of the savage does to the modern method of
obtaining a light. The belief in God may continue awhile in virtue of
the lack of intelligence of some, of the carelessness of others, and of
the conservative character of the mass. But no amount of apologizing can
make up for the absence of genuine knowledge, nor can the flow of the
finest eloquence do aught but clothe in regal raiment the body of a
corpse."

Religion arose as a means of explanation of natural phenomena at a time
when no other explanation of the origin of natural phenomena had been
ascertained. God is always what Spinoza called it, "the asylum of
ignorance." When causes are unknown, God is brought forward; when causes
are known, God retires into the background. In an age of ignorance, God
is active; in an age of science, he is impotent. History attests this
fact.

"The single and outstanding characteristic of the conception of God at
all times, and under all conditions is that it is the equivalent of
ignorance. In primitive times it is ignorance of the character of the
natural forces that leads to the assumption of the existence of Gods,
and in this respect the God idea has remained true to itself throughout.
Even to-day, whenever the principle of God is invoked, a very slight
examination is enough to show that the only reason for this being done
is our ignorance of the subject before us." (_Chapman Cohen._)

The belief in God is least questioned where civilization is lowest; it
is called into the most serious question where civilization is most
advanced. It is clear that had primitive man known what we know today
about nature, the gods would never have been born.

"The suspicious feature must be pointed out that the belief in God owes
its existence, not to the trained and educated observation of civilized
times, but to the uncritical reflection of the primitive mind. It has
its origin there, and it would indeed be remarkable, if, while in almost
every other direction the primitive mind showed itself to be hopelessly
wrong, in its interpretation of the world in this particular respect, it
has proved itself to be altogether right." (_Chapman Cohen._)

All intelligent men admit that human welfare depends upon our knowledge
and our ability to harness the forces of nature. "I myself," writes
Llewelyn Powys, "do not doubt that the good fortune of the human race
depends more on science than on religion. In all directions the bigotry
of the churches obstructs a