10 THE PHILOSOPHY OF EVOLUTION 



through evilness (or cowardice) up-grown in me, none the less 

 I shall surely follow.' 1 



We cannot get beyond that : we need not seek to do so ; 

 for this prayer is compatible with every creed, and it contains 

 the essence of absolute self -dedication. 



By convincing us that the universe is one homogeneous 

 whole, in which nothing can be lost and unaccounted for, 

 through which there runs a continuity of energising forces, 

 and of which we are indisputably conscious members, Science 

 has lent deeper meaning to the Stoic prayer. But it has not, 

 on that account, eliminated the conception of a Deity or 

 effaced the noble humanities secured for us by many centuries 

 of Christian faith. It cannot be too emphatically insisted on 

 that much-dreaded Darwinism leaves the theological belief 

 in a Divine Being untouched. God is not less God, nor is 

 creative energy less creative, because we are led to suppose 

 that a lengthy instead of a sudden method was employed in 

 the production of the Kosmos. 



VI 



The conceptions of God and Law tend to coalescence in 

 the scientific theory of the universe. In other words, 

 spirituality is restored to Nature, which comes to be regarded 

 as a manifestation of infinite vitality. The Fathers of the 

 Christian Churches, battling with corrupt Paganism, striving 

 valiantly to secure monotheistic principles of theology, basing 

 conduct upon hopes and terrors in the world beyond the 

 grave, effected an artificial separation of man from Nature. 

 They banned the logical and simple recognition of man's 

 integration with the Kosmos, upon which the elder religions 

 rested. Nature for many centuries was regarded as the evil 

 thing, the contrary of Spirit. Science, which grew up in 

 this uncongenial atmosphere, accepted the separation from 

 the outset, and went on studying Nature as though it were 



1 In another place Cleanthes declares that there is no higher 

 guerdon for gods or mortals than to sing the praises of the universal 

 Law KOiv'bv del v6^iov eV 5f/c; v/j.ve'iy. 



