TWO PATHS, ONE GOAL. 



95 



Theism 



In coiisideriijg Keligioii, Temple necessarily deals with it 

 under the form of Theism, or that doctrine " that the universe 

 owes its existence, and continuance in existence, to the reason 

 and will uf a self-existent .Being, who is infinitely powerful, 

 wise, and good — the doctrine that Nature has a Creator and 

 Preserver, the nations a Governor, men a heavenly Father and 

 Judge " * ; and it is needless to say that the Christian form of 

 Theism is alone considered. We should no more think of 

 discussing as Eeligion the lower forms of polytheistic faiths 

 than we should classify and describe a butterfly or frog from 

 their larval forms. AVhatever the importance of the lower 

 faiths of man, and their interest to anthropologists, the gulf that 

 separates them from Christian Theism is deep and wide. And 

 whatever the ethical importance to mankind or the interest to 

 philosophers may be found in the ancient faiths of Hinduism, 

 Buddhism, and Mohannnedanism, their almost complete aliena- 

 tion from modern Science put them at once out of court in such 

 a discussion. 



No definition of Science is needed. The simple statement 

 that modern Science, youthful, vigorous, progressive, and yet 

 cautious, is here indicated, suffices for the purpose. 



Ckaeactees Common to Eeligiox and Science. 



What are the characters common to Eeligion and Science ? 

 The most prominent and important among these seem to be the 

 following : — 



1. Both are concerned with man and his welfare. 



2. Both tacitly assume that man is the last and highest 



inhabitant of this planet. 



3. Both contain revelations of mysteries, the first volume is 



that of Eeligion, the second that of Science. 



4. Both show a slow progressive transformation and growth. 



5. As eacli develops, a shrinking of the province of mystery 



takes place. 



6. Both postulate a realm of order. 



7. Botli ultimately are based on faith. 



8. Both postulate the uniformity of Nature. 



* Theisfin, Professor Robert Flint, p. 18. 



