THE 



POPULAR SCIENCE 

 MONTHLY. 



JUNE, 1886. 



EVOLUTION BOUNDED BY THEOLOGY. 



By W. D. LE SUETJK, B. A. 



TTNDER the title of "Evolution and Theology," Dr. Lyman Ab- 

 vJ bott, in the December number of the " Andover Review," under- 

 takes to indicate certain doctrines to which the philosophy of evolution 

 will have to adapt itself, under penalty of being brought to naught. 

 These doctrines, he seems to consider, lend themselves in an especial 

 manner to vigorous and effective pulpit treatment ; and his advice to 

 the clergy is to insist as powerfully as possible upon these, and to 

 "leave severely alone doubtful interpretations of the third chapter of 

 Genesis, and doubtful discussions respecting the origin of the race." 

 In other words, the difficulties raised by science in regard to the Bibli- 

 cal account of creation are to be quietly ignored, while all possible use 

 is to be made for purposes of edification of such doctrines as appeal 

 most powerfully to the religious emotions. One may agree with the 

 writer that it is not well to spend time upon "doubtful interpreta- 

 tions," and yet hold that it would not be useless to inquire whether a 

 narrative accepted by thousands as historically true has any just claim 

 to be so regarded. A certain passage in Homer might be considered 

 by critics as hopelessly " corrupt " ; but the fact of our giving up the 

 effort to interpret it would not stand in the way of our forming an 

 opinion as to whether the Homeric tale of Troy was to be accepted as 

 sober history. What simple-minded people want to know, in regard 

 to the early chapters of Genesis, is whether or not they are true, and 

 this issue can not be evaded by any talk about " doubtful interpreta- 

 tions." What is meant, after all, by " doubtful interpretations " ? Is 

 it meant that it is impossible to put any certain interpretation upon 

 the chapters in question ? That difficulty was not felt in former times, 

 when days counted as days, and the geological record was as yet un- 



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