The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library
The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library
INORGANIC ELEMZNTS. 113tion." * Such a statement of the position,though it can not be regarded as an ultimateone in scientific research, is so obviously adeduction from present knowledge that itmust to some extent modify prevailing conceptions.It may, indeed be suggested thatsome catastrophe may terminate the presentorder of things, and that some action of thelaw of gravitation may combine the fragmentsof worlds, and give a fresh start with newcombinations of energy; but the bare suggestionof this implies a much wider rangefor scientific research than any thing yetknown to us, and at the same time a largerdemand upon intelligence in the control andregulation of what must nevertheless seem tous violent catastrophes. Such speculation,if it may warrantably find encouragementunder purely scientific conditions, religiousthought will neither gainsay nor resist; butwill find itself in no perplexity to accept.Waiving, however, all speculation as to thepossible future of the physical universe, wehere concentrate attention on the past; wetake the most recent scientific testimony asto the structure of the physical universe, ;tsRecent Advances, p. 20.
11.4 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.it bears on the problem concerning the originof our world. Here the testimony of scienceis clearly and unmistakably in favor ofthe creation or absolute origin of matter andenergy, in the only form in which sciencecan bear any testimony on the subject. It is,of course, impossible that science should presentdirect testimony to the fact of creation, asit is impossible that history should; for such afact as creation must be entirely beyond therange of science. But in testifying to theindestructibility and uncreatability of matterunder the conditions capable of being investigatedby observational science; and in bearingthe same testimony as to the energy in theworld, it offers all the support it is capable ofoffering to the reality of the supernatural,-testifying to the dependence of nature on somepower altogether transcending itself. Buthere I prefer rather to use the words of apurely scientific observer. When dealing withthe doctrine of energy, and specially with theconsequences of dissipation of energy, ProfessorTait uses these words,-" As it alone isable to lead us, by sure steps of deductive reasoning,to the necessary future of the universe-necessary, that is, if physical laws remain
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INORGANIC ELEMZNTS. 113tion." * Such a statement <strong>of</strong> the position,though it can not be regarded as an ultimateone in scientific research, is so obviously adeduction from present knowledge that itmust to some extent modify prevailing conceptions.It may, indeed be suggested thatsome catastrophe may terminate the presentorder <strong>of</strong> things, <strong>and</strong> that some action <strong>of</strong> thelaw <strong>of</strong> gravitation may combine the fragments<strong>of</strong> worlds, <strong>and</strong> give a fresh start with newcombinations <strong>of</strong> energy; but the bare suggestion<strong>of</strong> this implies a much wider rangefor scientific research than any thing yetknown to us, <strong>and</strong> at the same time a largerdem<strong>and</strong> upon intelligence in the control <strong>and</strong>regulation <strong>of</strong> what must nevertheless seem tous violent catastrophes. Such speculation,if it may warrantably find encouragementunder purely scientific conditions, religiousthought will neither gainsay nor resist; butwill find itself in no perplexity to accept.Waiving, however, all speculation as to thepossible future <strong>of</strong> the physical universe, wehere concentrate attention on the past; wetake the most recent scientific testimony asto the structure <strong>of</strong> the physical universe, ;tsRecent Advances, p. 20.
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