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

38 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.is the only conceivable test. It is that whichscientific thinkers must themselves recognizeas the rule of credence in all departments ofinvestigation lying beyond their own familiarfield of study; and it is that which is naturallyaccepted by the whole body of non-scientificreaders and thinkers interested in the advanceof knowledge. All practiced theologians, andall upholders of religion on the ground of intelligentwarrant for belief and practice, onlytake the ground of common intelligence whenthey accept implicitly the conclusions reachedby scientific procedure.Whatever then may be the evidence ofconflict between science and religion, andwhatever the difficulties lying in the way ofworking out reconciliation, there is clearwarrant for claiming common ground fromwhich to start, and that so ample and securethat it is provided by scientific inquiry itself,and generally accepted by educated men ofall classes. There can be no patchwork contrivance,made up of what may be taken tobe final statements of theological and scientificpositions. We do not aim at some agglomerationof materials gathered from oppositequarters and brought together with the de-