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

CONDITIONS OF THE INQUZR Y. 35assuming an attitude of antagonism; or whenreligious thought has been contracted intonarrow and hardened form, such as to encourageisolation from regions of investigationpersonally disliked. In the one case, dishonoris reflected on scientific thinking, in theother, dishonor is cast on religious thought.These considerations will indicate the trueintellectual spirit in which we should face thequestion concerning the relations of religionand science. To our rational nature, everything which is entitled to rank as genuineknowledge must be matter of interest; and relianceon common means of acquiring knowledge,must involve confidence in the unity ofall truth, and the possibility of demonstratingsuch unity, if only it be possible for us topenetrate deep enough, and extend our researcheswide enough,-a confidence whichwill not be sacrificed even when the actualunity waits discovery. As each one of theplanets diffuses its own share of light, and allcombine to constitute the solar system, soeach science must be a centre of knowledge,and all combined must constitute a system oftruth.This being granted on purely intellectual