SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 4, 1 June 1939, Page 2

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

1. Introduction to an intellectual study.

"It is not the place of a university to give inuividuals a faith or belief with which to lead their lives. Its function is to teach those who come to think, to enquire, to criticise." These remarks were uttered by the chairman of the Victoria College at the recent presentation of degrees.

Other speakers also emphasised the value of learning to criticise.

Now it is undoubtedly true that constructive advances m human thought and conduct are frequently the result of a courageous criticism of weaknesses m an existing order; but there is also a danger of such over development m destructive censure as to encourage the rising generation lightly to scorn the mature convictions of their forefathers. Upon those who train the young to be critical of established philosophies there rests a solemn obligation to see that their minds receive a fair presentation of all the evidence concerned.

A Secular System

The references to "faith" and "belief" would seem to be a reminder of the fact that New Zealand's official education does not cover the field of "theology" or religious research. It has not yet been deemed advisable for our University to appoint a Faculty of Theology. Graduation lists speak of Arts, Science, Laws and Commerce, but includes no degrees m Divinity, candidates for which must journey overseas or learn by correspondence. Christianity holds a vital place m civilisation and it is doubtful whether the alert mind of the student is sufficiently well informed to judge the subject. This, it may be argued, is the fault of the church. In part it is; but the official exclusion of religious instruction from the curriculum of school and university would appear to imply its irrelevance to the training of a modern intellectual.

Personal Difficulties

Matters of religious belief do definitely concern the minds of thoughtful students. Clergy are asked to give help to perplexed young people at a loss to reconcile the teachings of church and home with the attitude adopted by fellow students, or explanations given by lecturers m science, philosophy or psychology. There is significance m the results of a recent debate held at Victoria College m which a motion was carried by 44 votes to 40, prescribing a "Return to Religion" as the only cure to our present ills. It is interesting to remember that a similar motion was carried by the Union debating society of

Oxford hot long ago and by an overwhelming majority. The time is approaching when educators and citizens alike, m the so-called "Christian" lands will have to abandon "side-tracking" the religious issue. If the faith be deemed essential to the maintenance of our civilisation it must receive the attention it deserves. If not, then disbelievers ought frankly to show their colours and churchmen would know where they stood.

Scholars Of The Church

A hundred years ago scientists had some justification for impatience with the Church, w.hose leaders were too ready to present a frigid hostility towards new knowledge, and the results of honest research. To-day the tables have been turned. The leading scholars of Christendom are men of all round education. Many are equally at home m the fields of science, literature, and philosophy, as they are m religion. The agnostics of a hundred years ago were at least conversant with the text of the Bible and the religious teaching of their day. Leading anti-Christian writers of our time display an almost complete ignorance of up-to-date church teachings. Their sarcasm is levelled at such presentations of the gospel as were considered adequate for the minds of small children a generation ago. It is not reasonable to fix attention upon superficial difficulties over Cain's wife, Noah's ark, or Jonah's whale and airily dismiss the records of man's spiritual experiences over three thousand years, without ever coming to grips with the vital issues involved.

The Parish Priest

The Works of great scholars are available to the clergy. When not overloaded running round after people who must be cajoled to come to church, and doing a hundred odd layman's jobs, parish priests are free to instruct their people m classes and sermons. And if weather, picnics, or sport do not intervene a minimum of knowledge can be imparted. Little Bible study m the school or home results m many young people reaching the University unequipped with a background of knowledge sufficient as a basis for the intelligent discussion of their faith.

A Reasonable Faith

The most important result of advanced religious education is to demonstrate to the converted churchman as well as to the agnostic or inquirer that Christianity is intellectually reasonable, and fully capable of sound defence m the open forum of argument. Believers are often put to shame by their own inability to express the teachings of their church. But . none need be afraid that God's Truth is unable to survive the test of human scrutiny.

As m a court of law, the integrity of a witness is subject to challenge. Not infrequently the people who find anti-Christian teaching most acceptable are those, who have already chosen to abandon the church's standards of conduct and morality m their own lives. Rationalisation is the name given by psychology to the mental process which renders one ? s habits "correct" by altering the rules of behaviour. .

Specialists

Moreover, this is an age of specialisation. Life is so full that only a few people are able to master the details of any particular craft. This is recognised m everyday life by the citizen who calls m" a plumber to repair a pipe, a builder to add to his house and who goes to the dentist with tooth-ache, or a surgeon for an operation. He would scarcely presume to instruct any of these professionals m the exercise of there callings. In religion it is different. Everyone is expected to know more than the clergy, whose lives are set apart for its study and practice.

"Obiter dicta" is a term applied at law to pronouncement gratuitously uttered by a judge, and dealing with matters outside of the case actually being heard.

Newspapers and reviews eagerly publish the "obiter dicta" on religious subjects, of popular cinema stars, sports champions, politicians, and leaders of science and industry. It is admirable that these people have earned the esteem of the public for prowess m their own particular field of activity, but illogical to expect them therefore to speak as oracles upon matters of faith and morality.

Definition Of Science

Science by definition is a "Pursuit of Truth for its Own Sake." Its

methods are those of observation, analysis, education, hypothesis and experiment. Next month we shall consider the impact of the "new knowledge" upon the "old work." . (To be continued). G. VINCENT WAIAPU.