In discussing the present trend of the Church, and of Christian thought, President Harper of Chicago University has spoken of the religious significance of a knowledge of physical science, in terms which challenge attention to-day, and which would have awakened a storm of religious protest a generation ago. He says;—
"The work of the theological student should be brought into touch with the modern spirit of science. The great majority of students who enter the theological seminary have but a slight knowledge of science, if any. They have come in large measure from the smaller denominational colleges, few of which have any equipment adapted to the teaching of science. Here, indeed, a real difficulty presents itself. If a prospective theological student is sent to a State institution, or to one of the larger universities, in which he would learn directly and definitely this scientific spirit, he is in danger of being drawn away from his purpose to preach. If, on the other hand, he goes to a small denominational college, he fails to secure any adequate preparation in science or psychology. It is true, moreover, that theological students in general are devoid of the scientific sense. They have little or no sympathy with scientific work. They utterly lack that point of view which will enable them to bring themselves into relationship with that greatest factor in modern civilization, popularly called science. The man who has not had training in science cannot speak effectively on any subject, least of all the subject of religion, to men who have had such training. We should be surprised, not at the small number of scientists who maintain their church connections, but rather at the comparatively large number who retain such connection in spite of the pulpit ministrations to which they are compelled to listen."
This emphatic declaration of the value to the Christian minister of the spirit of physical science, as well as of the knowledge of its teaching, is the more interesting in view of the accompanying recognition of the danger of deflection from the ministry which attends the acquirement of this asserted good. The exact knowledge of the so-called phenomena of Nature greatly enhances our interest in the things about us, and thus multiplies the avenues of intellectual diversion while expanding and enriching our thought and experience. Moreover, the verification of truth by practical demonstration, which has effected such wonderful advance for physical science since it escaped from the fetters of dogmatic theology, has lost nothing of its authority, though so long neglected by Christian theologians; while the more consistent adherence of physical scientists to the logic of their law, their indifference to past-honored theories the moment their inadequacy is made apparent, and their devotion to the discovery of truth rather than to the support of cherished opinions,—all these things might indeed make "the modern spirit of science" of very great advantage to a minister of Christ. Such a contribution to religious forces would be altogether fitting, for it is to be remembered that physical science is indebted to Christian teaching, not only for its basic ideas, viz., those of the unity of Nature and the uniformity of the laws, but also for its method of verification already noted, which was the distinctive philosophy and practice of Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, the danger to which Doctor Harper refers is a very pertinent fact, for it is certainly true that without a firm adherence to the idealism of Christ Jesus,— the clear realization of the nothingness of matter— as taught in Christian Science, no one is fitted to pursue these lines of study without hazarding the loss of his interest in current theology, if not in spiritual things.
