Evolution: Its nature, its evidence, and its relation to religious thought

As already stated, page 40, the use of the method of experiment in the field of biology is, unfortunately, very limited. Nevertheless, it is already beginning to be used more an...

It is well known that the kinds of organisms found in widely-separated countries differ more or less conspicuously. The traveler in Australia or in Africa finds all, the travele...

=A Type of Evolution.=--Every one is familiar with the main facts connected with the development of an egg. We all know that it begins as a microscopic germ-cell, then grows int...

There are two widely distinct views concerning the relation of man to Nature; the one as old as the history of human thought, the other only now urged upon us by modern science....

It is a curious and most significant fact that the successive stages of the development of the _individual_ in the higher forms of any group (ontogenic series) resemble the stag...

The problem of evil has tasked the power and baffled the skill of the greatest thinkers in every age. It would be folly in me to imagine that I can solve it. Its complete soluti...

In order to clear up the conception of evolution, it is necessary to give a brief history of the idea, and especially to explain the relation of Louis Agassiz to that theory. Th...

We have given in the previous chapter six factors of evolution--viz.: 1. _Pressure of the environment._ 2. _Use and disuse of parts._ 3. _Natural selection._ 4. _Sexual selectio...

The proposition to be established here is, that all vertebrates have not only a common general plan of structure, but an essential identity even in detail, although this identit...

It will be observed that the views presented in the last three chapters are closely connected with one another, and all conditioned on the “Relation of God to Nature,” urged in...

Let us again remind the reader that evolution means, first of all, _continuity_. The law of evolution, although it doubtless means much more, means, first of all, a law of conti...

It is seen in the sketch given in the previous chapter that, after every struggle between theology and science, there has been a readjustment of some beliefs, a giving up of som...

It will be seen from the preceding chapter that we regard the law of evolution in its wider sense, viz., the derivative origin of all forms, organic or other, as axiomatic, and...

We have taken the vertebrate skeleton first, only because this department is most familiar. But in reality, the most beautiful illustrations of essential identity of structure i...

=Analogy and Homology.=--In biology those organs or parts in different animals are said to be _analogous_ which, however different their origin, have a general similarity of for...

From what has preceded, the reader will perceive that we regard the law of evolution as thoroughly established. In its most general sense, i. e., as a law of continuity, it is a...

The doctrine of the Divine immanency carries with it the solution of many vexed questions. In fact, in its light these questions simply pass out of view as no longer having any...

We have already said that evolution does not differ essentially from other laws of Nature in its bearing on religious belief. It only reiterates and enforces with additional emp...

What think ye of Christ? This is indeed in many ways a test-question, and we ought frankly to meet it. I have feared heretofore to touch this question. I now only throw out some...

In the two preceding chapters we have discussed the relation of God to Nature and of man to Nature. There is still another relation, if possible, of still more vital importance...

Again: Every reader of the first edition must have remarked that there are many fundamental religious questions which I have not touched at all in Part III. I had avoided these...

_Limitation of the use of experiment in morphology_--Unconscious experiments in breeding, and their results--Principles involved--Inheritance, immediate and ancestral--Effect of...

_More perfect definition of regions_--Range of different Taxonomic groups--Gradual shadings on borders of range-- Shadings out of individuals in number and vigor, but not in spe...

(2) _Physical evil in relation to man_--Necessary condition of social evolution is also struggle with a seeming evil environment--But looking back from the end this evil is also...

_Universality of evolution_--Pervades all nature and concerns all departments of thought--One half of all science-- Illustrated (1) by human body, (2) by solar system, (3) by so...

_The two extreme views in this regard_--They are views from different points, psychical and material--The latter very productive in modern times--But many fear the final effect-...

General misunderstanding on this subject--Necessary to give sketch of history of the idea--Greeks, Lucretius, Swedenborg, and Kant--First scientific presentation by Lamarck--Gen...

(2) On the inside of brain-changes we find personality--So on the inside of natural phenomena must also be person--In either case science studies the outside only--In Nature all...

_Factors of evolution restated; their grades and the order of their introduction shown_--Lamarckian factors, first in order because they precede sexual reproduction--(1) Environ...

(2) _Aortic arches_--Those of lizard described--Origin from gill-arches of fish--Change from one to the other in Ontogeny of a frog--Same changes in Phylogeny of lizard--Embryon...

_Supposed identity_--Tendency of the age--Evolution does not differ in this regard from other laws of Nature--Absurdity of identification illustrated in many ways--(1) Effect of...

_Fore-limbs_--Comparison of fore-limbs of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes, part for part--Gradual changes in collar-bone and coracoid--In position of elbow--In bones of for...

_Origin of new organic forms; the old view briefly stated_-- Necessary to give a brief statement of theories--Old view-- Permanency of specific types--Supernatural origin of spe...

II. _Question of First and Second Causes_--The three stages shown here--(1) All is First Cause but man-like--(2) Distinction of first and second causes introduced--(3) Identific...

_Evolution is continuity, causal relation, gradual becoming_ --Increasing acceptance of this idea--First accepted for inorganic forms, mountains, continents and seas, rocks and...

_Relation of philosophy to life_--The three necessary elements of a rational philosophy--Application to the case in hand-- And the subject of Part III justified--Exaggerated fea...

_Illustrations from this type_--Plan of structure entirely different--General plan of structure explained and modifications shown--Shrimp--Modification of segments and of append...

_Analogy and homology_--Defined and illustrated by examples-- Wings and limbs--Lungs, gradual formation of, traced in the Taxonomic series--Traced in the Ontogenic series--Examp...

Comparison of organic with human evolution--The idea of the first is _man_, of the second is the _Christ_--Definition of the Christ as _ideal man_--The Christ ought to differ fr...

_Question of revelation_--Difficulty of the subject--Operation of divine spirit on spirit of man more direct than on Nature --This is revelation--This is no violation of law, bu...

The issue in regard to this relation stated--The growth of the issue described--The old view of direct relation--The effect of science and the resulting view--The compromise-- D...