A BIOLOGIST'S RELIGION 

 By Edwin G. Conklin 



THE age-old conflict between conservatism and 

 radicalism, or, as the biologists express it, 

 between heredity and variation, has become 

 quite prominent in this post-war period of rapid 

 change, or of biological mutation. In the main, re- 

 ligion represents the conservative element in human 

 society, science the radical element, and it is not sur- 

 prising that these two mental attitudes are often in 

 conflict. 



Strictly speaking, there Is and can be, no conflict be- 

 tween science and religion for they deal with different 

 universes. Science is classified knowledge based on 

 sense impressions and rational processes; its methods 

 are observation, experiment, generalization; and its 

 aim is to understand, that is to classify, and to con- 

 trol natural phenomena. 



Religion, according to the Century Dictionary, is 

 faith in, and allegiance to, a superhuman power or 

 powers. Whether such powers be regarded as natural 

 or supernatural, personal or impersonal, varies with 

 different religions. It is based largely on subjective 

 feelings, instincts, needs, and on objective revelations. 

 Its aims are faith, hope, love and more perfect ideals, 

 aspirations and harmony of life. 



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