12. A FASCINATING CONCEPTION

All our studies of the important movements of the present day will tend to confirm the conclusion that their most striking and prominent characteristic is the pursuit of the ideal of a Consolidation or Federation of all human affairs and interests, that is to say, the formation of a single organization or body; and that the ideal of all these different movements is the same, whether the proposed Unification be called "Humanity," "Society," "Man," "Democracy," the "Brotherhood of Man," or by some other name.

The idea of a consolidated humanity is a brilliant and fascinating conception. It captures the imagination, and is capable of arousing the enthusiasm necessary to insure success. To what more worthy end could man devote his wonderful powers and faculties than to the banishment of all poverty, cruelty, selfishness, warfare, and other ills that bring miseries upon humanity? And all this, and more, may be accomplished through the unification of human society, the welding of all human units into one great brotherhood, wherein the rights of all individuals will be equally sacred and equally the concern of the whole system.

This captivating ideal involves not merely industrial unification, but also the harmonization of all religious views. Indeed, a universal religion is an absolute necessity if the ideal is ever to be realized; for nothing has given rise to more hatred, antagonism, and bloodshed, than conflicting religious views. Religious antagonisms must be totally eliminated. Hence the strong appeals and efforts that are being made for the cessation of religious strife, as well as of industrial strife. The great thought which is throbbing at this moment in the heart of humanity is nothing less than the reversal of what took place at Babel, when the Lord confounded their language and scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth. And when this proposed consolidation of humanity has been accomplished, the re-united elements of human society will be free to resume the building of the tower whose top was to reach unto heaven.

"SCIENCE" AND THE PRESENT-DAY MOVEMENTS

We have seen that much of the credit for the industrial progress of humanity is given to what is miscalled "Science." Human "Science" is also accredited with being a leading factor in the profound religious changes which are taking place, and is even referred to as one of the new foundations of the theologies of to-day. The attitude of the modern mind toward "Science" is really a religious attitude, deeply reverential and worshipful. This feature of modern thought is of great importance, and will be considered hereafter. For present purposes a few

THE "MODERN SCIENTIFIC SPIRIT"

instances will suffice, as showing, in a general way, the part attributed to "Science" in the religious movements of the present time.

Dr. Broda, in setting forth his view of the causes of these movements, says:—

"First place must be given to the discoveries of modern science, which, in demolishing the legends of the creation of the world and man, have also uprooted in the educated mind the faith in the Divine inspiration of the books and traditions which taught these legends, and which were the basis of all the accepted religious beliefs."

And again:—

"Thus we see from the stock of all the old positivist religions (Christianity, Islam, Brahmanism and Buddhism) are springing up new sects, which are cultivating the modern scientific spirit, modern social and ethical ideas, and enthusiastically embracing the evolutionary concept of the universe."

Thus "Science" is set up as the effective cause of changes more profound and widespread than those resulting from the life and teachings of Christ Himself.

The Modernists say:—

"We have girt ourselves for the task of bringing the religious experience of Christianity into line with the data of contemporary science and philosophy."

While at the other extreme Mr. R. J. Campbell declares that—

"The New Theology is the religion of Science. . . . It is the recognition that upon the foundations laid by modern science a vaster and nobler fabric of faith is rising than the world has ever before known."

There is a marvellous agreement between all these witnesses as to the potent influence exercised by "Science" in bringing about the religious upheaval which is now in progress; and since it is apparent that man, in worshipping human "Science," is in reality worshipping himself, such statements as the foregoing, with which the religious literature of the day fairly teems, afford a good indication of the progress of Humanism.

The facts noted in these extracts show also that the same force which is back of the industrial changes of the day, is in like manner affecting the religious changes which are progressing simultaneously. This is a very remarkable fact indeed, and one that has an important bearing upon our main inquiry.

TWO BODIES NOW IN PROCESS OF FORMATION

It will help in clarifying our view of the confused state of modern society, and will aid in fixing the main