ROBERT A. MILLIKAN 37 



of Individual and race salvation. For obviously by 

 definitely Introducing the most stimulating and Inspir- 

 ing motive for altruistic effort which has ever been 

 introduced, namely, the motive arising from the con- 

 viction that we ourselves may be vital agents in the 

 march of things, science has provided a reason for 

 altruistic effort which Is quite independent of the ulti- 

 mate destination of the individual, and Is also much 

 more alluring to some sorts of minds than that of 

 singing hosannas forever around the throne. To that 

 extent science is undoubtedly Influencing and changing 

 religion quite profoundly now. 



The emphasis of making this world better is cer- 

 tainly the dominant and characteristic element in the 

 religion of to-day. Nor is It confined to the formal 

 religious organizations, though It probably gains Its 

 chief impulse from them. For this new Idea of prog- 

 ress, and of our part in it, and our responsibility for 

 it, is now practically universal. Call it an Illusion if 

 you wish; you at least cannot deny the existence of 

 the idea; and it is Ideas that count in this world, for 

 in them is, of course, the motivation of all conduct. 

 For my own part I am going to call this introduction 

 of an idea as divine an event as has ever taken place. 

 It is due directly to science, and it marks the latest 

 stage in the evolution of religion, that Is, the latest 

 stage in the evolution of man's conceptions about the 

 ultimate nature of his world and his relations to that 

 world — his conceptions about God and about duty. 



It is not a question of whether one is religious or 

 irreligious, so much as whether one Is scientific or un- 

 scientific, rational or irrational. The world is of 



