FWD: Extinction and education

[Kenelm Philip]

	I have a problem with seeing the Bible (King James Version??) used
as evidence in a discussion on evolution. Mark Walker claims Genesis 1:29-30
provides evidence that humans are vegetarian. Yet I note the following:

Genesis 1:30 reads: "And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of
the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is
life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so."

So the KJV says that tigers, falcons, and carrion beetles are vegetarian?
That's contrary to fact. Unless you claim that all these animals were
vegetarian before Adam ate that fruit. And that idea would have interesting
consequences... Without carrion beetles, ants, and such the Garden of
Eden would have gotten a bit messy in time. Also, a vegetarian tiger
would be a very different beast indeed... And if insects all ate plants
in the Garden, then a _lot_ of insects were suddenly created after the
Fall.

Furthermore, Genesis 9:3 says: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be
meat for you." So by the same authority humans are not vegetarians in their
present fallen state.

Also, if we are to use the Bible as a source of scientific data, what
about Psalm 93: "Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved."
No astronomer I know, myself included when I was one, can accept that as
literal truth.

	I know, the Devil quotes Scripture to his purpose. But I think it's
safer, with all due respect, to keep religious writings out of scientific
discussions. (Now I shall bow my head and start dodging brickbats.)

							Ken Philip
fnkpw at uaf.edu