
PREFACE
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
I. TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING
II. REASON AND SCIENCE
III. "EVOLUTION"
IV. "THE LAW OF EVOLUTION"
V. WHAT IS A "LAW OF NATURE"?
VI. "THE LAW OF SUBSTANCE"
VII. "THE SEVEN ENIGMAS"
A measured voice opens the work by pointing out that the real opponents of scientific thought are not merely outsiders, but those who claim science can explain everything, even the questions it was never designed to answer. The author gently warns against the dazz‑ ling glow of discovery that can blind us to the narrow scope of the method itself.
From there the discussion moves to the age‑old riddle of origins. Drawing on the latest astronomical and physical findings, the narrative explains why modern science insists the universe began, yet it also asks what, if anything, existed before that moment. The text then turns to the stubborn puzzles that material explanation has yet to solve—organic life, consciousness, morality—inviting listeners to ponder whether these phenomena demand a source beyond matter.
Interwoven with historical illustrations and careful references, the early chapters set a thoughtful stage for a deeper investigation, encouraging an open‑minded audience to weigh evidence while acknowledging the limits of even the most powerful intellects.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (419K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif, Peter Vachuska and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-10-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1840–1912
A Scottish Jesuit writer and priest, he brought church history and controversy to life in books that challenged accepted stories and invited readers to look again. His work ranges from religious instruction to lively historical arguments, including a well-known study of the Gunpowder Plot.
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