Dr. Schurman on Religious Creed

Cornell Daily Sun

President Schurman addressed a large audience in Sage Chapel recently on "Religious Thought in the New Century."

In his introduction President Schurman said that the religious thought of the new century must necessarily depend upon that of the last century. The change of religious thought during the last century has been most marked. The fact of the existence of a non-denominational university like Cornell is a striking evidence of such a change. The change has been from a dogmatic, uninquiring position at the beginning of the century to one of anxious questioning and perplexity at the close.

"This has been," said President Schurman, "pre-eminently the period of science." The present generation has a greater fund of knowledge than any previous generation. This knowledge has had a remarkable effect on religious thought. The science of astronomy has greatly influenced it by the modern apprehension of the vastness of space. Geology and biology in their present from have also given much food for thought.

As a result of these discoveries in science, the first part of the century had a decidedly materialistic tendency. This tendency disturbed faith, encouraged scepticism, and engendered pessimism. Matter was considered to be at the root of the universe and thinkers endeavored to bring mind and will to the level of matter.

A reaction has, however, set in. Matter is no longer considered to be at the root of the universe. Physics seeks no longer to reduce mind and spirit to matter, but rather to raise matter to the level of mind and spirit, making God All-in-all. Within its own sphere, science must be accepted; but that is not the whole sphere, nor must results achieved there make war with the deeper feelings and emotions.

Thus the progress of the nineteenth century has been from dogmatism to scepticism and beyond to emancipation. The tendency of this century has not been toward an elaboration of creeds. The intellectual side has not been prominent. Rather has the tendency been to an acceptance of facts without any theorizing. "I predict," said the speaker, "that in the new century, the church with shorter creeds and less emphatic doctrine will be favored in the struggle for existence."

This is surely a change in religious thought. Religion must no longer be considered merely intellectual; it appeals also to the emotional side. The realization of this truth is the crowning achievement of religion in the last century. So long as we have evidence of the Lord and the testimony of those who have lived religion, so long must we believe it. The maxim of the religion of the twentieth century is; Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in the sight of thy God. — Cornell Daily Sun.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Count Tolstoi to his Foes

April 25, 1901

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit