I say that it would be a disservice to refer to the Bible as the most reliable science textbook. It is simply the most reliable book ever written. 600 years ago the finest scientists in the world would have told you that all available empirical evidence would show that the world was flat. 60 years ago the finest scientists would have said that according to all empirical evidence, that it was ludicrous to predict that men would be walking on the moon 25 years later. But, of course, today's scientists are different. They really know how to use empirical evidence. This time, scientists really have it figured out. Is that it?
But do theologians and Bible readers have a better record? There's evidence that the most learned scientists of Columbus's day knew that the earth was in fact round. Two centuries after his voyage, clergymen were still burning witches because of what it said in the Bible. Catholics and Protestants were killing each other about the same time, because their interpretations of the Bible differed.
60 years ago the finest scientists would have said that according to all empirical evidence, that it was ludicrous to predict that men would be walking on the moon 25 years later. But, of course, today's scientists are different. They really know how to use empirical evidence. This time, scientists really have it figured out. Is that it?
At least some of the errors of past generations can be attributed to the "if God had meant man to build flying machines, there's be something about it in the Bible" sentiment.
I don't want to get into a science vs. the Bible debate. Science -- however we define it -- has made a lot of mistakes over time and has crimes on its conscience as well. It would be best for people not to lose sight of moral concerns and not to rely entirely on what they take to be science, but it works the other way, too.
Secular learning isn't something to be scorned. If someone writes about navigation or aviation or genetics relying wholly on quotes from the Bible it's an indication to me that they aren't using all the information at hand, and that their arguments may not be the best grounded in the facts.
I think Einstein explained it like this: we used to think Zeus and some other Gods controlled the weather, but the more we learned about the forces of nature we pretty much predict the weather every day without the Bible. We make mistakes along the way, of course, but we get better and better at it. God has been pushed out of the weather, out of so many things I won't enumerate them here. Extraopolate, my good people, extraopolate (then there's no need to read the rest of his essay!). Incidentally, God is predicting rain tomorrow, so bring your umbrella.