CHAPTER XX.
Biblical Self-Contradictions—Suggested Reasons for the Self-Contradictions—Biblical Obscenity—Admissions as to Biblical Obscenity—Numerical Efficiency of the Different Religions of the World.
O Lord, there is another trifle or two I should like to bring under thy notice. I do not mind thy Book being contradicted by Science; for what is Science to thee? Science often alters its tune, and I am prepared to back thee against Science any day. Let Science contradict thee as it may: that, to minds that have widely envisaged the problem of Being, is a small matter. But the worst of it is, O Lord, thou contradictest thyself, and this many times and oft. Thou beginnest thy book with self-contradictions, and, that thou mayest be consistent, thou carriest these self-contradictions right through, from Genesis to Revelation. Just by way of specimen, let us begin at the beginning. If thou hast a copy of thine own Book at hand, may I ask thee to compare the second with the first chapter of Genesis:—
| Genesis—Chap. I. | Genesis—Chap. II. |
|---|---|
| Water abundant (verses 2, 5[err 1], 6, 9, and 10). | Water deficient (verses 5 and 6). |
| Vegetation, herbs, grass, trees, produced by an almighty feat (11 and 12). | Vegetation does not grow, because, as yet, it had not rained upon the earth; neither was there any man to till the ground (5). |
| Animals created before man (20, 21, 24, and 25). | Animals created after man (19). |
| Man and woman created same day in the image of God (26 and 27). | Man created first (7). Woman created some time afterwards, from a rib taken out of the man(22). |
| Man to have dominion over all the earth (28). | Man made to keep and dress the garden (15). |
- ↑ [Erratum: omit verse 5.]
