CHAPTER IV 

 MATTER AND SPIRIT* 



IT is the usual lot of scientific writers who 

 maintain theories which have not yet be- 

 come popular with the theological world, 

 to be accused of holding opinions which they 

 not only do not hold, but against which they 

 have perhaps, on every fitting occasion, pub- 

 licly and emphatically protested. Partly, no 

 doubt, such misrepresentations arise from that 

 carelessness (to call it by no worse name) which 

 too often characterizes the statements of per- 

 sons who have come to believe that the inter- 

 ests of sacred truth have been committed to 

 them for safe keeping. Whether the truth in 

 question derives its sacredness from time-hal- 

 lowed tradition or what are called the " higher 

 instincts of our nature," whether its self-ap- 

 pointed guardians are conservative theologians 

 or radical iconoclasts, extreme devotion to its 



* [See Introduction, §31. As containing the principal 

 starting point of the process by which Fiske's later thought 

 diverged from Spencer's (despite all Fiske's desire to find that 

 Spencer when properly interpreted is in agreement with him- 

 self as to these matters), this chapter is especially noteworthy.] 



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