Smithson's Theory of Special Creation

by Noble Smithson

On the other hand the materials of which the body of the human embryo is built, are carried by the blood of the mother to their proper places in the body; and different portions of the same raw material, namely: the mother’s blood, are then differentiated and specialized into bones, muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, and other tissues, which go to make up the human body.

These bones, muscles, nerves, etc., are all new creations, independent of those of the mother, father or any other human being that ever lived. Except the tiny germ-cell, which is less than one-trillionth part of the infant, at birth, they are built of atoms that never formed any part of any other human body. The human body is not only a compound physical structure, consisting of hundreds of bones, hundreds of muscles, arteries, veins, etc., and of trillions of cells; and of many organs, as the brain, heart, lungs, etc., but each of its tissues and each of its organs and parts has its own chemical composition and its own mechanical arrangement, peculiar to itself. For example, all the bones are composed of phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime and other elements peculiar to the bony tissue. Again, the atoms (cells) in each bone are mechanically arranged in a manner peculiar to that bone. Thus, the atoms in the bones of the skull are so arranged as to make them flat and curved, with an inner and outer plate; those in the other bones are so arranged as to make them long and cylindrical (arms and legs); others short (hands and feet); others flat and curved (ribs); others with complex forms (vertebræ), and so on. The muscular, vascular and nervous tissues are each composed of chemical elements peculiar to themselves; and their atoms are so arranged, mechanically, as to form the muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, etc.

The human body is not only a compound physical structure, with all these tissues, organs, cells, etc., but life is added to all the other wonderful properties, which it possesses.

Now, the chemical elements, which compose the bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, etc., either assemble, automatically, and group themselves, chemically, and at the same time, automatically, arrange themselves, mechanically, in such a manner as to form the bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, brain, heart, lungs, stomach, etc., without the aid of any extraneous psychic or creative force, or this wonderful work is done by the Creator, Himself. Which hypothesis is most plausible?

But this is not all. Each organ and part of the body is adjusted to, and correlated with, every other organ and part of it. For example, the heart and lungs are so arranged as to work together. What force or agency selected, assembled and grouped the chemical elements, which compose the heart, then arranged these atoms in such a manner as to form the heart with chambers, valves, etc.? How did it happen that the elements, which compose the lungs, were assembled, grouped and arranged so as to form them with their complex machinery. Are these things the work of blind unthinking cells or of the Creator?

It is inconceivable that the germ-cell (fertilized ovum), the mother’s blood or any atom of it has intellect, memory or will-power. It would be absurd nonsense to suppose that the atoms, of which bones, muscles, nerves, etc., are composed automatically, and of their own motion, differentiated themselves into bones, muscles, nerves, etc., and then grouped themselves together, mechanically, in such manner as to form the bones, muscles, nerves, etc., then fitted themselves together as we find them in the body of the infant at birth.

The properties and characteristics of the human body, as a physical structure, are not altered nor affected by the fact that it is composed of live tissues, such as bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, etc., and of live organs as the brain, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, kidneys, etc., for the body and every organ and part of it has the same length, breadth, thickness, and weight, whether living or dead, at least, until disintegration sets in. In brief, the living human body has identically the same physical properties and characteristics that an inanimate body would have, if the latter were composed of the same chemical elements, combined in the same proportions and mechanically arranged in the same manner and kept at the same temperature, as that of the human body; and the body merely has life, intellect, memory and will-power added to its physical properties and characteristics.

Nor do the atoms and cells, nor the organs and parts, of which the body is composed, except the brain, have any more intellect, memory and will-power than so many grains of sand, or so many bricks. For example: Every man knows that neither his bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, eyes, ears, nose, arms, hands, legs, feet, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, nor his kidneys have any intellectual powers whatever.

Every man knows that the infant, at birth, has no conscious intellect, memory, nor will-power. It is, therefore, absurd to suppose that the embryo has any power or control over its own development and growth. It is equally clear that the mother has no direct power nor control over its growth.

So, every man knows that his I, ego, or self has no power, nor any control over any part of his body except his brain and voluntary muscles. For example, no man can determine his complexion; nor the color of his hair; nor of his eyes; nor the length of his nose, nor his feet; nor the size of his head. These facts prove, conclusively, that the Creator generates, guides and controls the forces which build up the embryo body.