I added this bit on to my other thread on Augustine, but I think it deserves its own thread, since it so directly fits these issues. This is from his commentary on Genesis, and in this passage, he is speaking directly about attempting to interpret obscure texts like Genesis 1 and 2:
"37. In matters that are obscure and far beyond our vision, even in such as we may find treated in Holy Scripture [and remember, he IS speaking of Genesis here], different Interpretations are sometimes possible without prejudice to the faith we have received. In such a case, we should not rush in headlong and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search of truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it. That would be to battle not for the teaching of Holy Scripture but for our own, wishing its teaching to conform to ours, whereas we ought to wish ours to conform to that of Sacred Scripture. "
I think this says it all perfectly. Let's see how it applies to the YEC position:
1. When Scriptures are not crystal clear (and he has already said Genesis in NOT), there are different interpretations which are possible.
2. We should NOT take a stand on one interpretation such that, if it was proved wrong, our faith would suffer (we have seen that some here on this forum and elsewhere DO think this way). And if we should not even privately hold to a particular interpretation in this fashion, we definitely should not be teaching it!
3. It points out that further search for truth CAN inform (or, as he put it "justly undermine")an interpretive postion, which means, once again, that he believes we should factor in the evidence from nature to our interpretive process.
4. That holding tight to an interpretation in the face of the evidence is NOT to battle for the Holy Scripture, but for our personal interpretation. Rather, after taking all these interpretive factors into consideration (which includes evidence from nature), we should CONFORM our beliefs to that proper interpretation.
Again, I think this says it all.
"37. In matters that are obscure and far beyond our vision, even in such as we may find treated in Holy Scripture [and remember, he IS speaking of Genesis here], different Interpretations are sometimes possible without prejudice to the faith we have received. In such a case, we should not rush in headlong and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search of truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it. That would be to battle not for the teaching of Holy Scripture but for our own, wishing its teaching to conform to ours, whereas we ought to wish ours to conform to that of Sacred Scripture. "
I think this says it all perfectly. Let's see how it applies to the YEC position:
1. When Scriptures are not crystal clear (and he has already said Genesis in NOT), there are different interpretations which are possible.
2. We should NOT take a stand on one interpretation such that, if it was proved wrong, our faith would suffer (we have seen that some here on this forum and elsewhere DO think this way). And if we should not even privately hold to a particular interpretation in this fashion, we definitely should not be teaching it!
3. It points out that further search for truth CAN inform (or, as he put it "justly undermine")an interpretive postion, which means, once again, that he believes we should factor in the evidence from nature to our interpretive process.
4. That holding tight to an interpretation in the face of the evidence is NOT to battle for the Holy Scripture, but for our personal interpretation. Rather, after taking all these interpretive factors into consideration (which includes evidence from nature), we should CONFORM our beliefs to that proper interpretation.
Again, I think this says it all.
