SCIENCE & RELIGION

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1932, Page 8

SCIENCE & RELIGION

DEAN’S APPEAL TO SCIENTISTS. LONDON, September 9. “For science there’is no' finality. Most of the books which were written on theology *IOO years ' ago’ are’ dead; , but. they are ntitb so dead - as- those which' were written oii ’ science. l ” These words were’spoken by the "Very Rev. "Dr W. R. Matthews, Dean, ’ of Exeter, in a sermon 1 deivered at' a' special service in York' Minster and attended by' members "of the Brit.sh' Association. “Sciehce’needs to become more fully conscious of its vocation.” said the' Dean- “and to realise the- implications of ifs spiritual nature. The inevitable specialisation of modern , science threatens to weaken its power as a spiritual activity. Perhaps there are some theologians who resent the incursions of scientific men into the realms of religious and philosophical thoughts. If so, I have never met them. We are thankful for the writings of such men as Jeans, Eddington, Whitehead, and many others who have advafaced our know-ledge of the central problems of existence and have giVenS, us the results of their reflections' on the spiritual ideals, hopes, and beliefs of men. “We cannot have too much of this bind of co-operation, but I must he allowed to say that there are other scientfic men whose essays on theology justly cause indignation in the minds of " religious people. There are some \Vh.o make slap-dash pronouncements oti' the great probelns of -religion wit h, it’would seem, little reflection. It ’.s suriely deplorable when scientific menleaVe 1 their scientific’ methods beh rid arid speak as oracles on subject-; which they have not studied. We shall gain no ’tight from those who dogmatise iabbut religion, never having read a book of mod'ern theology, and wno attempt to determine grape issues of spiritual philosophy, equipped only with the expert knowledge of’ mathematics or pyschology and the memory of that version of religion which they learned from their : grandmother**. “On the ground that all truth is ono and that science is a spiritual 'activity, I would plead that the rank and file of scientific people should acquaint themselves with the thought of those who are working on the great’ subject of religion. -For science there' is no finality.” 1