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SCIENCE AND RELIGION

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 17.

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"SCIENCE AND RELIGION."

In speaking of "science and religion" the New York Observer remarks:—
It is odd that we hear so much respecting the conflict of science and religion rather than that of religion and science. The order of this phrasing is possibly not wholly without significance. It seems to imply that which is perhaps the fact, that science is the aggressor and more often proceeds to assault religion than does religion science. However that may be, there is at least an apparent variance, to put it mildly, between the scientific theories of the day and generally accepted Christian teaching. We say the science of the day, for science changes from week to week. "What are the latest conclusions of modern science?" one man asked another. "I do not know," was the reply; "I have not read the morning papers." What is good science to-day was perhaps but faint and reluctant prophecy yesterday, and may be held to be but nescience to-morrow. Science is in a state of flux serving thus to verify, it would seem, the universal theory of Heraclius.
This is true. And in a sense this is also true of religion. Not but what religion is all taught in God's Word, but the infinite depths and heights of that Word are yet unsounded; its breadths and lengths are yet unexplored. Like the conquering sun, the light from God's Word grows brighter. It ought to be as true of the church as of the Christian, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth moreand more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18. Religion can not be bound by creeds. Man should not attempt to make a similitude of God's truth or the religion of Christ, any more than he should of the great Jehovah, the Author of the truth. How can you represent life in an image of wood or gold? How can you represent life in a cold, dead creed? The only sure way to obtain the true knowledge of God is in Jesus Christ, by faith—abiding in Christ.