98 Evolution and Religion 



and covetousness. They are not physical or intellec- 

 tual enemies, but moral and spiritual enemies. They 

 have to be overcome by moral and spiritual means. 

 All the knowledge in the world concerning the physical 

 phenomena of life will not serve to expel them. On 

 the contrary, that knowledge, as I have said, often 

 serves only to render them so much the more dangerous 

 to the general well-being that the social organism is 

 ultimately obliged to assist Nature in wiping out their 

 slaves or devotees as degenerate, pernicious forms of 

 lower life. 



Christianity 



We come, therefore, to the teaching of Christianity in 

 its bearing on this central idea of the supreme need of 

 subordinating self to the general welfare, and must 

 endeavor to approach it in the same catholic spirit with 

 which we have endeavored to examine the other great 

 world-religions. Dwelling on the shortcomings of 

 the followers of all religions in attaining the ideal set 

 before them, teaches nothing. The battle between 

 self and altruism is a never-ending one, both in the life 

 of the individual and in the life of the race. It has to 

 be renewed in each successive oncoming generation. 

 The great school of Self ever has its self-interested 

 advocates, powerful and ready to speak in behalf of 

 the narrower standard of morality. But the supreme 

 point in every religion is its ideal. If the followers of 

 the ancient Jewish prophets, if the followers of Gau- 



