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
EXPERIENCE FROM PAST CONFLICTS. 65the relations of science and religion. All intelligentreaders of scientific discussions willfind discipline from pondering these experiments.They illusti-ate the toil connectedwith scientific research, the risks which besetsuch inquiry, and the limits of scientific investigations.There lies in these experiments awarning of the constant need for falling backnot only on the laws of evidence, but also onthe laws of reason. The mere conception of" spoiitaneous generation," rigidly interpreted,were a curiosity, coming wonderfully near acontradiction of scientific thought itself, whichseeks for causes, and repudiates uncaused occurrences.There may naturally enough be adiscovery of the chemical elements belongingto definite types of organism, or of theform and nieasure of energy operating in life.Even when surmising " that possibly we mayby the help of physical principles, especiallythat of the dissipation of energy, sometime attainto a notion of what constitutes life, merevitality, notiliiig higher,'' Professor Tait hasthought it needful to add, " but let no oneimagine that, should we ever penetrate thismystery, we shall thereby be enabled to produce,except from life, even the lowest form
66 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.of life." " If it were suggested that physicochemicalelements could originate life, chemistrywould easily supply the ingredients. Ifit were hinted that reliance might be placedexclusively on the action of air or of heat forproducing living organism from inorganic matter,this were to fall back on the old elementalphilosophy of ancient Greece, which thethought of Greece easily repudiated withoutthe aid of experimental science.Attention is, however, here concentratedon the failure of these experiments meant toestablish " spontaneous generation," and inthis failure we find illustration of the fact thatsupposed conflicts between science and religionare often misunderstandings and nothingmore, based on unreliable experiments or unwarrantedexpectations.One other fact deserves to be recorded andplaced in companionship with that just stated,that some of the alleged conflicts between scienceand religion are delusively so described,on account of misunderstanding or misrepresentationof religion. They are fictitious articles,requiring to be properly branded, andquietly laid aside. A single illustration mayRecent Advances in Physicd Science, p. 24.
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EXPERIENCE FROM PAST CONFLICTS. 65the relations <strong>of</strong> science <strong>and</strong> religion. All intelligentreaders <strong>of</strong> scientific discussions willfind discipline from pondering these experiments.<strong>The</strong>y illusti-ate the toil connectedwith scientific research, the risks which besetsuch inquiry, <strong>and</strong> the limits <strong>of</strong> scientific investigations.<strong>The</strong>re lies in these experiments awarning <strong>of</strong> the constant need for falling backnot only on the laws <strong>of</strong> evidence, but also onthe laws <strong>of</strong> reason. <strong>The</strong> mere conception <strong>of</strong>" spoiitaneous generation," rigidly interpreted,were a curiosity, coming wonderfully near acontradiction <strong>of</strong> scientific thought itself, whichseeks for causes, <strong>and</strong> repudiates uncaused occurrences.<strong>The</strong>re may naturally enough be adiscovery <strong>of</strong> the chemical elements belongingto definite types <strong>of</strong> organism, or <strong>of</strong> theform <strong>and</strong> nieasure <strong>of</strong> energy operating in life.Even when surmising " that possibly we mayby the help <strong>of</strong> physical principles, especiallythat <strong>of</strong> the dissipation <strong>of</strong> energy, sometime attainto a notion <strong>of</strong> what constitutes life, merevitality, notiliiig higher,'' Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Tait hasthought it needful to add, " but let no oneimagine that, should we ever penetrate thismystery, we shall thereby be enabled to produce,except from life, even the lowest form
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