The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-13
Darwiulsm and Religion.
For the IntrllIeeneer. l|

Darwinism has direct bearing upon
certain great religious questions. II is
therefore to be studied, not merely as q
matter OF science, but also as something
which affects our faith in regard 10 spirit
nal things. ,.....
In this presentation of the subject It
seems TO be proper at the outset to state
As clearly as possible the true altitude oil
this hypothesis towards religion. There
sthe greater necessity for this, because Of
the vague and uncertain opinions which
are saoat in the public mind in regard to
this point.
Is DARWINIsM ATHEIsTICAI.
This Is the first question which here
presents itself. The answer TO it must
vary according TO what Is meant by sthe.
ism. The theory as held by any OF its
leading exponents does not Of necessity in
volve deniel that there Is a God of some
kind, Even Herbert Spencer, who, in his
system OF Philosophy, reduces all our
knowledge TO the two facts, THAT force
ii" and that force Is persistent" rebels
against a charge Oi atheism. Heprofesses
merely to claim that God, ifhe does exist, is
unknowable, Huxley starts with water
and force, and leaves room for Creator
antecedent to them. AS for Darwin, he
seems 10 be careful to let It be understood
that he recognizes Divine Being, and
traces back the universe Of nature to Him
IS Its originator. he speaks OF the
Creator as having impressed on matter
the laws, by the operation of which all
plants and animals, including man, have
been developed. II is even claimed that
our conception Of the relation OF God to
tue universe, instead OF being lowered, is
rather hereby exalted. The last sentence
in the "0rigin OF Species" Is: "There Is
grandeur In this view Of lie, with its
several powers, having been originally
hreAthed by the Creator into few forms
or into one; and that while this planet has
gone circling on, according to the fixed
law Of gravity, from so simple beginning
endless forms most beautiful and most
wonderful have been, and are being,
evolved"
1T ALIENATEs GOD FROM HIS WORKS.
But II by atheism is meant not theo.
Tetlcal denial Of Divine Being, but
practical Ignoring Of his living connection
with his works, in large measure II may
be Justly charged against this hypothesis.
According to 1t millions upon millions Of
ages ago life was introduced into one or
more germs IN the world. This NAV
have been the work Of a Creator. But
since then the Almighty practically has
had nothing TO do with the evolution Of
plants and animals which has occurred.
Development Is blind process Of uncon.
sclouS force, There are, TO be sure, points
at which nothing less than divine power
eau account for the great leaps which are
made. But such supernatural interfer-.
enee ls not allowed, according to this hy-
polhesis. God for unnumbered ages Is
assumed To have had no more to do with
the process than II he had brought forth
the original germs and then expired.
There Is no place left even for design in
nature, The adaptation and order and
beauty In the world are not to be attribu.
led 10 Infinite wisdom and divine will.
They have appeared as hap-hazard re-
suit OF the struggle for existence and sex.
ual selection which have gone on among
plants and animals. Even man with ali
his physical, mental and moral powers, is
not an example otthe wisdom and power
Of his Maker. Blind laws have produced
him. II this practically is not tantamount
to atheism then what constitutes IT.?
DARwnS1st MATERIAL1sTIc9
MateriAlism has been defined to be that
system which ignores the distinction be-
tween matter and mind, and refers all the
phenomena OF the world, whether physi.
"a, MsAl' Of mental 10 the functions OF
matter; AS evolution Is taught by come,
according TO the above definition |. "a avn nn,
quesdonAbly msterialistic Hnxlev n n,
example, starts with matter and csrtsin n,
molecular forces inseparably conSecssd
with Il, and from them supposeS ali OS iiSSnS
organisms with all that is conneetS5 No Hv ,v;,s
them to be developed by natural lSws ava
He thus derives even the mind Of man