THE SCIENCES 29 



edge can make good its claim to be true knowledge if it 

 can be demonstrated to be contradictory to genuine 

 knowledge in the sphere of non-theological sciences. 

 But it is equally to be maintained that no proposition 

 advanced by natural scientists can rightly be regarded 

 as final which contradicts genuine theological knowl- 

 edge. In brief, the harmony which must exist between 

 theological and non-theological knowledge is a mutual 

 one, and neither theological nor non-theological science 

 is in a position rightly to dictate terms to the other. And 

 this contention is not in the least degree qualified 

 when we acknowledge that theology, like physical sci- 

 ence, is a progressive science, and makes progress by 

 the correction of speculative errors as well as by a 

 more complete knowledge of its divinely, revealed and 

 therefore indisputable data.^ 



All reality constitutes a unity; but the complexity 

 and variety which is discernible in the totality of things 

 is very great, so great that no one mind is capable of 

 adequately investigating and generalizing all realities 

 in one science. Consequently a division of labour is 

 the first requirement of scientific method. The task 

 which cannot successfully be undertaken in its compre- 



1 The data of revelation are analogous to those of physical science 

 in so far as they consist of phenomena that have been experi- 

 enced; and for this reason they constitute the fixed premises of theolog- 

 ical speculation. When Christians insist that the faith was once for 

 all delivered, and cannot be changed, they act on the principle which 

 moves a modern scientist to insist upon his facts while modifying 

 his theories. The insistence in both cases means that experience 

 cannot be repudiated. 



