New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-02
SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY.
ANDREW D. WHITES STUDY OF THEIR
RELATIONS TO EACH OTHER.

=, will he questioned by some readers whether
Mr. White was entirely happy in the choice OF
title for this work, for II is almost wholly chron-
ice OF the warfare which the believers in the vernal
inspiration Of the Bible have made on those VINO
accented as true certain conclusions that seemed
10 be a denial Of Scripture. But the author mas
given us book instructive that we are not u.s.
posed 10 quarrel with its title. even II " were op-
yiousIy inappropriate which Il 10 not. For look
ing at the matter In the large ii true that science
has been making warfare upon theology one ai'er
another Il has challenged some of the most cher-
ished dogmas Of theology-dosmas which seemed
at the time 10 grow out Of the hrepioou VI
Christianity and which received the SANCTION OF
the highes; authorities of the Church both Catho-
lie and Protestant II science had not assailed
these beliefs Mr.. White would have had no occa-
sion to write this book; for the conflict Which ne
describes with such mastery Of detail and' we arc
glad 10 add. with such charity and harness. "ouu
never have taken place. In that sense science WAS
the aggressor but, as Mr. White If careiui 10
show II made its warfare on theological opinions
revsr On religion itself Certain theologians may
NO, always be willing to admit that there is an cs-
sential difference between theology ana rehslo"'
and few who have assumed 10 speak Tor science
have been disposed 10 agree with them as lot III
stance Professor John w. Draper in his "Connct
Between Religion and Science" But the difference
exists nevertheless and while 1t is the aim OF MI
Whjte 10 show how scence has stormed the cltadel
of theology. II IS equally his aim 10 snow lhdl II
makes no war on religion. on the contrary re!ig-
ION IS essentially stronger to-day because IL no
longer rests on assumptions that science mas
rroyed TO have basis In fact The Old oelle1s
that have been proved untrue by science were no
part OF Christianity. properly speaking. They were
oxcrescences that grew It In the course OF the
ages and had they not been finally Topped on they
would have ultimately destroyed CHRISTIANITY.
"AIy conviction IS" Mr. White says, that SCI
ence though u mas evidently conquered dogmatic
theology based on Biblical texts and ancient modes
OF thought will so hand in hand with rengion' anu
that although theological control VIII continue 10
diminish religion. as seen in the recognition OF a
nower in the universe not ourselves which makes
for righteousness' and in the love " God ara Il
our netehbor will steadily grow stronger and
stronger not only In the American institutions OF
learning but IN the world al large" Christianity
today has so generally accepted the conclusions
whi,h its theologans, speaking In its name once
essailed that Il IS not easy for us 10 realize Wnat
used 70 be the popular Christian belief concerning
the universe Without going into details. that be-
lief may be briefly indicated here. The EARN Was
of course. regarded as the centre OF the universe
T. was fixed immoyable. four-square and nat
Scratched over II. and probably supported NJ INC
four corners by pillars, was the armament huee
metallic sheet: Above the armament were the
fountains Of the great deep. which came down j"
the form Of rain when God opened the WINDOWS
NJ heaven" God assisted by certain angels, moved
the sun across the armament in the day. hiding II
b.b,n5 a mountain at night, and the moon and
stars were similarly moved at night There was
no other side the world, and therefore no peop'e
living on the other side Comets. meteofs ana
cclipses were signs and wonders sent for warning
and storms were sent for punishment lightning
was caused by the spirit OF evil who was the
Prince Of the Power Of the Air and il could &c
warded off only by ringing baptized be's ana re-
beating certain pious words The world was mace
four thousand years before the birth OF 'hlst' III
six devs Of twenty-four hours each. and the food
was universal
These were not only the views Of Christians gen.
eralv down 10 the beginning of the seventeenth
century but they the authoritative teachhss
of the clergy. founded on passages OF scripture
and therefore 10 deny them was TO reject the m
epired Word Of God The famous dictum OF o'
Augustine imprinted itself deeply on the mind CT
Chrisendom. and for many centuries IT paralYzea
the reason OF men: mo thing is 10 be accepted
save on the authority of Scripture since greater IS
that authority than all the powers Of The human
mind" Theologians to-day. it is true assert mat
rrincinle in the restricted sphere Of purely theo
logical opinion. But, until recently. u was Hduc
10 apply to every avenue OF human hno"Ieos''
The one certain thing was the Interpretation put
on the words OF Scripture by the theoioeians'
everything else had TO agree with that in'erpre'a-
,ion The man who first discovered that tie word
was round was assailed a hereto because IN"
Bible spoke of the four corners Of the earth. II
was heresy say that the world moved arouhu
the sim because the Bible the earth Is I'M
,novab,e The Universal Church arrayed itself
against the idea of an Antipodes St Augustine
said that IT was unscrptural, and. moreover Il
men lived In the Antipodes. how could they see
Christ az His second coming?
But it is needless to give further illustrations OF
this attempt TO make the Scriptures the supreme
end final authority not merely in matters OF faith
and morals but in history. geography. astronomy
geology chemistry and meteoroosy. That the at
ternpt finally resulted in failure was not the fault
of those who made il. They were men OF ability
The leaders OF thought In their day and generatloh
Their sincerity and good faith cannot De caIeu IN
question They had behind them an unbroken
stream Of sacred tradition and the tremendous
mower OF the ecclesiastical orgapization 1hey sp'
nsaled "a Christians on an issue OF transcendent
overwhelmingly. the necessity of UNFOLDING an"
accepting the infallibe Word Of God Not only
did they put this issue before the world IN WORDS
Of corent power, but they did not hesitate, on hi2h
and conscientious grounds 10 torture ana put 10
death those who refused To accept tho conception
OF the universe which they thought they iouhd III
the Bible They were moreover aided in propa-
eating tn .r views by the fact that they spoke 10
men ready 70 hear what they said II was inc
age OF faith Of creduhty. The spirit OF criticism
that has so revolutionzed the religious and intel
lectua life OF the world was not yet born when
Calico TO prove the motion OF the earth
around the sun, there was no need Tor the Church
TO examine his arguments. much less refute them
By the processes of reason; all II had 10 do was to
quote Dionysius the Arcopagite. Peter Lombard
and S.. Thomas Aquinas all OF whom declared
the geocentric theory of the universe 10 be taught
in Scripture and the controversy was ended Gal
leo and all who thought with him were depraved
infdes. contemners OF the Word OF God whom II
was sacred duty 10 prosecute.
Nor was this the attitude Of the Catholic Church
alone IT was also the view Of the great Protest
ant reformers. II no less a than Martin
Luther who thus condemned the Copernican sys-
ten: People gave urstart astroloEer
who strove 20 show that the earth revolves. not
the heavens the armament the and the
Whoever wishes 10 appear clever must de-
wise some new system which, Of all systems Is, Of
course, the ve:y best. This fool wishes to
the entire science of astronomy: but sacred Script
ure tell. US that Joshua commanded the TO