Immortality is insisted on, but nothing specific is said of the conditions by virtue of which it obtains. Nor, so far as I am aware, is any veto laid on endeavours to ascertain those conditions.
I repeat that in my opinion, cosmic mechanism and religion are distinct, and no knowledge, however full, as to the former can possibly either impair or replace the latter.
In short I do not see that the necessity for religion as an integral part of life would be one whit diminished even supposing we knew as much about the "next world" and conditions of life therein, as we know of this.
And this contention holds good no matter what results research may bring to light, no matter how much they may differ from our preconceived ideas.
For the truth is there all the time although at the moment we may not have grasped it and the Christian religion, if it be the true religion, as we believe, was framed, so to speak, to meet the needs of a cosmos organised in this particular way and in no other.
Unless, therefore, the Christian religion be false, it is impossible that the results of research, supposing them to be accurate and reliable,—a matter which can only be ensured by the exercise of scientific reason,—should in any way conflict with religious truth.
In case any one should feel that I ought to specify more precisely than I have done, what I mean by the Christian religion, I would refer them to the Nicene creed. Or if it is a matter of the interpretation of this in terms of conduct, I should cite "My duty towards God" and "My duty towards my neighbour" in the Church Catechism. Or in secular writings I would mention that view of Christianity which is defended by Mr. G.K. Chesterton in his book "Orthodoxy."
With these I am prepared to stand four-square, although it is conceivable that I might find myself at variance with some authorities on the precise interpretation to be given to certain clauses, as for instance "the resurrection of the dead" in the first mentioned.
But controversies about interpretation have been rife among Christian theorists from the earliest times and differences of opinion on minor points do not constitute lack of adherence in fundamentals.
Hitherto in this discussion I have been concerned only with negatives. That is to say I have been trying to show that there is nothing in the attempt which has led me to adopt the four-dimensional hypothesis which is in any way contrary to the essential teachings of Christianity.