Show 1TG STUDENT LIFE there is little difference between the two be Although religion can never exreduced to an exact science I pect to see science play an important part in the development of religious beliefs The spirit of science is that of honest careful and in- If by such dependent research means science demonstrates the truth of a proposition that runs counter to a religious dogma the dogma must be changed to conform to the known truth Dogmas that are correct in principle will never lie overturned by science and all others should be uprooted A religion that is so broad and comprehensive as to embrace all truth includes science for the aim of science is to reveal the truth If in a scientific investigation an hypothesis is set up and assumed to be true no effort is made to hide the fact that uncertainties are involved in the consideration but on the contrary every weak point in the theory is as clearly worked out and as strongly emphasized as the points in its favor In other words science is honest and in pointing out the errors of religious tenets or dogmas it will tend to unite the religious world on those true principles that are unassailable In the light of all history that has come down to us we should be very slow to condemn science if it ap- parently contradicts our religious sentiments Copernicus a Polish astronomer proved that the earth is not a fixed and stationary planet around which all the heavenly bodies move but that it is itself a spherical member of the solar system rotating on its axis and revolving in its orbit and moving through space at a high speed His theories verified by lat- er astronomers and navigators rev- olutionized the scientific world but tliev also revolutionized the religious world Thousands of persons apostatized from the church on the grounds that if the earth was not the center of the universe and man the prime object of its creation they had been deceived in their religion and if a part was in error the whole thing was wrong The scientific work of Galileo had somewhat similar effects Socrates was condemned to death for advobelief that the soul is imcating theTo-day all of these things mortal are in harmony with our religious belief Still we have not entirely freed ourselves from the mediaeval idea that anything contrary to our religious inclinations is unworthy of serious consideration C IV Porter |