EXCURSIONS OF AN EVOLUTIONIST 



not enough that Mr. Spencer should have made 

 all these priceless contributions to human know- 

 ledge, but actually complain of him for not giv- 

 ing us a complete and exhaustive system of 

 theology into the bargain. What I wish, there- 

 fore, to point out is that Mr. Spencer's work on 

 the side of religion will be seen to be no less 

 important than his work on the side of science, 

 when once its religious implications shall have 

 been fully and consistently unfolded. 



If we look at all the systems or forms of re- 

 ligion of which we have any knowledge, we 

 shall find that they differ in many superficial 

 features. They differ in many of the transcen- 

 dental doctrines which they respectively preach, 

 and in many of the rules of conduct which they 

 respectively lay down for men's guidance. They 

 assert different things about the universe, and 

 they enjoin or prohibit different kinds of be- 

 haviour on the part of their followers. The 

 doctrine of the Trinity, which to many Chris- 

 tians is the most sacred of mysteries, is to all 

 Mohammedans the foulest of blasphemies. The 

 Brahman's conscience would be more troubled 

 if he were to kill a cow by accident than if he 

 were to swear to a lie or steal a purse. The 

 Turk, who sees no wrong in bigamy, would 

 shrink from the sin of eating pork. But, amid 

 all such surface differences we find throughout 

 all known religions two points of substantial 

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