Jainism Christianity and Science

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: The Indian Press Allahabad

Page 17

RELIGION AS A SCIENCE
denies and has always denied the existence of a creative god. It reduces everything to the iron laws of nature, which also govern the two substances with which it is chiefly concerned, namely, spirit and matter.
What the true Christian views on the subject are will appear from the following:- :
"The sense of the law is to be taken in three ways......either as exhibiting a symbol, or laying down a precept for right conduct, or as uttering a prophecy. But I well know that it belongs to men (of fall age) to distinguish and declare these things..... those who hant after the divine teaching, must approach it with the utmost perfection of the logical faculty."-(Clement Alexandrinus) A.N.C.L. vol. iv. p. 468.
" Whether, then, it be the law which is connate and natural, or that given afterwards, thich is meant, it is certainly of God; and both the law of nature and of instruction are one."-Ibid. p. 470.
"I could bear with her (philosophy's) pretensions, if only she were true to nature, and could prove to me that she has mastery over nature..... "-Tertullian) A.N.C.L. vol. xv. p. 414.
"For scientific knowledge is necessary both for the training of the soul and for gravity of conduct; making the faithful more active and keen observer of things. For as there is no believing without elementary instruction, 80 nether is there comprehension without science. For what is useful and necessary to salvation, such as [the knowledge of] the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirt, and also of our own soul, are wholly requisite; and it is at once beneficial and necessary to attain to the scientific account of them.”—The Prophetic Scriptures) A.N.C.L. fol. xxiv. p. 126.
" .....Lats which insure happiness to those who live according to them."-(Origen) A.N.C.L. vol. xxin. p. 194.
“We musl, then, search the Scriptures accurately, since they are admitted to be expressed in parables, and from the names hunt out the thoughts which the Holy Spirit, propounding respecting things, teaches by imprinting His mind, so to speak, on the expressions ; that the names used with various meanings, being made the subject of accurate investigation, may be explained, and that that which is hidden