--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After chiding the theologian for his…" description: "\"After chiding the theologian for his reliance on myth and miracle, science found itself in the unenviable position of having to create mythology of its..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/loren-eiseley-3848_assumption_after-chiding-the-theologian-for-his-rel_1646809.jpg" --- # After chiding the theologian for his reliance on myth and… ![“After chiding the theologian for his reliance on myth and miracle, science found itself in the unenviable position of having to create mythology of its own: namely, the assumption that what, after long effort, could not be proved to take place today had, in truth, taken place in the primeval past.” quote by Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/loren-eiseley-3848_assumption_after-chiding-the-theologian-for-his-rel_1646809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/loren-eiseley-3848_assumption_after-chiding-the-theologian-for-his-rel_1646809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/loren-eiseley-3848_assumption_after-chiding-the-theologian-for-his-rel_1646809.jpg) > “After chiding the theologian for his reliance on myth and miracle, science found itself in the unenviable position of having to create mythology of its own: namely, the assumption that what, after long effort, could not be proved to take place today had, in truth, taken place in the primeval past.” [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science creates its own myths when it cannot prove past events, filling gaps with speculative narratives. **In simple terms:** Science makes myths when evidence lacking. Key Takeaway Question scientific assumptions. Themes science myth philosophy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - research methodology - science communication - education - public policy Key Concepts epistemology historical reconstruction Questions to Reflect On - How do we distinguish myth from theory? - What safeguards prevent speculative science? A Different Perspective Myths can mislead public understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Chiding Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiding-theologian-615594/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-miracle-615595/) [Mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology/) [Mythology Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology-assumption-615593/) [Origin of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origin-of-life/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Primeval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primeval/) [Reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reliance/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Unenviable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-unenviable-615596/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [The likelihood of the formation of life from inanimate matter is 1 to a number with 40,000 noughts after it (1040,000)… It is big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hoyle/the-likelihood-of-the-formation-of-life-from-inanimate-matter-is-1-to/) [Fred Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hoyle/) > [We must remember that there is a great difference between a myth and a miracle. 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A single world, our own, suffices us; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-lem/this-is-another-lie-we-are-only-seeking-man-we-have-no-need-of-other/) [Stanislaw Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-lem/) > [Departed suns their trails of splendor drew Across departed summers: whispers came From voices, long ago resolved again Into the primeval Silence, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/departed-suns-their-trails-of-splendor-drew-across-departed-summers/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [When we go down to the low-tide line, we enter a world that is as old as the earth itself - the primeval meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/when-we-go-down-to-the-low-tide-line-we-enter-a-world-that-is-as-old/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [Jealousy is the most radical primeval and naked form of admiration in war paint, so to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/jealousy-is-the-most-radical-primeval-and-naked-form-of-admiration-in/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) ## More by Loren Eiseley > [“Taking a final pleasure in what the wind can neither proclaim nor destroy, I am a student of nightfall, I claim no other profession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/taking-a-final-pleasure-in-what-the-wind-can-neither-proclaim-nor/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [Perhaps a creature of so much ingenuity and deep memory is almost bound to grow alienated from his world, his fellows, and the objects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/perhaps-a-creature-of-so-much-ingenuity-and-deep-memory-is-almost/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [“The best way to be resurrected is to be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/the-best-way-to-be-resurrected-is-to-be-forgotten/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [It is frequently the tragedy of the great artist, as it is of the great scientist, that he frightens the ordinary man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/it-is-frequently-the-tragedy-of-the-great-artist-as-it-is-of-the/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/every-time-we-walk-along-a-beach-some-ancient-urge-disturbs-us-so/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [The future is neither ahead nor behind, on one side or another. 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