THE EARTH, THE STARS, AND THE BIBLE, by Paul M. Steidl, Published by the Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, 1979 and 1982, 250 pp., paper $5.95.

Fifty-five years ago I took a college course in astronomy, which was introduced by the professor’s assurance that we would never be the same after taking this course. The professor (like almost all of the other teachers I encountered in a dozen years of public schooling, most of them in the very Liberal California system) was far from an .evangelical Christian. The fascinating course raised many unanswered questions, more or less connected with the evolutionary interpretation of everything, which was everywhere, not so much argued as assumed.

Over a year ago, in the unusual publicity being given to Halley’s comet, my old interest in the field was rekindled as I began reading the Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines, getting books and buying a telescope.

FOLLOWING THE CROWD

During the course of this year the appearance of Howard J. Van Till’s book, The Fourth Day, has focussed even sharper attention on this subject but in a very disappointing way. The author, who grew us in the same little California community as I, despite being educated throughout in the Christian school system. as I was NOT, has produced what amounts to simply a spirited defense of the whole evolutionary perspective that we learned through intimate, wide-ranging, hard and bitter experience to identify as the opposite of everything Christian. (It is deeply disturbing to see a product of those Christian schools now producing the most forthright attack we have seen on the Christian convictions that drove our parents to found those schools.) Although others have exposed errors of that book more extensively than I would attempt to do here, we may note just a few of them. Although making “no claim to be a professional theologian or biblical interpreter,” it (p. 3), appealing for authority to Biblical critics among us such as John Stek (p. xi) and Harry R. Boer (p. 14) advocates a critical treatment of Biblical history which denies its “event-character” (pp. 13, 83, 85, 270)—denies even that it was intended to teach “what happened” (p. 83). Although biology is far from the author’s own specialty, he takes the responsibility for defending specifically “biological” as well as every other kind of evolution (pp. 254, 259). It is in the field of astronomy, however, that his work seems to me to be most disappointing. His portrayal of the whole evolutionary system of “cosmic history” as forming one unified pattern which is too well supported by all evidence and too coherent and near complete to be questionable (pp. 254, 255), doesn’t harmonize at all with the impression that one gets even on beginning to read in the field of astronomy. Its recent books and journals are full of guesses, contradictory theories and uncertainties, and reports of long-held ideas that are being contradicted by incoming data from recent space probes. In contrast, The Fourth Day looks more like propaganda designed to mislead the uninformed, the kind of unsubstantiated and often fraudulent propaganda that the omniscient Carl Sagan, the idol of the TV specials. whom even Van Till repudiates (pp. 69, 70, 210). is adept at producing. Although Van Till obviously wants to retain his Christian faith. he never hints at the insurmountable problems that adopting his denial of historical creation and fall always introduce for the multitude who have been traveling that route. Especially prominent among them have been the questions of why we need an atoning Savior and what conceivable place He can still have in a harmoniously developing, all-inclusive program of cosmic evolution. Have you ever seen an explanation of an UPWARD “fall” that appeared anything but ludicrous? And need anyone be surprised when the evolutionists’ “Christ” is “interpreted” to be a Marxist liberator? What else is there left for Him to do? The appearance of such distortions should surprise no one when the ever-changing theories of unbelieving scientists have been elevated to the position of Divine revelation and assigned an infallibility that we are warned against attributing to an old and culturally limited Bible. A key argument in Van Till’s case is the indications of difference and change in the stars-their occasional explosion in super-novas, for example. Don’t these prove evolutionary development? They prove quite the opposite. How could the indications that stars are wearing out and occasionally explode prove that they produced themselves? Psalm 102 long ago said of them, “they all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded” (v. 26). Their chan ges no more prove evolution than the existence of 90-foot dinosaur fossils proves that these developed into the tiny lizards that we know. These are evolutions? The case of The Fourth Day may be simply summed up as a reversal of the text of Heb. 11:3 from saying “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” into reading “so that what is seen WAS made out of what was visible.”

RARITY OF CHRISTIAN ASTRONOMERS

The multiplying problems for the evolutionary theory in many fields of science even for its former proponents have become well-known, and a considerable number of books have appeared that more or less effectively address those subjects. When the disappointing character of Van Till’s book spurred me to look for reliable treatments of astronomy from a Christian perspective, I was surprised that there seem to have been so few. Perhaps the scarcity should not be surprising. In geology the total lack of “missing link” fossils have been forcing reconsideration and in the field of microbiology the astounding complexity of even simple cells have exposed the nonsense of assuming that one can readily become another. In astronomy, however, a field in which no one has been beyond the moon, and much of the theory has had to be speculative, how can one· get hard evidence to indicate whose guesses are correct? That field is in the nature of the case much more open and even limited to conjecture than most others. And in that respect the appearance of most astronomy books is extremely misleading. Most of them seem to be full of calculations, equations , maps, charts and columns of figures, giving them the appearance of mathematical percision. This tends to obscure the fact that underlying the elaborate calculations are usually unproved or unprovable assumptions, so that the whole structure is much more uncertain than it appears to be. (While it is often said that “Figures don’t lie,” we must never forget, especially in this field, that “Liars can figure.”) J. G. Vas in the article in the last Outlook called attention to the usual intolerance of evolutionists who control educational programs, compelling Christians who disagree with them to seek other lines of employment. “So complete is the dominance of the evolutionary world view that it is often difficult for a non-evolutionist to obtain a position as a high school teacher of science. Academic freedom and tolerance are ideals which vanish when a scientific scholar is critical of evolution.” These considerations appear to be even more attributable to the field of astronomy when one considers how few are the major observatories and the people who control them.

A UNIQUE BOOK

Inquiry about recent Christian works in astronomy, while it did not lead to many, did turn up some that were impressive and especially one book that was exactly the kind of treatment I had been seeking. That was the publication of the non-profit Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, The Earth, the Stars, and the Bible, by Paul M. Steidl. Its Preface captures the reader’s attention–coming like a breath of fresh air after one has been breathing the stale smog of unbelief. “Ever since I started studying astronomy . . . I have felt that this science in particular had more to say about the wonders of God’s creation than almost any other.” “This book represents my efforts to discern the hand of God in the heavens. It has not always been easy to divorce the facts from the evolutionary framework in which they are usually presented; often a closer examination of a ‘fact’ reveals that it is really only an interpretation after all.” Although Steidl is convinced that what he cites as facts are undeniable, he expects disagreement with his interpretations, especially when they are contrary to prevailing views and when they bear on “man’s relationship to God.” But he sets out to show “the legitimacy of applying a Christian point of view to the study of astronomy,” hoping that “for those who like (him) feel that every aspect of God’s creation can be studied profitably in the light of His inerrant word, . . . this book gives a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the marvels of His creation in the heavens.” An introductory chapter highlights the fascinations as well as frustrations of astronomy, especially as men begin for the first time in human history to actually step beyond the earth. His distinction between what Christian and non-Christian see in their star-gazing is worthy of attention. “David saw God’s glory in the heavens; they spoke to him in a language understandable to all” (Ps. 19:1–3). This, what “most astronomers have missed,” the book intends to show. “For even though most astronomers have been blind to the glory of God in the heavens, they have enabled us to see it much better,” with their telescopes and newer equipment.

One of the impressive merits of the book, which sets it apart from many others, Christian as well as non-Christian, is that Mr. Steidl often frankly acknowledges the unanswered questions in the field, pointing out cases of apparently contradictory evidence (p. 7). His treatment of astronomy, in sharp contrast with Van Till’s stream-lined portrayal of assured and unbroken evolution, highlights the many problems and unanswered questions, attempting to fairly weigh the evidence. It is significant that while Van Till throughout his book shows his contempt for the work of the creationists, he completely ignores Steidl’s careful treatment of the whole field of astronomy, far more extensive and systematic than his own, except for quoting Steidl’s mention of an unanswered question about star clusters (p. 239, cf. p. 170)! Steidl’s survey of the vast field has obviously entailed an enormous amount of careful study, the more difficult because in his effort to hold a Christian point of view he had to resist the consistently hostile prejudice of most scholars in the field, while trying fairly to evaluate their observations and ideas. The resulting unique, capable and clear survey of this vast subject makes this book one that ought to get the attention of every Christian who would like some help to understand how, despite all of the devil’s massive efforts to obscure the fact of creation, the heavens still declare the glory of their Creator, and how we must seek to share in that praise.

THE VIRTUE OF ADMITTING OUR IGNORANCE

We all need to be reminded, even when we are trying to defend creation, that one of the most important lessons the Bible teaches us to learn from the heavens is the extent of our ignorance about them! God shocked Job into realizing the impertinence of his questions, by asking him, in effect (Job 38:4, 31–33), “Where were you when I made these things, and can you manage them?” (Cf. Psalm 131.) We all need to be reminded, especially when confronted by matters of which we are largely ignorant, that, in the homely old adage of Prof. D. H . Kromminga, “It’s better not to know quite so much than a lot of things that ain’t so!” The Apostle had to caution the argumentative Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:6), “Do not go beyond what is written,” and warn them not to play one personality off against another. What a multitude of fruitless and destructive church controversies have arisen because that double warning was neglected. (Consider the way guesses about eschatology divide evangelical Christians!) Notice how J.G. Vos (in this Outlook) while expressing his opinion, did not permit his discussion about evolution lo be diverted into argument about the dates. Steidl’s conscientious efforts not to go beyond the Bible’s revelation or established evidence inspires confidence and invites us to profit by his guidance in this fascinating and difficult field.

THE AGE QUESTION

He sees the Bible and a multitude of facts in all areas of astronomy indicating a universe that is much younger than most of modern theory assumes (pp. 2, 3). Of the common assumption of astronomers “that the universe is very old,” he says, “This idea is derived primarily from the areas of geology and evolution, which,”.over the last two centuries, have demanded more and more time for their slow processes to develop the earth into what it is. The great age is not based upon astronomical evidence initially but upon the theory of evolution which many Christians, correctly, we feel, believe not to be true.”

As we follow this survey, beginning with the earth, going successively to the solar system, the moon, the sun, the stars, the galaxies, and getting into questions about cosmology, quasars and redshifts, our guide notes that the farther out we go, the less our certainty is about many questions-we “can begin to see how man’s theories fail to explain the universe, and that only by a revelation by the Maker of the universe can man expect to gain any insight into it. Each area has its own contribution “to make to our understanding of that revelation, and each area is different” (p. 7). Although the book is clearly written, the reader may find the complexities to which we are introduced at. times bewildering. That does not detract from its value or warrant discarding it. (One doesn‘t have to eat everything on the menu to appreciate or profit by a good restaurant.) This is a unique, valuable book that ought to be in our libraries and in the hands of everyone who is looking for a helpful Christian guide to our mysterious universe.

OTHER GOOD BOOKS

Although Steidl’s book is the most extensive and helpful that I have been able to locate, there are also others that ought to be noted. Why Not Creation? edited by Walter E. Lammerts of the Creation Research Society and printed in a paperback edition by Baker, is an excellent collection of essays from the Society’s quarterly dealing with many areas of the creation vs. evolution controversy. Among them is a· 28-page contribution by astronomer George Mulfinger tracing the history of mistaken theories about the origins of the universe. The same Mulfinger edited a 1983 Creation Research Society Book entitled Design and Origin in Astronomy. It contains a number of good essays by various authors (two by Steidl), but it does not give a survey of the whole field of astronomy. Another broader treatment of the subject of evolution is the 1969 Baker book by Bolton Davidheiser entitled Evolution and the Christian Faith. It is particularly valuable as a historical study of these evolutionary theories and the often dismal surrender of Christians and their institutions to them. A 1972 Baker book, The Earl y Earth, by John C. Whitcomb was revised in 1986. It contains a variety of valuable material on many areas of the evolution debate. The new edition points out valid criticisms of Van Till’ s book for its attack on the credibility of Old Testament history (pp. 67–70). One notices, however, at times a tendency to explain more than we can or need attempt to prove–Do we have to say, for example that “on the first day God created a fixed and localized light source in the heaven in reference to which the rotating earth passes through the same kind of day/night cycles as it has since the creation of the sun . . . possibly incorporated into the stellar universe on the fourth day of the creation week after its unique and temporary function was accomplished” (p. 31)? I fear that we weaken rather than strengthen a good case if we speculate about matters of which the Bible says nothing.*

In our search for help to grasp something of the wonder of the heavens, the impressiveness of Steidl’s survey lies in his careful effort to show in them the glory of God in the light of His Word, and not to venture beyond the illumination of that Word. May it find many grateful readers.

PDJ

*Perhaps to further highlight our ignorance about these days we may ponder the 1897 observation of Herman Bavinck’s REFORMED DOGMATICS. Vol. 2, P. 458) that “Genesis gives no other impression than that the creation of heaven and earth in verse 1 and the unformed condition in verse 2 preceded the first day . . .