By Jeff Watson
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
It’s not everyday that a heresy trial makes headline news. Then again, it’s not 1893!
Heresy in History
According to historian, Ronald F. Satta, we gaze through a fascinating window when we revisit the famous indictment of Charles A. Briggs by the Supreme Court of the Presbyterian Church. In The Sacred Text—Biblical Authority in 19th-Century America, the new Princeton Theological Monograph re-tells the story of this landmark case—framing two different perspectives on the Bible.
In the controversial view of Professor Briggs, the Judeo-Christian scriptures convey absolute truth—but only in the realm of faith and morals; in the nobler view of Briggs’ examiners, the Word of God also offers an unerring voice on the topics of history and science. In his doctrinal Waterloo, the Union Seminary professor lost his case by a vote of 383-116.
Suspended by the Presbyterian authorities, Dr. Briggs would continue his prolific career as a writer and teacher. Moving into the Episcopal ministry, this native New Yorker would serve to alert many Americans to some of the religious tensions surrounding geology, Darwin, and literary criticism.
The Bible Today
According to a Barna poll conducted in 2006, the “…[M]ajority of both women (74%) and men (62%) believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of its teachings.” Perhaps, if the Hebrew specialist were tried again today—114 years later—he might still lose his debate in the realm of public opinion; nevertheless, it seems certain that both Briggs and his jury would nudge us toward a hearty reading of holy writ.