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

128 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.to the more general and doubtful position thatno limits are to be assigned to science, or asit is often stated, all nature belongs to thecomprehensible. The failure of past experimentsis no proof that inevitable failure awaitsother experiments which may yet be made. Toabandon expectation seems to them to be unfaithfulto science. In this fashion, ProfessorSchmidt declares that "to any one who holdsopen the possibility that, even now, animatemay be evolved from inanimate, without themediation of progenitors, the$rst origin of lifein this natural method is at once self-evident." *To this view the other side may legitimatelyreply, that if the origin of life be as easily accountedfor, as provision is here made for thel' self-evident," science will soon be at a dis-count. To those regarding the matter fromwithout, and waiting for testimony as to whatis scientifically established, it is clear thatthere is no explanation of the origin of life;and I think it will be most commonly heldthat the weight of reason as to expectationsfor the future lies with those who abandonthe anticipation of any scientific explanation.There is, however, in actual conclusions on* Doctri~ of Descent, p. 163.