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

112 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.wliich physical science finds sure and firmfoothold. In those two ultimate positions ofscientific research concerning inorganic existence,religion finds support, and that of akind so powerful, that science itself dependsupon its immovability.There is, however, a further point connectedwith the doctrine of energy, whichdeserves consideration as bearing on the tendencyto anticipate an indefinite line of progressionin the history of this world, that is,deterioration or degradation in the form ofenergy, while it continues of cqual amount.The efficient value of energy is according tothe possibilities of transformation or transmutation.But its use implies limitation of theavailable forms, or steady deterioration ofvalue. "Thus the energy of the universeis, on the whole, constantly passing fromhigher to lower forms, and therefore the possibilityof transformation is becoming smallerand smaller, so that after the lapse of sufficienttime all higher forms of energy musthave passed from the physical universe, andwe can imagine nothing as remaining, exceptthose lower forms which are incapable, so faras we yet know, of any further transforma-