Omaha daily bee., 1914-03-28
SCIENCE CONFIRMS RELIGION
So Asserts Rabbi Cohn in Discourse
at Temple Israel.
SCIENCE AND RELIGION TRUTH
Only the Fool Hath Said There is
No GOd-Wisest Scientists Ac-
Knowledge Existence of
Supreme Being.


Science stands for truth Science, in
stead of destroying religion, is the ally
of religion, sanctions and confirms 1t.
Reason. reverence, righteousness consti-
tute the trinity of the religion of science"
said Rabbi Frederick Cohn at Temple
Israel last night in his discourse on The
Religion of Science" which is another in
his series on the great religions of his
| tory.
Rabbi Cohn made it plain that science
and religion were perfectly compatible.
that only the fool said, There is no God"
He thus dealt with his subject
Can there be such a thing as a religion
of science? Is there not an irreconcilable
conflict between science and religion?
Does not science do away with all re-
ligion7
What is science? 1t is organized knowl-
edge. On the face of it, there can be a
systematized exposition of religious phe-
nomena, as of any other. There can be
a science of religion.
But can there be q religion of science?
Religion is the deepest feeling Of the
human heart. 1t Is the cry of the soul
for God, for the living God. las the
! heart panteth after the wateT-brooks, so
pants the human soul for God"
Science does not destroy this feeling.
! 1t but heightens and deepens it, Science
reveals lHe WONDERS ana mysteries or
creation. 1t evokes awe, admiration, hu-
mility. II produces feeling of helpless
ness, OF dependence when a Higher Power
whose nature science seeks to fathom.
This feeling is akin to reverence. which
is the root of religion.
Finite Versus Infinite.
Religion is the relation of the finite to
the Infinite. In all religions IL is the
pressure of the infinite when the finite
that has wrung from the human bosom
the ic Da
ligion is the infinite passion and the pain
of finite hearts that yearn.
Science reveals the infinite. Cosmos
proclaims God of marvellous majesty
and inoonceivable grandeur. Even a
Spencer bows his head before the infinite
and eternal energy from which all things
proceed Science does not destroy the
belief In God. The philosophy of evolu-
tion presupposes a Creator OF infinite in
telligence and divine power.
only the fool, hath said in his
of meager scientific attainment would
deny the compatibility of science with
religion. The greatest scientists have
been men Of a deep Righteousness like
Lodge In our day. AS Bacon, the father
OF modern experimental science, has said:
"A little philosophy inclineth mems
minds to atheism. but depth of philosophy
bringeth them about to religion"
True Religion is Meant.
or course, 1t is true religion that is
meant False religion cannot stand be-
fore the modern onslaught of science and
intelligence. The nineteenth century has
been par excellence the century of
science, and many an old creed has
crumbled, many long-received doga has
been discredited and discarded. many a
blind credulity and erroneous belief re-
buked and destroyed in the warfare
OF science and theology. Theology may
have suffered, but religion has come out
of the struggle all the purer and stronger.
Science stands for truth Religion, too,
must be absolute truth, else IL is not
religion, for the heart and soul of re-
lgion is truth. Truth is a moral quality
and the religion that is not absolutely
true is morally invalidated and scien-
titically impossible. Truth, is, as the
there cannot be even a sanctified and
holy ''lie" In religions right hand" Re-
ligion must rest not on the truth of au-
thCrity, but, as Theodore Parker has so
FIJI ely said, on "the authority Of truth"
Religion is rock-based I'm nature. il
Is not an arbitrary invention, or an eX-
work of imposture or designing fraud.
Religion answers the need of the human
heart as nothing else can, neither art,
music science or philosophy. Religion
Is therefore fundamental and eternal, d
universal, ineradicable human instinct.
Man Craving for God.
As long as man shall be man and God
God-"the Power, not ourselves, that
makes for righteousness there VIII be
religion; for religion is the craving OF
man for God, for divine perfection in
a world impeTaneuce and incOmple don; I
for enduring peace in world of strife,
struggle, sorrow and dlsappo! ntment. Ia
the beautiful language OF Augustine, F,
Thou hast made us for Thyself, o God, I
and our souls are restless till they find !
rest in Thee"
Science. then, does not initiate against /
or destroy religion. True science is the /
friend and ally of true religion; IL sane 1
tions II, Il confirms II.
The religion OF the future, what Zang- I
will calls the next religion will be the 1
religion of science, conscience and hu- /!
manity.
Reason, reverence and righteOusness- |
these constitute the trinity OF the re- [
ligion Of science that will one day be 4
the religion OF the entire human race
Let knowledge grow from more 10 more |
But more of reverence in us dweli;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music, before,
But Vaster. We are fools and slight:
We mock Thee when We do not fear; J
But help Thy foolish ones to bear
Help Thy vain worlds to bear Thy light J.
short Course for Boys and Girls.