The Substance of Faith Allied with Science (6th Ed.): A Catechism for Parents and TeachersLodge, Oliver, Sir
Religion
The Substance of Faith Allied with Science (6th Ed.): A Catechism for Parents and Teachers
Lodge, Oliver, Sir
Religion and science
But a foundation is not to be mistaken for superstructure: a
full-fledged and developed religion needs a great deal more than
foundation—there must be a building too. The warmth and vitality
imparted by strong religious conviction is a matter of common
observation, and is a force of great magnitude; but it is a personal and
living thing, it cannot be embodied in a formula or taught in a class.
Here lies the proper field of work of the Churches. What can be taught
in a school is the fundamental substratum underlying all such
developments and personal aspirations; and it can be dealt with on a
basis of historical and scientific fact, interpreted and enlarged by the
perceptions and experiences of mankind.
A creed or catechism should not be regarded as something superhuman,
infallible, and immutable; it should be considered to be what it really
is—a careful statement of what, in the best light of the time, can be
regarded as true and important about matters partially beyond the range
of scientific knowledge: it must always reach farther into the unknown
than science has yet explored.
An element of mystery and difficulty is not inappropriate in a creed,
although it may be primarily intended for comprehension by children.
Bare bald simplicity of statement, concerning things keenly felt but
imperfectly known, cannot be perfectly accurate; and yet every effort
should be made to combine accuracy and simplicity to the utmost. Every
word should be carefully weighed and accurately used: mere conventional
terminology should be eschewed. A sentence stored in the memory may
evolve different significations at different periods of life, and at no
one period need it be completely intelligible or commonplace. The ideal
creed should be profound rather than explicit, and yet should convey
some sort of meaning even to the simplest and most ignorant. Its terms,
therefore, should not be technical, though for full comprehension they
would have to be understood in a technical or even a recondite sense.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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