The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

11.4 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.it bears on the problem concerning the originof our world. Here the testimony of scienceis clearly and unmistakably in favor ofthe creation or absolute origin of matter andenergy, in the only form in which sciencecan bear any testimony on the subject. It is,of course, impossible that science should presentdirect testimony to the fact of creation, asit is impossible that history should; for such afact as creation must be entirely beyond therange of science. But in testifying to theindestructibility and uncreatability of matterunder the conditions capable of being investigatedby observational science; and in bearingthe same testimony as to the energy in theworld, it offers all the support it is capable ofoffering to the reality of the supernatural,-testifying to the dependence of nature on somepower altogether transcending itself. Buthere I prefer rather to use the words of apurely scientific observer. When dealing withthe doctrine of energy, and specially with theconsequences of dissipation of energy, ProfessorTait uses these words,-" As it alone isable to lead us, by sure steps of deductive reasoning,to the necessary future of the universe-necessary, that is, if physical laws remain