CHAPTER IV. 

 Importance of Spontaneous Generation. 



THE MANNER in which this prob- 

 lem, from a materialistic point of 

 view, can and must be treated, is not 

 so complicated as we might imagine. 

 The central thought in all materialistic 

 discussions and investigations may be 

 briefly expressed as follows: Life is a 

 material force and nothing else. If this 

 be true, then of course materialism is 

 the only true religion. Whether God 

 or some other higher being exists, must 

 then become a question of little or no 

 consequence. Man knows in any case 

 his own origin and fate. The funda- 

 mental religious doctrines will then 

 read: In matter alone dwell all the 

 forces of nature and spirit; in matter 

 alone can these forces appear and re- 

 veal themselves; nature knows of no 



