Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-16
And 1 am His
RELIGION AND SCIENCE.
The More We See OF This Wonderful
Universe, the More We Adore
Its Creator.

Very happily the old antagonism be-
tween the Christian religion and
science has almost entirely passed
away, scientists and theologians are
coming nearer TO each other and are
becoming workers together in the com-
mon field Of truth, says the United
Presbyterian. Ultimately there will be
an entire accord. 1t is not strange that
there has been antagonism. Our faith
has first to do with the spiritual world,
but IL reaches out into the material,
for God is in ALL The Interpretation
of the revelation given us is necessarl-
a. affected ~ what we know of the sys-
tenn in which we live. The accumula-
ton of facts concerning this system
may modify the Interpretation at some
minor points, but cannot move the
foundation of our faith. AS both are
more perfectly understood, they are
seen to be in harmony. for all kDowl-
edge is consistent, and each part
throws light on every other part
Science is knowledge, that which is as
certained to be true; il is knowledge
formulated into system. In the for
nation of facts there are conclusion as
to the laws governing the ascertained
facts, as to the origin of things, as to
the forces at work and the present
movement, conclusions which may be
tentative theories. or may be so well
sustained by increasing knowledge as
to be accepted as true and made the
basis of further investigation. What
ever is thus established must be &C
cepted, and accepted in the confidence
that there is nothing in our faith that
is in conflict with them. The Holy
Scriptures are the revelation of God
and the record of His doings, and are
of necessity, in harmony with all that
is otherwise learned of the doings of
Goo. Science may establish conclusions
which startle us; but as we come to
understand them, they are simply mys-
teries solved and our faith itself is not
weakened, but strengthened thereby.
The sphere of the revelation is in
the spiritual world. that which is be-
yond our direct knowledge God, and
Goa in His nature. worl.s and redemp-
ton is its great theme; God as the
eve%-i!ving, ever-present. ever-actine
Person, Who is working out His own
wise purpose in human life and des-
tiny. Science has to do with His works
and ways of working. Ii has to do with
present forces and facts, with the
changes that take place and the laws
governing them. but il does not enter
into the higher, greater sphere of God
Himself. except as its conclusions NAV
lead us to more profound reverence
Tor Him. Increasing knowledge of the
world about us and of the changes tax
Ing place in il seemed to many to set
aside the teachings of the Scriptures.
and hence there was a conflict, one re-
1ectlng revelation, and the other
science. But we see more clearly now.
A different conception of Gods method
OF working does not take away the
fact of His presence and power. On
the contrary, as We enter more into the
mysteries of life the more we see Of
this wonderful universe in which wa
live, the more We adore its Creator
whose will and power are seen every
where. and praise Him for His love
and redemption through the Lord Je-
sus, His Son. The religion of Jesus
Christ has no word against science II
gives its hand to advancing knowledge
and speedy blessing TO all inyestisa-
tors, but reserves the right to reject
their conclusions concerning that which
lies outside the sphere of their study