Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 188

164

§ 49.

TWO KINDS

OF SCIENCE

[Div. II

opinion npon the basis of Pantheism and Naturalism has really only

who

lived

begun since the last century. Since, now, those by palingenesis found these old representations

conform entirely to their own consciousness, it is natthat they were not on the alert to build a scientific house of their own, as long as general science also lived by Now, premises which properly belonged to palingenesis. however, all this has entirely changed. They who stand outside the palingenesis have perceived, with increasing to

iiral

clearness, that these primordial conceptions as premises belonged not to them but to their opponents, and in a comparatively short time they have placed an entirely different Creation has made range of premises over against them. room for Evolution, and with surprising rapidity vast multitudes have made this transition from creation to evolution,

because, in fact, they never have believed in creation, or least, never assimilated the world of As natural thoughts which this word Creation embraced. as it has been, therefore, that in the domain of science both circles have been one thus far, it is equally natural that the unity of this company should now be irreparably Ijroken. He who in building upon the foundation of crea-

because they had, at

tion thinks that he builds the

same wall

as another

starts from evolution, reminds one of Sisyphus. has the stone been carried up than relentlessly it

No

who

sooner

rolls

back

again.

A

second cause in point,

lies in

the fact that palingenesis

does not primarily impel to scientific labor.

It stands too

and is of too noble an origin. Let us be sober, and awake from the intoxication of those who have become drunk on the wine of science. If you except a small aris-

high for

this,

tocracy, the impulse to the greater part of scientific study lies

in the ambition to

dominate the material and

visible

world; to satisfy a certain intellectual tendency of the mind to make a name and to harvest to secure a position in life ;

;

honors

;

and to look down with a sense

those

who

name

of Jesus Cln-ist,

upon Mention only tlie

of superiority

are less broadly developed.

and you perceive

at once

how

this

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen