The Church, the Schools and EvolutionConant, J. E. (Judson Eber)
Religion
The Church, the Schools and Evolution
Conant, J. E. (Judson Eber)
Evolution; Religion and science
The scientific man will next distinguish the faculties with which the
investigating is to be done, according to the respective realms. That this
classification is required by the fundamental difference in the nature of
the truths in these two realms is so self-evident that it ought to be
axiomatic to all who think with any degree of scientific accuracy. For in
the nature of things, =natural= truth requires investigation by
=intellectual= faculties, and =spiritual= truth by =spiritual= faculties.
Indeed, this distinction is fully recognized when science halts its pursuit
of truth at the boundary line of the spiritual realm.
Yet, although this classification is theoretically recognized by science,
and although it is absolutely demanded if we are to proceed scientifically
in our researches in the spiritual realm, it is little less than amazing
how many there are who utterly fail to distinguish these faculties when
they start out to investigate spiritual truth. Indeed, this is the first
place where the Church and the Schools part company. For the whole attitude
of our Schools today, including most of the institutions founded and
fostered by the Church, seems to be one that entirely misses the scientific
necessity of distinguishing between these essentially different faculties
when working in these two utterly divergent realms of truth. And so it
comes to pass that while the Church is using one sort of faculties, the
Schools are using another kind on the same class of truth.
It needs scarcely to be argued that the =intellect=, with its capacity to
=reason=, is the proper faculty of apprehension in the scientific realm.
But it is equally true that the =heart=, with its capacity to =believe=, is
the one faculty of apprehension in the spiritual realm. That is, the
inquirer reasons his way to knowledge in the natural realm, and believes
his way to knowledge in the spiritual realm. He uses his mind in order to
understand what God has done in His creation, and he exercises faith in
order to come into the knowledge of what He is in His character. In natural
things he believes because he understands, and in spiritual things he
understands because he believes.
In drawing this contrast between mind and heart, however, it is fully
recognized that the term "heart," in much if not all of Scripture, stands
for the whole personality, including intellect, emotion and will. But it is
also a fact that this term stands for that certain =attitude= of the whole
personality toward God through His Word in which one believes and receives
His Word without question, even though it may not be understood, rather
than insisting on understanding it in order to believe it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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