Emphasis Preaching Journal

Excessive confidence in humanity's creations has always posed a theological challenge. On April 14-15, 1912, the British luxury liner R.M.S. Titanic sank while en route from Southampton, England, to New York on its maiden voyage in one of history's most-storied tragedies. The great ship was fabled before its first sailing not only because it was the most luxurious afloat, but also because of its state-of-the-art construction. Built by William Pirrie's Belfast firm, Harland and Wolff, the ship had a double-bottomed hull divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Since four could be flooded without jeopardy to the craft's watertight integrity, the press deemed the ship as "unsinkable." Shortly before midnight on April 14, the ship struck an iceberg rupturing five of the watertight compartments compromising the vessel's buoyancy. By 2:20 a.m. the ship was gone with the lives of about 1,500 people.