The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

LIFE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 143tinuous work of creation by a personal God,nor the partisans of natural evolution." Inthis criticism we have a good example of themanner in which an impression of conflict isfostered. The rejoinder to Schmidt is obvious.Those who value religion seek no concessions,but desire to banish from scientific and philosophicwriting all thought tending in this direction.If, however, needless complicationsare to be avoided, we must have exact statementsof the relative positions. The sentencejust quoted involves a misrepresentationequally of religion and science. Beliefin the supernatural does not imply belief ina continuous work of creation, and thereforedoes not carry any thing inherently antagonisticto the conception of evolution undernatural law. On the other hand, belief inevolution of species under the action of naturallaw does not decide the question, concerningthe origin of life, just as a science of naturecan decide nothing concerning the supernatural.Professor Schmidt is, however, so far fromclearly and consistently recognizing the exactlimit of the theory, that within the compassof a single page he first affirnls the limitation,and then denies it. First vindicating Darwin