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

26 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.region of human intelligence, to show its rationalharmony with science, and to promoteactive co-operation between the two. Andthis is to be done for the Christian religionin view of all the advantages, and of all thealleged disadvantages too, of what has beenreproachfully named " a book religion," whichassuredly it is, just as all science must become" book science," if it is to become aliving and abiding intellectual power amongmen. For all reliable knowledge must beformulated, must take a definite orderly shape,if it is to find a place and dominion. In thehistory of intelligent being in this world, religionfirst of all met this requirement, and subjecteditself to this test, adapting itself also tosuccessive ages, and submitting itself to theircriticism. Science owns a like intellectualnecessity, and has had to write and rewrite,to correct and expand, in order that the booksciencemight be the true science of the day.Whatever be the nature of the truth receivedby man, its statement is greatly enhanced invalue when it has been reduced to writtenform, suitable not only for being passed fromhand to hand, but for being pondered withall deliberation.