Concerning Unproved Suppositions…

As young people face their formal education, there may be many puzzling questions which concern conflicting theories. The past century or so has seen a profound unfoldment of truth, and the mind of man has been permitted by the Almighty to penetrate further in some fields than in several centuries preceding. But the past century or so has also seen much unprovable or unproved speculation, with some suppositions that have lacked sound substance.

Theories come and go, and dogmatism for any tentative concept, academic or otherwise, ill becomes anyone. And of those who are dogmatic in teaching popular but unproved opinions indeed, of all of us let these questions be asked: Who knows of a textbook that will not be revised? Who knows of a process that will not be improved? Who knows of a theory that is not subject to further findings? Who knows what holds the universe together or even the smallest particle of it? Who knows what keeps it in its course?

We may have found some of the factors and forces, but we know so much less than all there is to know. And with the most learned often disagreeing with the most learned, to the student facing an overwhelming flood of facts and of alleged facts, it would be wise to say: Respectfully consider what is in the books; respectfully consider what is presented in the classroom and respectfully reserve judgment where teachings come in conflict with other teachings.

There is so much that all of us together do not know. There is so much of supposition, of opinion, so much that is subject to further finding. But fortunately there are some great unchanging truths in the universe, and He who keeps creation in its course is the Source of them all. And we need not be unsettled by the shifting theories until the theories themselves are settled; until the conflicts are composed; until men know much more than they know now. In the meantime, we can search and seek, and cling to the great truth that truth does not come in conflict with truth.

With an open mind to truth, we shall someday know the answers that we so much seek. And until we know, we can walk confidently, humbly into the future with faith.