Buchanan's Journal of Man, October 1887: Volume 1, Number 9
Philosophy
Buchanan's Journal of Man, October 1887: Volume 1, Number 9
Medicine -- Periodicals; Phrenology -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
RELIGION AND SCIENCE are exceedingly harmonious in assisting each
other, but theologians and scientists are exceedingly discordant. Who
is in fault? It is the fault of both. Both are bigoted and
narrow-minded. Neither can see the truths that belong to the other
party; theologians dislike science, not being able to see that science
is a grander and more unquestionable revelation than any they have
derived from tradition, and scientists deride religion and theology,
not being able in their narrowness to recognize the higher forms of
science in the great spiritual truths which have been apparent to all
races from the most ancient limits of history. Of the scientific class
the majority are averse to the religion of the times, partly from
their own sceptical nature, and partly because religion has been
presented in the repulsive forms of an absurd theology.
Prof. E. S. Morse, the president of the American Association, is a
very sceptical agnostic.
Proud Huxley's the Prince of Agnostics, you see,
And Huxley and I do sweetly agree.
At the late meeting of the Association, August 10, at Columbia
College, New York, Prof. Morse made an address in which he is reported
as saying that "Dr. Darwin's theory was accepted by science, although
ecclesiastical bodies now and then rose up to protest against it. He
asserted that the missing links for which there was such a clamor were
being supplied with such rapidity that even the zoologist had to work
to keep up with his science. It was a singular fact that no sooner did
some one raise an objection to the theories of derivative science,
than some discovery was made which swept down the barrier. It was safe
enough for an intelligent man, no matter what he knew of science, to
accept as true what science put forth, and to set down as false
whatever the church offered in opposition. Every theory and
declaration of science had been opposed by the church. The penalty of
original sin, according to a scientific writer, was the penalty of man
being raised to an upright position. [Laughter.] Cannot it be proved
without question that the illiteracy of Spain was the result of
centuries of religious oppression and of the inquisition?"
One of the scientists told a _World_ reporter (says the _Truth
Seeker_) that at last year's convention in Buffalo, Prof. Morse made
an address that was so full of infidelity that the Catholic diocesan
authorities there forbade the clergy from attending the meetings.
However, the Association has a small orthodox element in it, and on
Sunday about one-eighth of the members held a prayer-meeting at
Columbia College, at which allusions were made to the ungodly
character of the majority of their associates, which the said
associates on Monday regarded as a very objectionable proceeding.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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