The Relations of Science and Religion: The Morse Lecture, 1880 — John Shaqi
The Relations of Science and Religion: The Morse Lecture, 1880Calderwood, Henry
Religion
The Relations of Science and Religion: The Morse Lecture, 1880
Calderwood, Henry
Religion and science
not agreed in attributing to them any higher significance. On the other
hand, conclusions are accepted as true, however much they may be at
variance with previously existing conviction, when the great majority of
scientific inquirers have admitted the observations to be undoubted or
the reasonings conclusive. This is the only conceivable test. It is
that which scientific thinkers must themselves recognize as the rule of
credence in all departments of investigation lying beyond their own
familiar field of study; and it is that which is naturally accepted by
the whole body of non-scientific readers and thinkers interested in the
advance of knowledge. All practiced theologians, and all upholders of
religion on the ground of intelligent warrant for belief and practice,
only take the ground of common intelligence when they accept implicitly
the conclusions reached by scientific procedure.
Whatever then may be the evidence of conflict between science and
religion, and whatever the difficulties lying in the way of working out
reconciliation, there is clear warrant for claiming common ground from
which to start, and that so ample and secure that it is provided by
scientific inquiry itself, and generally accepted by educated men of all
classes. There can be no patchwork contrivance, made up of what may be
taken to be final statements of theological and scientific positions. We
do not aim at some agglomeration of materials gathered from opposite
quarters and brought together with the design of constructing a compact
and durable unity. Neither from the side of religion, nor from that of
science, could such a proposal find countenance. Each must work from its
own basis, the one from Revelation, the other from Nature. Each must go
on its own course of development and active service, unaided and
undeterred by the other. And from age to age in the world's progress it
must continue part of the task connected with intelligent existence, to
go from one to the other, in search of the lines of harmony. From both
sides must come an impulse to this search for agreement. From the
scientific side, by an intellectual necessity, for all intelligent
research presses on towards unity in a complete conquest of the region
of investigation, pushing out in distinct lines with full conviction of
the harmony of being, and of conclusions expressing so much of this
harmony as has been definitely ascertained. And what is no less certain,
though not so freely admitted, all investigation as to the laws of
existence, even that which proclaims confidence only in observation,
with inference from what it discloses, is urging the human mind onward
to a higher range of questions as to existence beyond observation, and
the causes of things visible. Impotent in the extreme has been the voice
of a "positive" philosophy, denouncing the search for causes, sounding
its trumpet call to rally all divisions of scientific workers to search
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account