Success
Be it said, in their behalf, however, the majority of
those engaged in "selling tickets into heaven" actually believe not only
that they know where heaven exists, but that their creeds and formulas will
give safe passage to all who embrace them. This belief may be summed up in
one word - CREDULITY!
Religious leaders, generally, make the broad, sweeping claim that the present civilization owes its existence to the work done by the churches. This author, as far as he is personally concerned, is willing to grant their claims to be correct, if, at the same time he be permitted to add that even if this claim be true the theologians haven't a great deal of which to brag.
But, it is not - cannot be - true that civilization has
grown out of the efforts of the organized churches and creeds, if by the
term "civilization" is meant the uncovering of the natural laws and the many
inventions to which the world is the present heir. YOU are fortunate if you
have learned the difference between temporary defeat and failure; more
fortunate still, if you have learned the truth that the very seed of success
is dormant in every defeat that you experience.
If the theologians wish to claim that part of civilization which has to do with man's conduct toward his fellow man they are perfectly welcome to it, as far as this author is concerned; but, on the other hand, if they presume to gobble up the credit for all the scientific discovery of mankind the author begs leave to offer vigorous protest.
It is hardly sufficient to state that social heredity is the method through which man gathers all knowledge that reaches him through the five senses. It is more to the point to state HOW social heredity works, in as many different applications as will give the student a comprehensive understanding of that law. Let us begin with some of the lower forms of animal life and examine the manner in which they are affected by the law of social heredity.