SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Sir,- Your leading article, "Believing Scientists," is only factual in part. It is impossible in my opinion to determine a significant correlation between science and religion, and any attempts to harmonise them can only be accounted for in terms of apologetics. Whether a scientist professes a belief in a God or not, he is an atheist in practice. His science compels him to be so, And that is true of the whole range of science. Science is, in fact, atheistic or nothing! It knows nothing of God (or gods); it does not bother about God; its triumphs are achieved by leaving God out of account. It can only be because irrationality has a traditional right of place in religion, that theologians persist in their
attempts to relate the two. I will concede that a small percentage of scientists have achieved a synthesis of both; but, sir, I submit they are very much in the minority. In 1934 Professor Leuba conducted a searching inquiry into the matter. It was significantly revealed that out of 2000 leading professors of science, or heads of laboratories, museums, etc., only 12 per cent believed in a God, 70 per cent were atheists or agnostics. We are entitled to assume that the remaining percentage who did not reply were sceptics; and since scientific men, teachers and some professional men are still liable to be penalised for an admission of scepticism, the case against religion is stronger than we can statistically determine, The conflict will continue, but there is no doubt in my mind, and I am sure in countless others, that science is, in the words of Comte, conducting God to its frontiers.
P.
CAMPBELL
(Auckland).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19540528.2.12.5
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 775, 28 May 1954, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
283SCIENCE AND RELIGION New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 775, 28 May 1954, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in