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
SCIENCE AND DIVINE INTERPOSITION. 297new doctrine threatens their standpoint ofmiracle." * From this allusion it appearsthat he regards a doctrine of descent asopposed to what he describes as an '"incomprehensibleact of creation." -j- Accordinglyhe celebrates the praises of this theoryin tl~ese terms,--"it interprets by a singleprinciple those great phenomena which withoutits aid remain a mass of unintelligiblemiracles." f In harmony with these utteranceshe speaks of gradual evolution ofthe organs of special sense, such as the organsof hearing and smell, as giving a negativeto " the sudden and incomprehensibleorigination of these organs in an immediatestate of completion."These few extracts may suffice to indicatethe mental attitude of those who show aversionto the acknowledgment of miracle. WithSchmidt the " miraculous " is another namefor the incomprehensible; to him the sug-gestion of miracle is disagreeable as implyingthe impossibility of scientific explanation. Ifthese things be kept in mind, it will be clearhow widely apart this notion is from theChristian conception of miracle. The one* p. 6. t p. 11. 3 p. 12. Q p. 151.
298 SCIZNCE AND RELIGION.view is that observational science can make noaccount of miracle: the other is that thoughtconcerning a supernatural Being really involve&the conception of miracle. Sciencecan assign no place to the incomprehensible,can make no account of it. Religion finds ahigher sphere of comprehensibility in theaction of supernatural power. The two positionsare radically distinct, and do not comeinto actual conflict. Hence religion has noopposition to the view of miracle just stated,which amounts to little more than a negativede.finition of science. To say that sciencecan take no account of the miraculous, isonly in other words to say that science is explanationof natural phenomena by recognitionof the action of natural causes, consequently the miraculous does not come withinthe boundaries of science. This is self-evident,and on this footing theology has no accountto make of what is only a semblanceof opposition, involving no real conflict. Creation,for example, can not come within thecompass of observational science; but creationmay nevertheless be a rational conceptionin dealing with a purely rational problem,which does not at all belong to physical sci-
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SCIENCE AND DIVINE INTERPOSITION. 297new doctrine threatens their st<strong>and</strong>point <strong>of</strong>miracle." * From this allusion it appearsthat he regards a doctrine <strong>of</strong> descent asopposed to what he describes as an '"incomprehensibleact <strong>of</strong> creation." -j- Accordinglyhe celebrates the praises <strong>of</strong> this theoryin tl~ese terms,--"it interprets by a singleprinciple those great phenomena which withoutits aid remain a mass <strong>of</strong> unintelligiblemiracles." f In harmony with these utteranceshe speaks <strong>of</strong> gradual evolution <strong>of</strong>the organs <strong>of</strong> special sense, such as the organs<strong>of</strong> hearing <strong>and</strong> smell, as giving a negativeto " the sudden <strong>and</strong> incomprehensibleorigination <strong>of</strong> these organs in an immediatestate <strong>of</strong> completion."<strong>The</strong>se few extracts may suffice to indicatethe mental attitude <strong>of</strong> those who show aversionto the acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> miracle. WithSchmidt the " miraculous " is another namefor the incomprehensible; to him the sug-gestion <strong>of</strong> miracle is disagreeable as implyingthe impossibility <strong>of</strong> scientific explanation. Ifthese things be kept in mind, it will be clearhow widely apart this notion is from the<strong>Christian</strong> conception <strong>of</strong> miracle. <strong>The</strong> one* p. 6. t p. 11. 3 p. 12. Q p. 151.
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