56 HEREDITY AND SOCIETY 



It is certain that very much might be learned from 

 a careful study of religious tendencies and social condi- 

 tions at various epochs in the history of past nations. 

 The cause of the prevalence of different types of 

 religious thought among different strata of the popula- 

 tion, the reason of the persistence of one type rather 

 than another, the relation between religious aspirations 

 and economic conditions, the connection between want 

 of belief and lack of appropriate teaching, all these 

 points of view are deeply interesting, and have not yet 

 been considered among the influences which are shaping 

 society. We have only been able to indicate in a 

 disjointed manner the direction in which enlightenment 

 may be sought. 



