THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGION 



its value is unaffected by any religious belief. 

 An atheist or a Christian may visit the sick; the 

 one believes that the act has no hidden significance, 

 the other that "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the 

 least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me"; 

 but if the motive is love, the act is of equal value in 

 each case. The present relation between religion 

 and morality is therefore as "fortuitous" as any- 

 thing can be in a law-governed universe. A pro- 

 found writer might well spend much thought in 

 discussing the causes which have led to this rela- 

 tion, but they are demonstrably not inherent in 

 the nature of the related terms. 



These things have long been recognized by men 

 who have thought for themselves; but evolution 

 has rendered great service in demonstrating the 

 independent origin of religion and morality, and 

 notably in proving that love is older than all the 

 creeds. "Our little systems have their day," but 

 love preceded and will outlast them all. 



Thus the evolutionist is little concerned when 

 he hears it said, as it has always been said in times 

 past, that the future of morality depends upon 

 the sustenance of this, that, or the other dogma. 

 He knows that love can say, of any dogma what- 

 soever, "Before this was, / am." 



