"Science and Religion."

W. D. McCrackan

New York Commercial Advertiser

A reprint from the London Times in one of your late issues, entitled, "Science and Religion," contains some exceedingly surprising statements with reference to these two terms. We are told by the writer, E. Ray Lankester, that, in his opinion, "there is no relation, in the sense of a connection or influence, between science and religion." He also gives it as his opinion "that religion has not, in its essential qualities, anything to hope for or to fear from science."

Reading further in his communication, one recognizes that his concept of science is of something purely materialistic and physical. He speaks of the order of nature as "a network of mechanism," but implies that science can have no connection with the beyond-physics or metaphysics.

Christian Science, by its very name, protests against such an assumption. Science is classified knowledge, and deals, primarily, with causation. Since God is the First Cause, Creator, and Principle of the universe, including man, it is evident that science must ultimately deal with God, hence with the ultra-physical; i.e., with Spirit or Mind. In its last analysis, therefore, science must concern itself with spiritual and mental phenomena, and must recognize the "network of mechanism," of which Mr. writes, as effect, not cause, hence of secondary, and not of primary, importance.

In truth, every sincere and fearless student of the natural sciences sooner or later reaches the point beyond which his physical senses will not carry him, and at which all his laboriously acquired knowledge concerning material phenomena leaves him powerless to proceed. His journey must lead into the realm of metaphysics, into the beyond-physics, and he needs some sure indication of the true goal.

Instead of the terms science and religion excluding each other, or being mutually incompatible, it is beginning to be acknowledged that all true science is religious, and all religion worth having must also be scientific. Thus we see a growing demand being made upon Christians to prove the scientific nature of their religion by "signs following," by actual demonstrations in healing the sick by spiritual means, as well as reforming the sinner and comforting the sorrowing. Christian Science meets this demand honestly and fearlessly, and Christian Scientists are striving, up to their highest understanding, to prove that Christianity is scientific and that science is Christian. Every real step in science and in religion alike is bringing these two closer together, until their union in the realm of metaphysics shall be clearly discerned by all.

W. D. McCrackan.
In New York Commercial Advertiser.

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