286 The Morality of Nature 



But this backward view toward lowest beginnings 

 means that from them there has been a vast progress to the 

 higher present, and above all it means equally a hope for 

 a still higher future. 



Dogma may continue to assert the inability of humanity 

 to change, yet in dogmatic evidence, as elsewhere, human 

 progress is recorded, and to the meanest intellect it is open 

 and accessible. In historic review of humanity's religious 

 beliefs, each of which may be taken as a conservative ex- 

 pression of the best perceptions of infinite wisdom, of its 

 time and place ; there is to be seen continued progress, which 

 must be in man's growing capacity, since it cannot be argued 

 that the Divine source has improved. The civilization of 

 Christianity, with its basic principle of brotherhood in active 

 altruism ; is vastly superior to the previous Theisms of ag- 

 gressive type, with their bloodthirsty justice of retribution. 

 Yet this type of Theism evolved a Monotheism which was 

 noble compared with the Polytheistic beliefs and the Pan- 

 theistic cultures of self-indulgence with a basis in sensuality; 

 and even that stood high over the preceding supersti- 

 tions which worshipped idols with service of slaughter. The 

 great religions of the East, Brahminism and Buddhism, 

 show, in their own historic places, advances over the previous 

 ancient wisdom, resembling that of Christianity over 

 Paganism. And even Islamism which appears with defects 

 which belong to the ante-Christian period, was better in 

 its theology than the idolatry which preceded it. 



And again in regard to natural philosophy, and to the 

 exact sciences founded in truth or logic and acute percep- 

 tion, the present age surpasses all the historic past. It is 



