AGNOSTIC EVOLUTION !6i 



caused their well-meant efforts to degenerate into 

 stupid superstitions. A similar fate may befall the 

 new religions of our agnostics. But these newer 

 religions have a higher connection. Professor Huxley 

 willingly admits that Jesus Christ is the noblest: 

 ideal of humanity which mankind has yet worshipped. ! 

 If so, why not merge the religion of humanity in the 

 religion of Christ, not in its more debased and de 

 generate forms, but on the high conception of the 

 New Testament? Spencer believes that we mustjj 

 admit a First Cause, while Huxley, who speaks con 

 temptuously of the religion of humanity, would make 

 the grandeur of the material universe his highest&quot; 

 object of adoration. The further admission that this 

 First Cause may be the Almighty Father of mankind 

 would elevate the religion of the universe into theism. 

 Thus it may happen that with larger and more liberal 

 views, even agnosticism may in the future return to 

 the paths of Christian theism, rather than degenerate 

 into a barbarous paganism. The many able men 

 who now profess themselves agnostics have a great 

 and serious responsibility in this matter, for, while 

 many feebler minds may be found to be nearer to 

 the kingdom of heaven than they, others may be en 

 ticed into paths where, destitute of Divine guidance, 

 they may be led to darkness and destruction. 



