68 HAS SCIENCE DISCOVERED GOD? 



resented In part by Bohr's theory, in which the attempt 

 was made to construct an actual mechanical model of 

 electrons moving with tremendous speeds about a cen- 

 tral nucleus; such a model was for a time satisfactory 

 in explaining the various vibrations emitted in the 

 spectrum. This has now been largely abandoned; the 

 former mechanical models have been replaced by 

 transcendental mathematical abstractions, where prob- 

 ability relations rule supreme. We no longer say that 

 an atom will do a certain definite thing at a specified 

 time and under specified conditions, but that there Is 

 a certain probability that it will do this thing. We 

 give up attempts to picture the atom; we assume 

 forces of unknown action; in effect, we postulate some 

 detis ex machina; in short, we consider ourselves per- 

 mitted to indulge in some measure of speculation. 

 The suggestion has even been made that the laws 

 governing the atom are of such a super-material char- 

 acter that they are unknowable by man's present Intel- 

 lect. Exactly the same type of argument has been 

 used with regard to man's concept of a Deity ! 



I happen just now to be writing an astronomical 

 treatise, and in that process I find that I must discuss 

 two different theories of an infinite universe, around 

 which subject there has already grown up a very ex- 

 tensive literature. These two alternative theories are 

 based to some extent upon what our telescopes show, 

 but for the most part upon mathematical reasoning. 

 Now a scientist is certainly allowing himself a great 

 deal of liberty when he seriously considers hypotheses 

 of so tremendously speculative a nature. We shall 

 have to admit that infinity Is a large word! My tele- 



