〔Driscoll, J.F. (1909). "Firmament". In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 26 May 2008 from (New Advent ). ("That the Hebrews entertained similar ideas appears from numerous biblical passages...").〕 However, Christians claim that the term ''chuwg 'erets'' in translates as 'circle of the Earth', thus referring to a "round earth". Critics, on the other hand, assert that it meant a "flat earth", claiming that if Isaiah wanted to refer to a spherical earth, he would have used the term ''kadur'' (sphere) in Hebrew .However the term kadur is in truth non specific as it can also be used as in Isaiah 29:3 ("i will encamp against you like a ring") to denote a flat circle. The spherical shape of the earth was established in the west only in Hellenistic astronomy, in the 3rd century BCE. The first suggestions of heliocentrism in Europe also date to the Hellenistic period but remained speculative until the 16th century CE. Recent measurements from satellites show that the< Earth is, in fact, an oblate spheroid flattened at the poles. Lactantius and Cosmas Indicopleustes insisted on the flat Earth model on scriptural authority as late as the 5th to 6th century, long after the spherical shape of the Earth had been deduced in Hellenistic astronomy, and had been generally accepted by their fellow Christians.〔Ferngren, Larson, Amundsen (Editors). "Encyclopedia of the History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition", Garland Publishing Inc, US (29 Jun 2000), p. 246-247. ISBN 0-8153-1656-9〕 In the reception of Heliocentrism after Copernicus, biblical references 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalm 93:1, Psalm 96:10, Psalm 104:5, and Ecclesiastes 1:5 were cited for biblical support of geocentrism.〔Brodrick (1965, c1964, p.95) quoting Cardinal Bellarmine's letter to Foscarini, dated 12 April 1615. Translated from Favaro((1902, 12:171–172) ) .〕 Chronicles 16:30 states that "the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved." Psalm 104:5 says, "(Lord ) Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever." Ecclesiastes 1:5 states that "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose." Galileo defended heliocentrism, and claimed it was not contrary to those Scripture passages. He took Augustine's position on Scripture. The most supportive bible passage of their view was Job 26:7, where Job declares that God "hangs the earth on nothing", which for its time was very close to how modern astronomers would describe the Earth's position. There are passages that denote the Moon as being luminous ((Gen 1:16 )). Some argue that, as in Babylonian cosmography, the Hebrew Bible imagines Earth covered by a solid sky-dome〔Strong's Concordance (1890). ("Dictionary and Word Search for Raqiya` (Strong's 07549)" ). Blue Letter Bible 1996-2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008. ("considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above")〕〔Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906). ("Cosmogony" ). Retrieved 26 May 2008. ("The Hebrews regarded the earth as a plain or a hill figured like a hemisphere, swimming on water. Over this is arched the solid vault of heaven. To this vault are fastened the lights, the stars. So slight is this elevation that birds may rise to it and fly along its expanse.")〕 (the Firmament) to which the stars were attached. Nevertheless, others have argued this was before the fall of man (Genesis 3) and flood of Noah's time (Genesis 6), thus the atmosphere may have changed significantly since that time. Still others suggest that the firmament was actually beneath the earth.〔In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood (2008). ("An Alternative Interpretation" ) Retrieved 5 May 2011.〕 Augustus Hopkins Strong presented another explanation of all the alleged inaccuracies reflected in the Hebrew Bible in his work, ''Systematic Theology: The Doctrine of God''.〔Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology: The Doctrine of God (Volume I) ("Errors in matters of Science" ) Philadelphia: The Judson Press (1907), pg. 223〕 Strong pointed out idiomatic usage of ''moonlight'' and ''sunset'' are still prevalent in current times as in ancient times, and that the word firmament has been used in literature where no one would suggest the author believed in flat earth or solid firmament theology.〔 He illustrated the point by asking if Dickens believed the firmament was "a piece of solid masonry" when "in his ''American Notes'', 72, () describes a prairie sunset: 'The decline of day here was very gorgeous, tinging the firmament deeply with red and gold, up to the very keystone of the arch above us'." However, it is possible that Dickens was writing this passage with a conscious or unconscious reliance on the biblical motif itself.〔 Many scholars (other than those ascribing to some form of Biblical inerrancy doctrine) generally accept that such metaphors in the Bible reflect the authors' underlying belief in the literal truth of this cosmological model.〔For a description of Near Eastern and other ancient cosmologies and their connections with the Biblical view of the Universe, see Paul H. Seeley, ("The Firmament and the Water Above: The Meaning of ''Raqia'' in Genesis 1:6-8" ) ''Westminster Theological Journal'' 53 (1991), and ("The Geographical Meaning of 'Earth' and 'Seas' in Genesis 1:10" ) ''Westminster Theological Journal'' 59 (1997)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Science and the Bible」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|