The Truth About The Creation
God's Glory, God's Handiwork, God's
Word, The Genesis Account
A Dissertation by Pastor Ed Rice January 2017
Appendix 2: The
Emperor’s new Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson, 1837
The Emperor’s new
Clothes
by
Danish author and poet, Hans Christian Andersen (AD 1805-1875 )
First
published in
1837, presently public domain
Once upon a time there lived a vain Emperor whose only worry in life
was to dress in elegant clothes. He changed clothes almost every hour
and loved to show them off to his people.
Word of the Emperor's refined habits spread over his kingdom and
beyond. Two scoundrels who had heard of the Emperor's vanity decided
to take advantage of it. They introduced themselves at the gates of
the palace with a scheme in mind.
"We are two very good tailors and after many years of research
we have invented an extraordinary method to weave a cloth so light
and fine that it looks invisible. As a matter of fact it is invisible
to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent to appreciate its
quality."
The chief of the guards heard the scoundrel's strange story and sent
for the court chamberlain. The chamberlain notified the prime
minister, who ran to the Emperor and disclosed the incredible news.
The Emperor's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to see
the two scoundrels.
"Besides being invisible, your Highness, this cloth will be
woven in colors and patterns created especially for you." The
emperor gave the two men a bag of gold coins in exchange for their
promise to begin working on the fabric immediately.
"Just tell us what you need to get started and we'll give it to
you." The two scoundrels asked for a loom, silk, gold thread and
then pretended to begin working. The Emperor thought he had spent his
money quite well: in addition to getting a new extraordinary suit, he
would discover which of his subjects were ignorant and incompetent. A
few days later, he called the old and wise prime minister, who was
considered by everyone as a man with common sense.
"Go and see how the work is proceeding," the Emperor told
him, "and come back to let me know."
The prime minister was welcomed by the two scoundrels.
"We're almost finished, but we need a lot more gold thread.
Here, Excellency! Admire the colors, feel the softness!" The old
man bent over the loom and tried to see the fabric that was not
there. He felt cold sweat on his forehead.
"I can't see anything," he thought. "If I see nothing,
that means I'm stupid! Or, worse, incompetent!" If the prime
minister admitted that he didn't see anything, he would be discharged
from his office.
"What a marvelous fabric, he said then. "I'll certainly
tell the Emperor." The two scoundrels rubbed their hands
gleefully. They had almost made it. More thread was requested to
finish the work.
Finally, the Emperor received the announcement that the two tailors
had come to take all the measurements needed to sew his new suit.
"Come in," the Emperor ordered. Even as they bowed, the two
scoundrels pretended to be holding large roll of fabric.
"Here it is your Highness, the result of our labour," the
scoundrels said. "We have worked night and day but, at last, the
most beautiful fabric in the world is ready for you. Look at the
colors and feel how fine it is." Of course the Emperor did not
see any colors and could not feel any cloth between his fingers. He
panicked and felt like fainting. But luckily the throne was right
behind him and he sat down. But when he realized that no one could
know that he did not see the fabric, he felt better. Nobody could
find out he was stupid and incompetent. And the Emperor didn't know
that everybody else around him thought and did the very same thing.
The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it. Once they
had taken the measurements, the two began cutting the air with
scissors while sewing with their needles an invisible cloth.
"Your Highness, you'll have to take off your clothes to try on
your new ones." The two scoundrels draped the new clothes on him
and then held up a mirror. The Emperor was embarrassed but since none
of his bystanders were, he felt relieved.
"Yes, this is a beautiful suit and it looks very good on me,"
the Emperor said trying to look comfortable. "You've done a fine
job."
"Your Majesty," the prime minister said, "we have a
request for you. The people have found out about this extraordinary
fabric and they are anxious to see you in your new suit." The
Emperor was doubtful showing himself naked to the people, but then he
abandoned his fears. After all, no one would know about it except the
ignorant and the incompetent.
"All right," he said. "I will grant the people this
privilege." He summoned his carriage and the ceremonial parade
was formed. A group of dignitaries walked at the very front of the
procession and anxiously scrutinized the faces of the people in the
street. All the people had gathered in the main square, pushing and
shoving to get a better look. An applause welcomed the regal
procession. Everyone wanted to know how stupid or incompetent his or
her neighbor was but, as the Emperor passed, a strange murmur rose
from the crowd.
Everyone said, loud enough for the others to hear: "Look at the
Emperor's new clothes. They're beautiful!"
"What a marvelous train!"
"And the colors! The colors of that beautiful fabric! I have
never seen anything like it in my life!" They all tried to
conceal their disappointment at not being able to see the clothes,
and since nobody was willing to admit his own stupidity and
incompetence, they all behaved as the two scoundrels had predicted.
A child, however, who had no important job and could only see things
as his eyes showed them to him, went up to the carriage.
"The Emperor is naked," he said.
"Fool!" his father reprimanded, running after him. "Don't
talk nonsense!" He grabbed his child and took him away. But the
boy's remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated
over and over again until everyone cried:
"The boy is right! The Emperor is naked! It's true!"
The Emperor realized that the people were right but could not admit
to that. He though it better to continue the procession under the
illusion that anyone who couldn't see his clothes was either stupid
or incompetent. And he stood stiffly on his carriage, while behind
him a page held his imaginary mantle.
by
Danish author and poet, Hans Christian Andersen (AD 1805-1875 )
First
published in
1837, presently public domain
To Continue in this series click the link below:
Appendix
3: Theory of Relativity and Atomic
Clocks. . .
266
www.truthaboutthechrist.com/thetruthaboutthecreation/a3atomic_clocks.html
. . . Hafele and Keating
Experiment. . . 266
. . . Around the World. . . 266
. . . Around-the-World Atomic
Clocks. . .
266
. . . Gravitational Time Shifts.
. . 267
. . . Kinematic Time Shift
Calculation. . .
267
. . . Application. . . 268
. . . Aircraft Time Dilation. .
. 268
. . . Twin Paradox. . . 269
God's Glory, God's Handiwork, God's Word, The Genesis Account
Series Complete Table of
Contents