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

CONDITIONS OF THE INQUIRI'. 27While, however, it is a great advantage toChristianity that it can be described as thereligion of the Bible,-and it is to Christianitythat reference is directly made here when religionis named,-there is in religion as inscience that which comes before the writtenform. Observation and reflection are naturalavenues to religion, as well as to science.The Bible appeals to the intelligence of manfor its acceptance, subjecting to rational testnot only its evidence but also its teaching. Itsuniform demand is that men put its teachingto proof. It thus presupposes a natural religionas the prerequisite for special revelationof the supernatural. The full breadth ofthe argument in exposition and defence ofChristianity is seen only by starting from thisposition, that all religion, whatever its form,rests on a rational basis. And its correlativeis this, irreligion is the irrational. The vindicationof the Christian religion thus impliesat its basis the defence of religious thoughtand feeling in whatever associations they maybe found. For though it is true that theChristian religion may be said to war againstall religions besides, seeking to supplant them,in order to become the universal religion, it