142 THE FATAL. BIAS. 
chological laws. A book which merely records and clas- 
sifies these laws and describes the phenomena underlying 
them, is a truly scientific book, yet the acceptance of all 
that it contained would not force the surrender of any 
point of Christian doctrine. Hence we say that there is 
no contradiction between science and theology, between 
nature and religion. 
It is otherwise with the constructions and the interpre- 
tations which the scientists place upon the facts of science. 
For instance, there is an evident similarity of structure 
in many animals; they are built on a similar plan; their 
organs have similar or even identical functions. These 
are simply facts ascertained by observation. Their ac- 
ceptance does not place any burden on Christian faith. | 
But scientists interpret these facts to mean that there is 
progressive development in animal and plant life. They 
have found certain laws (Natural Selection and others) 
by means of which they require only forces resident in 
matter to explain the universe. On their hypothesis 
there is no necessity of miracles nor need we believe in 
God. Observe, this is the result of speculation, not ob- 
servation; interpretation of facts, but not a conclusion 
drdwn from facts themselves. It is not science but scien- 
tists that are opposed to the Christian religion. 
This view is supported also by the reflection that the 
history of speculative thought has ever revealed an anti- 
Christian intent and purpose, a fatal bias of scientists and 
philosophers against the teachings of Christianity. The 
modern anatomist and physiologist may declare that his 
science precludes the necessity of faith in God and of 
prayer; that through his research he has become a ma- 
terialist, an atheist. But even in the Middle Ages, when 
practically all of anatomy and physiology was yet unex- 
plored, the physicians of that day were as materialistic 
as those of our own. The medieval saying was: “Tres 
