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

22 SCIENCE: AND RELIGION.gin in the simplest germinal form, or in afew primordial forms, which shall neverthelessprovide for the appearance of all the varietiesof species of animal life now knowllto us. In presenting the latter hypothesis,science presses into notice a much greaterperplexity affecting the origin of the universe,originating a difficulty towards the solutionof which it is altogether unable to offerthe slightest contribution. In this single illustration,there is much to convince theologiansand scientific men that each divisionof thinkers will best fulfil its own part, andmost honor religion and science, by workingunreservedly on data within its own reach,without apprehension as to ultimate conflict.Frorn the other side, it is not difficult tofind evidence that continued inquiry and reflectionhave led to the abatement, if not theactual withdrawal, of scientific hypotheseswhich seemed at variance with common belief,and which might be taken as adverse toreligious thought. For example, as a branchof the inquiry connected with the theory ofdevelopment of species, and coming directlyupon the position of man in the scale of being,we had for a time a wonderful amount