Effects On Faith Of Scientific Changes

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 17

Effects On Faith Of Scientific Changes

(Nfw Zealand Prtst Association)

DUNEDIN, Nov. 12. “It cannot be denied that what is done by science causes change and difficulty for both the Individual and for institutions that are concerned with faith," Sir Douglas Robb, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, said on Saturday to the Presbyterian General Assembly. The world and the people and everything in it were being changed by the application of science. "Is it not to be expected that the teachers and guardians of faith must be constantly alert to interpret their message more effectively. freshen its appeal and meet the new challenges.” Sir Douglas Robb asked during an address on "science, and faith.” Sir Douglas Robb suggested that as a practical measure everyone should accept the impact of science and its methods as “one of the contemporary results of our God given nature. ‘‘l think we should be

cautious in accepting at once all the interpretations that may be put upon scientific findings. We should also reserve judgment as to values on applications of science that may be proposed. “We should be ready to accept with a glad heart the blessings that science could give the safe and better foods for children the radio and even television for old folk, the airlift for mercy missions and so on. “We should be ready to give the scientific worker full appreciation for his mod. era miracles and full temporal support for what he needs in his work." But the problems of faith and values remained, he said. Their contemporary expressions and ways of attaining them must vary from time to time and from place to place but simple and fundamental values remained. These could supply a certain fire and enthusiasm without which the labours of both the humanist individual and the scientist could remain lifeless and barren.