RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY.

In an article fn the "Journal of Philosophical Studies'? the Bishop of. Manchester (Dr. Temple) states: I am convinced that where the religious faith has ever' been real it will usually be more firmly rooted as a result of philosophic inquiry than ever before, and, while it can by no means be said that the weight of philosophic authority is predominantly on the side of traditional orthodoxy,, it can, I think, be claimed that it is on the side of a spiritual and religious interpretation of the universe', and that, broadly speaking, religion has nothing to fear from the guides whom it will find to-day ready to assist it in its own philosophic inquiries. Personally I am persuaded that traditional Christian .orthodoxy is philosophically the . strongest position that exists, but there can be no doubt that modern philosophy is, broadly speaking, friendly to religion. weds philosophy for its pre sentatioa to those who have not shared . We.i»rp dealing *** SPW*tkatpd; age. The spread'of

education, and especially of scientific education, has led to a great development of the critical temper. Statements which are philosophically indefensible may desperately damage the cause on behalf of which they are made. Exponents of religion need to be capable of criticising their own expositions from the philosophic side, if they are to avoid alienating those whom they wish to attract. But this is not all. The commendation of a belief always requites an understanding of the minds to which it is to be commended as well as of the belief itself. But increasingly the mental habits of our fellow citizens are being shaped by that kind of philosophy which most easily arises out of preoccupation with the physical sciences. To bring home to them the reality and claim of religion it is desirable to know both the nature, the grounds and the limitations of that kind of philosophy. It is clear, then, that religion has need of philosophy both for its own fulness of being and for the accomplishment of itß function in the world.