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

LIFE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 155speak with. any degree of certainty. On theother hand, it seems a reasonable ground ofcomplaint against many opponents of the theory,which Mr. Darwin urges specially againstMr. St. George Mivart, that it is no part oftheir plan " to give the various facts and considerationsopposed to their own conclusions,1'while marshalling the difficulties against anevolution theory. And yet it should be rememberedthat a great service is done toscience in a period of transit,ion, when difficultiesare powerfully urged against a popularhypothesis, as an injury is done to scienceby precipitate and ill-considered argumentsin support of such a hypothesis.Of the most serious difficulties in the wayof a theory of descent by evolution, the $rstconcerns the rzature of the evidence, inasmuchas all change coming under observation doesnot indicate progression or improvement in theorganism. The importance of this may bebest indicated by quoting Mr. Darwin's explanatorywords as to alterations in the fifthedition of his book oil species. He says, " Inthe earlier editions of my Origin of flpecies,I probably attributed too much to the actionof natural selection or survival of the fittest.