514 EVOLUTION 



Again, the phenomenon of radioactivity teaches us that the 

 atoms composing one chemical substance are transformed into 

 those of another, and thus chemical substances are built up by 

 the process of evolution. There seems to be but one thing that 

 is constant and that is constant change. 



Evolution and the Doctrine of Special Creation. — The theory 

 of evolution is directly opposed to the " Doctrine of Special 

 Creation." The " Doctrine of Special Creation " is based upon 

 a literal interpretation of the account of creation given in the 

 Bible and, therefore, assumes that all things were created at the 

 beginning of the world. According to the " Doctrine of Special 

 Creation " plants, animals, mountains, oceans, planets, and stars 

 were created in the beginning by the Creator and have remained 

 constant in all fundamental features until the present time. 

 This means that Angiosperms and all other groups of plants, 

 however simple or complex, did not come from simpler forms, 

 but were made in the beginning and, therefore, have been in 

 existence practically ever since the world began. It is thus 

 seen that the " Doctrine of Special Creation " is not at all in 

 harmony with the theory of evolution, for the latter theory as- 

 sumes that in the early history of the world there were only very 

 simple organisms, and that from them through changes involving 

 many millions of years the complex forms have been derived. 



Although a few believed in evolution even as far back as the 

 Greek philosophers, the " Doctrine of Special Creation " pre- 

 vailed until comparatively a short time ago. During the last 

 150 years, the theory of evolution has gradually gained favor, 

 and, since Charles Darwin's time, it has gained such supremacy 

 that it is now a fundamental conception not only in botany 

 and zoology but also in such subjects as history, philosophy, 

 sociology, and theology. 



Theories in Regard to Evolution. — The most difficult thing 

 about evolution is its explanation. One can trace connections 

 between the higher and lower forms, but to explain just in what 

 way one form arose from another is not at all easy. Scientists 

 are all convinced of the reality of evolution, but the forces or 

 factors which bring about evolution are still under discussion. 



Earliest Theories. — Perhaps the oldest explanation of evo- 

 lution was that of Erasmus Darwin, Goethe of Germany, and a 

 few others of their time. According to the explanation of these 



