Bible and Darwin are not exclusive, says Holloway

Published on Monday 30 March 2009 02:34

READING the Bible as a series of myths can help humanity better understand itself, Dr Richard Holloway told a special church service in Edinburgh yesterday.

The former Bishop of Edinburgh said that psychotherapists use ancient texts to help believers and non-believers deal with problems such as post- traumatic stress disorder.

Dr Holloway was addressing the annual Church of Scotland service at St Giles Cathedral in honour of Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Speaking of the turbulent relationship between science and religion, he said this year's 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin was being seen in some areas as a "Battle of the Books" between the Bible and the scientist's The Origin of Species.

"If you listen to extremists in this debate you get the impression that you have to choose between these two, mutually exclusive texts," said Dr Holloway.

However, the often outspoken writer and broadcaster said those that believe the world was made in six days around 7,000 years ago have in fact undermined the Bible.

"Unimaginative literalists have destroyed its reputation by insisting on the factual truth of the myth of the Fall of Genesis rather than encouraging us to read it as a metaphor for the enduring human capacity for self- destruction."