PRESENT ATTITUDE OK THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 25, 27 October 1898, Page 31

PRESENT ATTITUDE OK THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD.

One of the scientific periodicals of England, in February, 1890, called attention to the singular change thus effected in public opinion in relation to the irreligious theories that once were so popular and fashionable ; ' One of the most significant signs of the times is the change of attitude among scientists towards religious questions. Those who keep pace with scientific thought, and are familiar with the atmosphere and spirit of scientific investigation in the universities abroad, have been struck by the radical change which has taken place in the last 20 years. What now strikes one in the attitude and spirit of a great many scientific men, is a spirit of reverence towards the religious side of life. ... It is very generally felt that the explanations of religious phenomena offered 20 years ago, and accepted at the moment as final, are inadequate ; that religion is something deeper, more pervasive' and more influential than many scientific men took account of ' two decades ago.' I will only add the words of an American review which a few months ago thus sketched the present attitude of the scientific world in regard to Divine Truth : ' Hundreds of objections loudly trumpeted for a time have been effectively silenced. Destructive theories after a short period of popularity have gradually faded out of sight. Statements put forth at first with unbounded confidence have quietly been dropped, and are no longer heard of. Much had been made of the silence of antiquity arouud Jewish history. But that silence is broken. From the hidden monuments of Egypt' of Assyria, and Chaldea, voices have come forth so significant that the main lines of our Sacred History are now admitted by all to be true.' {To be continued.)