A history of the warfare of science with theology in Christendom

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1896. FIRST EDITION. Publisher’s cloth, author and title in gilt on front covers and spines. An excellent copy. First edition. White was one of the founders of the conflict thesis, which states that science and religion have historically been in conflict, and tried to prove it here. He lectured on the subject for years, maintaining that religion’s interference in science only results in the “direst evils” to both, but scientific investigation, regardless of the perceived danger, only results in the “highest good” to both.

The topics in this work are both broad and focused, dealing with everything from creation to evolution, more specifically geography and geology, prehistoric man, magic, chemistry and physics, language, the Dead Sea legends, political economy, miracles and medicine. A fascinating work for any academic or student of history.

White (1832-1918) was one of the founders of Cornell University and served as its first president for nearly two decades. He also represented America as Ambassador to Russia and Germany.

Dictionary of American Biography, X, pp. 88-93.