Evolution and Modern Theology
At the last meeting of the Congregational club of Chicago, the subject under discussion was the relation of evolution to Christianity. Rev. J. L. Scudder said that the influence of science upon theology had been profoundly good. He said it had "forced theology back into its own proper field," and even there had modified it for good by forcing it to become scientific in its own sphere. It will be noticed in this statement, that science has done all the crowding. Before it theology has meekly retired. It is now in "its own proper field." Formerly theology presumed to understand the first and second chapters of Genesis, but science taught it not to interfere with matters too deep for it. Other parts of the Bible are also wrested from the feeble grasp of theology, and made "clear" by science. Some parts of the Bible are still allowed to be within the province of theology, but that theology has become so "scientific" that it has learned better than to believe that the Bible means what it says. Modern theology is getting to be pretty poor stuff; it doesn't amount to much either as science or as theology.