14 EVOLUTION OF TO-DAY. 



causing a rejection of evolution have frequently 

 been of no scientific importance. Instead of trying 

 to find out whether evolution is true, many begin at 

 the other end. They select certain unpleasant re- 

 sults which they say will follow if the theory be 

 true, and then proceeding to show that these results 

 cannot be accepted, assume to have disproved the 

 theory. One voluminous book, published within a 

 year, assumes to start with, that if evolution were 

 true Christianity would be overthrown, and with 

 this as a foundation proceeds to demolish the the- 

 ory. But such reasoning is worse than worthless ; it 

 is a positive injury both to science and religion, be- 

 cause it gives a false idea of both. Christianity 

 does not want such defence, nor does science care in 

 the least for such attacks. The truth of the theory 

 of evolution must be decided by the evidence 

 which can be adduced, and not by the results which 

 we may think would follow. 



Hugh Miller used to say that it was the misfor- 

 tune of theology to be fifty years behind science. 

 As soon as scienpe advances any theory, theology 

 thinks to discover it to be contrary to revelation, 

 and immediately attempts to prove this contradic- 

 tion. After much time is spent in such discussion 

 the discovery is made that science has in the mean- 

 time demonstrated the theory in question. Theol- 

 ogy is then obliged to retrace its steps ; and usually 

 discovers very soon that its earlier interpretations 

 were erroneous. This has been the history of al- 

 most all scientific theories, and thus according to 

 Hugh Miller theology is fifty years behind science. 



