The Neptunian, or Water Theory of Creation (1888) E-Book

Woodman J. M.

• Herausgeber: Librorium Editions
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

The question as to what kind of reading shall yield us the most exquisite enjoyment, largely depends upon our ability for self-development. Taste in reading, as in eating, is often an educated faculty. The relish that we now have for many kinds of food, we had to acquire. We all have faculties for intellectual, moral and spiritual enjoyment, in lines of thought corresponding. These must be developed by use. Reader, you have the ability, if you will allow it to be developed, of enjoying a perusal of this sublime subject. Mere sensational reading like emotional religion has its field of enjoyment, its rills of happiness; but it is changeable and uncertain. Songs of praise and devotional reading have a higher place in the human soul, lasting in their nature.

Leseprobe

The Neptunian or Water Theory of Creation

The Neptunian or Water Theory of Creation.

By

Rev. J. M. Woodman,

Professor in Natural Science, Chico Academy, Cal.

Author of “God in Nature and Revelation,” “The Song of Cosmology,”

“Star Dates of Human History,” “The Song of the Morning

Stars in Creation’s Grand March.”

“If they speak not according to thy word it is because

there is no truth in them.”

1888.

© 2021 Librorium Editions

ISBN : 9782383831136

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I. Three Theories Reviewed in the Light Of Scientific Facts.

Section 1 To State the Plutonic Theory of the Schools.

Section 2. We will State the Neptunian Theory as a Hypothesis.

Section 3. The well established Fact of Science look toward, and defend this Theory.

Section 4. How was such a World adapted to Man or strictly speaking, Man to such a World?

CHAPTER II. The Neptunian Theory of Creation was first brought to Light in the Book of Job.

CHAPTER III. All the Scripture References to Cosmology are in Harmony with the Book of Job.

CHAPTER IV. The Phenomena to which allusions are so freely made in the “Six Days of Moses,” suggest certain scientific necessities, replete with geological information, which demonstrate the progressive work of God, for matter, in matter, by and through matter, and above matter, to the end of time.

Section 1. The Work of the First Day.

Section 2. The Work of the Second Day.

Section 3. The Work of the Third Day.

Section 4. The Work of the Fourth Day.

Section 5. The Work of the Fifth Day.

Section 6. The Work of the Sixth Day.

INTRODUCTION.

The question as to what kind of reading shall yield us the most exquisite enjoyment, largely depends upon our ability for self-development. Taste in reading, as in eating, is often an educated faculty. The relish that we now have for many kinds of food, we had to acquire. We all have faculties for intellectual, moral and spiritual enjoyment, in lines of thought corresponding. These must be developed by use. Reader, you have the ability, if you will allow it to be developed, of enjoying a perusal of this sublime subject. Mere sensational reading like emotional religion has its field of enjoyment, its rills of happiness; but it is changeable and uncertain. Songs of praise and devotional reading have a higher place in the human soul, lasting in their nature.

Observation and historical research open another field of enjoyment. Language and location of places may become a passion in the mind. The study of causes in nature, at best but secondary, may hold the mind in a sweet revery of delight; but these are mere rills of comfort compared to an open sea, to the ability of reading and comprehending first causes, in the light of prophetic declarations.

We are thrilled in the presence of relics of ancient history. The sight of a mummy, known to be an ancient person of historic note thrills us with admiration and agreeable wonder, as in the case of Rameses II. Three thousand years seems a long time; yet it is easy to obtain almost any where a fossil, fish or shell, representing as many million of years. No where else are the “Footprints” of God so plain, measuring the long ages of time, as seen in the Bible.

The fact that you have not been accustomed to read on this subject is no reason why you should not begin at once, and experience the increased reverence for God, the captivating engagement of thought, and the exquisite enjoyment of soul, as a result. Do you still ask what practical benefit will this knowledge be to you? Let us rather ask what harm will come from a general impression that the cosmological utterances of the Bible are so tangled up in a network of scientific suppositions, as to cause even good men to drop them, as parts of God’s inspiration to man. Such results are already produced all over the land.

The Bible has been assailed on its cosmological sayings. Shall it be defended? If you are so fortunate as to be entrenched in the belief of the inspiration of the Scriptures, while you are unable to give a reason for the hope within, your friends may not be so fortunate. Your children, it may be, will return from school, intent upon showing you the discrepancies with the established teachings of science. If these things are, as they purport to be, given by inspiration of God, they can never be made to harmonize with an illogical and untruthful cosmology. How important, then, that we should have the right theory.

The disciples of Jesus were asked, “Have any of the rulers of the Jews believed on him?” Perhaps before you purchase you ask, Have any men of scientific notoriety endorsed these views? Of the many scores of good words given by editors, lawyers, doctors, ministers, teachers, and professors in colleges, I have room only for a few. Prof. David Swing of Chicago said: “The Neptunian theory of creation, as presented in Dr. Woodman’s book, is the most logical presentation of cosmology that I ever read. He writes in a calm and truthful style.” The late Prof. Norton of the Cal. State Normal said: “You have chosen an opportune time for the presentation of your book, for the theories of cosmology are on the eve of a mighty revolution, in which the water theory is likely to come to the front.” Prof. Reid, President of the State University, said: “The subject, as you present it, is wonderfully in accordance with what we see in Nature; and it is still more wonderful that you should find it so beautifully set forth in the Bible.” Prof. LeConte, of the same University, said: “Your theory is a wide departure from everything hitherto written upon the subject. I will say this of it; it accounts for more unexplained phenomena than any theory before presented. I will give you this item, which I know to be correct. The Magnolia tree in the Tertiary period, grew and blossomed as far as 80 degrees north.”

Numerous bodies of clergymen have endorsed the theory as a just and beautiful presentation of Scripture; many as the “only theory with which Moses’ Genesis of Creation can be reconciled.” The say-so of others may satisfy the indolent and careless, but to enjoy the subject you must read and digest these grand truths for yourself.

CHAPTER I. Three Theories Reviewed in the Light Of Scientific Facts.

In the study of Nature, aided only by natural phenomena, effect, suggesting cause, is everywhere apparent. These effects variously compounded point with accuracy only to secondary causes. First causes are hidden far behind all existing appearances.

Unaided nature leaves man to seek first causes only by hypotheses. As might be expected, on the same subject scientists widely differ in theory. Such reasoning must ever leave a large margin for opinion.

Notwithstanding the uncertainty of all such modes of reasoning, still that hypothesis must ever possess the greatest weight, that best accords with the largest number of existing facts. Reasoning a priori, from the providing care of nature’s God, as seen in stores of coal, oil, iron, copper, and various kinds of precious metals, we might reasonably conclude that he who created the intellectual as well as the religious nature in man would carefully provide for the full gratification of both. Knowing God’s nature, reason would suggest that what is wanting in nature must somewhere be supplied by special revelation of God.

The book of nature coupled with the Bible would be a necessity; not only for a complete worship, but for a full cosmology. We should expect the two volumes, when rightly rendered, to correspond. A noted atheistical lecturer upon cosmical changes stated in a series of lectures in Chico, Cal., that the “Bible theory of creation is decidedly watery. By the statements of this book, we should conclude that the center itself is one vast body of water, holding upon its bosom a crust of earth.” As a believer in the Plutonic theory, and having no reverence for the Bible, he added, “What fool does not know better?” What he gave as a “Bible Theory,” we will assume as a scientific hypothesis; and rest the proof of the same upon the facts in nature which scientists, in advocating the Plutonic theory, have given us.

It will be the object of this chapter to show that the more recently developed facts in geology point unmistakably to the Neptunian theory of Creation. This will be done by comparing the three theories, and each with lines of facts which have been well established. It will be necessary

Section 1 To State the Plutonic Theory of the Schools.

1. That all matter existed, or was created in a primeval state of heat. One hypothesis is, that all matter of our system was concentrated in one heated ball as a central sun.