Victoria Institute
Encyclopedia
The Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, was founded in 1865, as a response to the publication of On the Origin of Species and Essays and Reviews
. Its stated objective was to defend "the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture ... against the opposition of Science falsely so called." Although it was not officially opposed to evolution, it attracted a number of scientists sceptical of Darwinism
, including John William Dawson
and Arnold Guyot.
) reaching a high point of 1,246 in 1897, but quickly plummeted to less than one third of that figure in the first two decades of the twentieth century. James Clerk Maxwell
was repeatedly invited to join the institute, including in writing in 1875, but, although he was a devout evangelical Christian, he turned down the invitations, due the institute's narrow outlook and conservatism. Only a few prominent scientists who were Evangelicals joined it.
Prominent Canadian creationist (and long-standing institute member) George McCready Price
, attended meetings regularly while living in London between 1924 and 1928, but his views failed to persuade the membership.
In 1927 it appointed prominent electrical engineer and physicist
John Ambrose Fleming
as its president. Fleming's 1935 presidential address, on his views on anthropology and the Bible, provoked commentary from leading London newspapers and a lengthy reply from anatomist and anthropologist Arthur Keith
.
Though it was anti-evolution at first, the institute joined the theistic evolution camp by the 1920s. Its library and study center were destroyed in World War II
by bombs, and J.W. Haas, Jr. noted in 1990 that it therefore had little recent influence on the British scene other than through its journal Faith and Thought.
. Its current vice-presidents include Malcolm Jeeves
, Kenneth Kitchen
, and Alan Ralph Millard. Along with Christians in Science
, it publishes Science and Christian Belief
(into which Faith and Thought was merged) twice yearly.
Essays and Reviews
Essays and Reviews, published in March 1860, is a broad-church volume of seven essays on Christianity. The topics covered the biblical research of the German critics, the evidence for Christianity, religious thought in England, and the cosmology of Genesis....
. Its stated objective was to defend "the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture ... against the opposition of Science falsely so called." Although it was not officially opposed to evolution, it attracted a number of scientists sceptical of Darwinism
Darwinism
Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin....
, including John William Dawson
John William Dawson
Sir John William Dawson, CMG, FRS, FRSC , was a Canadian geologist and university administrator.- Life and work :...
and Arnold Guyot.
Heyday and decline
The Victoria Institute enjoyed considerable success in the late nineteenth century, with membership (including several members of the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
) reaching a high point of 1,246 in 1897, but quickly plummeted to less than one third of that figure in the first two decades of the twentieth century. James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell of Glenlair was a Scottish physicist and mathematician. His most prominent achievement was formulating classical electromagnetic theory. This united all previously unrelated observations, experiments and equations of electricity, magnetism and optics into a consistent theory...
was repeatedly invited to join the institute, including in writing in 1875, but, although he was a devout evangelical Christian, he turned down the invitations, due the institute's narrow outlook and conservatism. Only a few prominent scientists who were Evangelicals joined it.
Prominent Canadian creationist (and long-standing institute member) George McCready Price
George McCready Price
George McCready Price was a Canadian creationist. He produced several anti-evolution and creationist works, particularly on the subject of flood geology...
, attended meetings regularly while living in London between 1924 and 1928, but his views failed to persuade the membership.
In 1927 it appointed prominent electrical engineer and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
John Ambrose Fleming
John Ambrose Fleming
Sir John Ambrose Fleming was an English electrical engineer and physicist. He is known for inventing the first thermionic valve or vacuum tube, the diode, then called the kenotron in 1904. He is also famous for the left hand rule...
as its president. Fleming's 1935 presidential address, on his views on anthropology and the Bible, provoked commentary from leading London newspapers and a lengthy reply from anatomist and anthropologist Arthur Keith
Arthur Keith
Sir Arthur Keith was a Scottish anatomist and anthropologist, who became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Hunterian Professor and conservator of the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London...
.
Though it was anti-evolution at first, the institute joined the theistic evolution camp by the 1920s. Its library and study center were destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by bombs, and J.W. Haas, Jr. noted in 1990 that it therefore had little recent influence on the British scene other than through its journal Faith and Thought.
Current organization
The Victoria Institute currently uses the working name 'Faith and Thought'. Its current president is John T. HoughtonJohn T. Houghton
As co-chair of the IPCC, he defends the IPCC process, in particular against charges of failure to consider non-CO2 explanations of climate change. In evidence to, the Select Committee on Science and Technology in 2000 he said:...
. Its current vice-presidents include Malcolm Jeeves
Malcolm Jeeves
Prof Malcolm Jeeves CBE FRSE is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of St. Andrews, and was formerly President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh. He established the Department of Psychology at St...
, Kenneth Kitchen
Kenneth Kitchen
Kenneth Anderson Kitchen is Personal and Brunner Professor Emeritus of Egyptology and Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, England...
, and Alan Ralph Millard. Along with Christians in Science
Christians in Science
Christians in Science is a British organization of scientists, philosophers, theologians, ministers, teachers, and science students, predominantly evangelical Christians, concerned with the dialogue between Christianity and science...
, it publishes Science and Christian Belief
Science and Christian Belief
Science and Christian Belief is an academic journal published twice yearly by Christians in Science and the Victoria Institute. The journal focuses on the traffic of ideas between science and religion, with particular reference to Christianity...
(into which Faith and Thought was merged) twice yearly.
See also
- Creation Science MovementCreation Science MovementThe Creation Science Movement is a British Creationist organisation which lays claim to the title "the oldest creationist movement in the world"...
- List of Christian thinkers in science
- Relationship between religion and scienceRelationship between religion and scienceThe relationship between religion and science has been a focus of the demarcation problem. Somewhat related is the claim that science and religion may pursue knowledge using different methodologies. Whereas the scientific method basically relies on reason and empiricism, religion also seeks to...
Further reading
- Faith and Thought (Victoria Institute), Paternoster Press, 1958–1988. Vol. 90, no. 1 (spring 1958)-v. 114, no. 2 (Oct. 1988).
- Merged with: Science and Faith, to form: Science & Christian Belief.
- Continues: Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain (1867–1957).
- A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, Andrew Dickson WhiteAndrew Dickson WhiteAndrew Dickson White was a U.S. diplomat, historian, and educator, who was the co-founder of Cornell University.-Family and personal life:...
, D. Appleton & Company, 1896 ("a sort of festschriftFestschriftIn academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
to Cornell University" {page xi}) - Science & Christian Belief, Christians in Science (Great Britain), Victoria Institute (Great Britain), Paternoster Press, 1989
- A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, Andrew Dickson White
External links
- Official Faith and Thought Website
- Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute table of contents
- Quote of James Clerk Maxwell Turning down Invitation
- Research Results on James Clerk Maxwell and the Victoria Institute
- Biography mentioning G.G. Stokes's presidency
- The BBC, the Victoria Institute, and the Theological Context for the Big Bang – Steady State Debate, Craig Sean McConnell, S&CB (2006), 18, 151–168.