The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

102 SCIENCE AND RELIGlaN.the conception of heat as a form of moIecularmotion; and in doing so may revert to theconsideration already adduced, that this isanother doctrine of scientific 6elief, of whichthere is a constant tendency to increase thenumber, as science widens the range of itsinquiries and speculations.The outstanding general results of scienceas to the nature of energy are now before us.A11 observations concerning motion only presentto view transmutations of energy, all ofthem imply that there is no such thing as theorigin of energy, and no such thing as its extinction.There is indeed a constant tendencytowards the degradation of energy, and a constantequalizing process which may bring toan end the present order of things in the universe.But the leading scientific conceptionwith which we have specially to deal is thatexpressed in the phrase, "Conservation of energy,"which must be regarded as completingour view of inorganic existence along with theother doctrine of the indestructibility of matter.As Professor Tait has expressed it,-" The grand principle of conservation of energy,which asserts that no portion of energycan be put out of existence, and no amount