Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
the biblical flood sounded like a relatively tranquil affair, leaving submerged olive trees in-
tact after taking forty days and nights for the waters to rise. To Fleming, a literal interpret-
ation of the biblical story was inconsistent with Buckland's view of violent currents cap-
able of carving deep valleys into hard rock and transporting huge boulders and carcasses
halfway around the world. Fleming granted that a great flood could have swept away loose
soil but doubted that so brief an event could have gouged out deep valleys. To the contrary,
a literal reading of Genesis implied that the ark grounded out close to where Noah and his
crew first embarked. Surely a flood powerful enough to reshape the world would strand
Noah somewhere far from where he started.
Although Fleming made it clear that he did not question the occurrence of the biblical
flood, he viewed the affair as tranquil enough to leave no geological signature. He con-
sidered it futile to look for physical evidence of the Flood.
Fleming also questioned Buckland's geological interpretations. A global flood would
leave the same kind of mud in caves all across Europe. Yet the mud one found varied with
the local geology. And if the mud wasn't washed in from afar, how could the fossils en-
tombed in it have been?
Fleming's critique continued with summarily dismissing the theory that the elephantlike
bones and carcasses found in Siberia and North America came from tropical regions. The
intact skeletons ruled out long-distance transport by a violent deluge. Pointing to Cuvi-
er's anatomical studies, Fleming argued that the thick hair covering mammoth carcasses
showed they were native to cold regions. These behemoths were well suited to living where
their bodies were found. Mammoths did not confirm the transporting power of the Flood.
Fleming even questioned Buckland's interpretation of Kirkdale Cave. While he agreed
that the cave was an ancient hyena den, he thought that Buckland jumped to conclusions in
attributing to a single flood the mud in which the bones were found. A succession of small
floods could have deposited the mud.
Reverend Fleming chided geologists for rushing to find evidence of the biblical flood. In
his view, misguided efforts to use geology to vindicate biblical interpretations would harm
both science and Christianity.
More than Fleming's scathing critique, new geological discoveries eroded Buckland's
faith in a universal deluge. Most problematic for a global flood was that explorers could
