Chapter IV: The Relation of Man to Nature

_The two extreme views in this regard_--They are views from
different points, psychical and material--The latter very
productive in modern times--But many fear the final effect--
Reconciliation is possible--Scientific materialism has two
branches--_Physiological branch_ explained--Conclusion--
Answer--Relation of psychic to brain changes is inscrutable
--The mystery illustrated--Outside and inside view--
Different from other phenomena in this regard 304

_Evolution branch_--Close relation of man to animals--Therefore
must extend immortal spirit to animals--to plants--to all
existence, and thus identify immortality with conservation
of force--Embryonic series--Where did spirit enter?--
Evolution series--Where did spirit enter?--Answer--
Derived from Nature--The true view of origin stated--Show
that it is not in discord with other phenomena of evolution
--The five planes of matter and of force--The change from
one to another not gradual now nor in the evolution of natural
forces--Consecutive births into higher forms--Every step
of these changes taking place now--Relation of these facts
to immortality--The process briefly stated--Omnipresent
divine energy individuated to separate entity in man--Anima
of animals is spirit in embryo--Came to birth in man--
Illustrated in other ways--(1) By more or less completed
water-drop--(2) By submergence and emergence--(3) By
planet birth--(4) By physical birth--(5) By grades of
organic individuality--(6) By the body as an instrument of
communication between two worlds--Self-consciousness the sign
of spirit-individuality--Any animal conscious of self would
be immortal--Similar changes in passing from animals to man
in all other departments of psychic activity--Objection that
other changes of energy not permanent; answered--Our view
of origin compared with alternative views--Plato’s view--
Orthodox view 311

_Some general conclusions_--(1) Two series of changes,
brain-changes and mind-changes--The initiative in animals
--In man--(2) Justification of term “_vital principle_”
--Becomes entity in man--(3) This view is a complete
reconciliation of realism and nominalism--(4) No meaning in
Nature without spirit--And no meaning in geological history
without derivative origin of spirit--Material evolution finds
its goal in man, psychic evolution in the divine man 327

CHAPTER V.

THE RELATION OF GOD TO MAN.

_Question of revelation_--Difficulty of the subject--Operation
of divine spirit on spirit of man more direct than on Nature
--This is revelation--This is no violation of law, but
operation by higher law--Term supernatural is relative--
Illustrated--There is but one kind of revelation, and this to
all men in different degrees--Always imperfect, and therefore
must be tried by reason 331