Routledge Revivals The Substance of Faith Allied with Science

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2 Routledge Revivals The Substance of Faith Allied with Science Originally published in 1907, this book provides information to parents and teachers wishing to teach their children about Christianity as well as science. Lodge details his fear of mandatory secularism in schools and advises how to instruct children in science without allowing any doubt of Christian doctrine and stresses the importance of reconciliation between religion and science for future generations. This title will be of interest to students of Education and Religion.

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4 The Substance of Faith Allied with Science A Catechism for Parents and Teachers Oliver Lodge

5 First published in 1907 By Methuen & Co This edition first published in 2016 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business 1907 Oliver Lodge All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Publisher s Note The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent. Disclaimer The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact. A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: ISBN 13: (hbk) ISBN 13: (ebk)

6 THE SUBSTANCE OF FAITH ALLIED WITH SCIENCE A CATECHISM FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS BY S ir O L IV E R LO D G E, F.R.S. PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM FIFTH EDITION M ETHUEN & CO. 36 E S S E X S T R E E T W.C L O N D O N

7 First' Published... February içoy Second Edition... February 1907 Third, Fourth, and Fifth Editions... March i<p7

8 Gloriam quæsivit scientiarum, invenit Dei.

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10 P R E F A C E E v e r y o n e who has to do with children at the present day, directly or indirectly, must in some form or another have felt the difficulty of instructing them in the details of religious faith, without leaving them open to the assaults of doubt hereafter, when they encounter the results of scientific inquiry. Sometimes the old truths and the new truths seem to conflict; and though everyone must be aware that such internecine warfare between truths can be an appearance only, the reconciliation is not easily perceived: nor is the task simplified by the hostile attitude adopted towards each other by some of the upholders of orthodox Christianity. It is sometimes said to be impossible for a teacher to educate a class subject to compulsory attendance, in a spirit of weal-th, peace, and godliness, without infringing the legitimate demands of somebody; but the difficulty is caused chiefly by sectarian animosity, which may take a variety of forms. These religious and educational disputes would be of small consequence, and might even be stimulating VÜ

11 viii TH E SUBSTANCE OF FAITH to thought and fervour, were it not that one danger is imminent : a danger lest the nation, in despair of a happier settlement, should consent to a system of compulsory secularism ; and forbid, in the public part of the curriculum of elementary schools, not only any form of worship, but any mention of a Supreme Being, and any quotation from the literature left us by the Saints, Apostles, Prophets, of all ages. If so excentric a negation is brought about by the warfare of denominations, they will surely all regard it as a lamentable result Meanwhile, in the hope and belief that the great bulk of the teachers of this country are eager and anxious to do their duty, and lead the children committed to their care along the ways of righteousness, being deterred therefrom in some cases only by the difficulty of following out their ideals amid the turmoil of voices, and in other cases by their uncertainty of how far the old paths can still be pursued in the light of modern knowledge, I have attempted the task of formulating the fundamentals, or substance,1 of religious faith in terms of Divine Immanence,2 in such a way as to assimilate sufficiently all the results of existing knowledge, and still to be in harmony with the teachings of the poets and inspired writers of all ages. The state- 1 By Substance I understand that which exists in and by itself. (Spinoza.) 2 We may say much, yet not attain ; and the sum of our words is, He is all. (Ecclesiasticus xliii. 27.)

12 PREFACE IX ment is intended to deny nothing which can reasonably be held by any specific Denomination, and it seeks to affirm nothing but what is consistent with universal Christian experience. Our knowledge of the Christian religion is admittedly derived from information verbally communicated, and from documents; and, in the interpretation of these sources, mistakes have been made. A t one time, not long ago, it was the duty of serious students of all kinds to point out some of these mistakes, wherever they ran counter to sense and knowledge. That cleaning and sweetening work has been done vigorously, and done well : at the present time comparatively little sweeping remains to be done, save in holes and corners: most of the lost simplicity has now been found. A positive or constructive statement of religious doctrine, not indeed deduced from present knowledge, but in harmony with all that bears upon the subject, is now more useful. Such a statement might be called New Light on Old Paths; for the old paths remain, and are more brightly illuminated than ever: even the old Genesis story of man s early experience shines out as a brilliant inspiration. Truth always grows in light and beauty the more it is uncovered. There are still people who endeavour to deny or disbelieve the discoveries of science. They are setting themselves athwart the stream, and trying

13 X THE SUBSTANCE OF FAITH to stop its advance they only succeed in stopping their own. They are good people, but unwise, and, moreover, untrustful. If they will let go their anchorage, and sail on in a spirit of fearless faith, they will find an abundant reward, by attaining a deeper insight into the Divine Nature, and a wider and brighter outlook over the destiny of man.

14 CHAP. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S PAGE PREFACE ON RELIGIOUS TEACHING.. VÜ INTRODUCTION A PLEA FOR SYMPATHY AND BREADTH..... I I. THE ASCENT OF MAN II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIENCE.. 20 III. CHARACTER AND WILL IV. DUTY AND SERVICE V. GOODNESS AND BEAUTY AND GOD.. 36 VI. MAN A PART OF THE UNIVERSE.. 42 VII. THE NATURE OF EVIL., VIII. THE MEANING OF SIN IX. THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE.. 56 X. COSMIC INTELLIGENCE XI. IMMANENCE XII. HIGHER FACULTIES, OR SOUL AND SPIRIT. 76 XIII. THE REALITY OF GRACE AND OF INCARNATION 84 XIV. THE TRUTH OF INSPIRATION XV. A CREED XVI. THE LIFE ETERNAL XVII. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS XVIII. PRAYER..... l i ó XIX. THE LORD S PRAYER XX. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN APPENDIX. THE CLAUSES REPEATED xi

15 xii THE SUBSTANCE OF FAITH PAGE REFERENCES TO QUOTATIONS i x Old paths Jer. vi. 16. I S Hear no yelp. Tennyson, 44By an Evolutionist. 22 Then welcome Browning, 4Rabbi Ben Ezra. 22 We fall to rise Browning, 44Asolando. 23 Nor shall I deem. Browning, 4Paracelsus. SO If my body. Tennyson, 44By an Evolutionist. 33 Our wills Tennyson, 4In Memoriam. 37 The old order Tennyson, 44Morte d Arthur. 39 Lilies that fester. Shakespeare, Sonnet All tended Browning, 44Paracelsus. 44 He hath shewed thee Micah vi The best is yet to be Browning, 44Rabbi Ben Ezra. 49 My son, the world. Tennyson, Ancient Sage. 50 * There shall never be Browning, 44Abt Vogler. 51 No ill no good Tennyson, 44Ancient Sage. 55 All we have willed. Browning, 4Abt Vogler, 59 Where dwells enjoyment Browning, Paracelsus. 59 God tastes an infinite Browning, Paracelsus irátreb pt7 xa.) fatvu. Heraclitus. (Everything flows and nothing is stagnant.) *5 The hills are shadows. Tennyson, In Memoriam írávT» 6t v.. Thales, quoted by Aristotle. (All things are full of gods.) 73 Earth s crammed. E. B. Browning, Aurora Leigh." 78 Our birth Wordsworth, 44Immortality. 81 We are such stuff. Shakespeare, Tempest. 83 Climb the mount. Tennyson, Ancient Sage. 86 That none but Gods Tennyson, 44By an Evolutionist. 87 Flash of the will. Browning, 44Abt Vogler. 87 *All through my keys Browning, Abt Vogler. 89 4Tis the sublime Coleridge, 44Religious Musings. 90 Enough that he heard it Browning, 4Abt Vogler. IOI 4*A sun but dimly seen * Tennyson, Akbar s Dream. 106 But that one ripple Tennyson, 44Ancient Sage. no 4Signs of his coming Morris, 44Love is Enough Then stirs the feeling Byron, 44Childe Harold. ' y ^vxv TMcXu fjtifjuxrm. Aristotle, 44De Animâ. (Spirit permeates the whole.) 44Whose dwelling, Wordsworth, Tintern Abbey. 124 Their prejudice Browning, 44Paracelsus. ' 126 And we the poor earth s. Tennyson, 44Ancient Sage.