Evening star., 1938-12-31
Of Stors, Men
and Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
in Field, Laboratory
and Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henri.

III IISiOs 6OOOIOlVJy
and Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 30.-A religion
Of science was urged before the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement Of
Science, meeting here today, by Sir
Richard Gregory, editor Of the British
journal Nature.
1t is no longer feasible, Sir Richard
declared, to try to At the two together
factually by trying to find naturalistic
explanations for religious miracles re-
corded in the Bible, such as that the
seven days OF creation were seven geo.
logical ages. This is only an effort, he
said, ITO At all new knowledge into
system Of thought having no claims to
scientific accuracy or intention" Today
1t is not acceptable, he insisted, either
to scientists or historians.
The new theology, he said, would look
upon mans spiritual comprehension it.
self as an evolving thing and study the
sacred books as accounts Of stages in
this progress.
1T is only by disregarding history"
he declared, that the idea of fixed
and final theology becomes possible. In
science there are no final interpretations
or Interchangeable hypotheses and If the
same principle were recognized in the
ology religion would share some Of the
vitality of the natural sciences. Evolu-
ton can be regarded by the theologian
as merely the means Of creation and
the conception of gradual development
is not incompatible with Christian the
ology. 1t is through the acceptance Of
the idea of evolution in the spirit as
partition which formerly separated re-
ligion and science is being dissolved"
Science, he said, has not been able
to provide any positive evidence for sur
vival Of personality after death. 1t has,
however, produced two seemingly in
compatible lines Of factual evidence.
One Is that Of evolution for which the
that it may almost be regarded as law
of nature. This generally assumes a
progress upward toward some sort OF
perfection. Another equally convincing
line Of evidence gathered from physics
and astronomy is that eventually the
earth must become a place unfit for
human habitation and finally will be
destroyed altogether. Thus nature would
seem to be elevating life higher and
higher with no other purpose than to
destroy it.
But" said Sir Richard, "the thought
that the death Of mankind will be the
finah penalty for having achieved the
highest type conceived by the human
mind should not be subversive of effort
and aspiration on the part of humanity
as whole. any more than that the indi-
vidual should neglect noble conduct be-
cause he himself has to pass away,
whether his influence has been for good
or evil. Though science is unable to
provide any positive evidence for the
survival OF human personality after
death, 1t must acknowledge that belief
IN such survival is powerful ethical
factor in human development. 1t is Just
as permissible to assume that another
world awaits habitation of an exalted
type Of humanity after this earth has
come to an end"
IT human evolution is to continue up-
ward, Sir Richard said, it must be in
the direction of the spiritual evolution
OF society as whole which may make
it fit for the occupation of this hypo-
thetical other world and to accomplish
this science must join hands with re-
ligion.
Among modern social and intellectual
forces,' he declared, science alone
speaks IN tongue which meets with
universal understanding. 1t has made
the world one through the facilities of
communications and transport and it
recognizes no political or racial boun-
daries in its fields of knowledge. The
conception Of science as a social factor
intimately linked up with human history
and human destiny gives new meaning
not only to research, but also to the posi-
ton OF citizens who are engaged in it.
They can no longer remain Indifferent
to the social consequences Of discovery
and invention or be silent while they
are blamed for increasing powers of pro-
ductlon OF food supplies, superseding
manual labor by machines, and discover
ing substances which can be used for
destructive purposes
"The view that the sole function of
science is the discovery and study of
natural facts without regard to the social
implications of the knowledge gained can
no longer be maintained. Science can
not be divorced from ethics
1T is the duty of men of science to
assist in the establishment of a rational
and harmonious social order out of the
welter of human conflict into which the
world has been thrown through the re-
lease of uncontrolled forces Of industrial
production and of lethal weapons. By
combining spiritual ideals with results
of research in the fields of natural
knowledge it is possible now to hope for
scientific guidance not only toward in
dividual fitness, but also toward a high
er human perfection and condition of
social life which will make the world
truly a celestial dwelling place."