[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—Being aware that the
astronomical argument against Christianity has bad recently much weight with men of cul- ture and scientific thought, I read with great interest your article in the Spectator of November 24th, on " Astronomy and Theology," and I was much struck with the strength of the contention in the concluding paragraphs. It is needless to repeat or enforce what was there so well said, but allow me to add to the arguments there used, one which seems to me to meet those who may be called astronomical objectors, provided they be theists, on their own ground, and to prove that a. general objection of the kind referred to is untenable.
On the basis of our acquired knowledge of the infinite, extent of creation, and the countless number of the stellar orbs, it may be urged that any one of these bodies must be considered as insignificant when compared with the sum-total of similar bodies. Hence the same objection which is broUght against the probability of the alleged facts of Incarnation and Redemption in reference to this earth, would lie equally against the probability of such a manifestation of the attri- butes of Deity in any other planet, and the inference would be that Deity was precluded from making such a manifestation anywhere.
Chalmers cogently put the wonders of the microscope against the wonders of the telescope, and knowing what we know from geology of the likelihood that a vast proportion of the heavenly bodies are unfit for the habitation of spiritual beings like man, knowing, too, through experience, the unique superiority, in the spiritual element, of man over the many other living beings on earth, we may see that there was some force in Coleridge's purposely extravagant dictum, that perhaps the great number of the stars might be intended to show " how cheap dirt is,"—in other words, how incommen- surable are spirit and matter, of how small account in reference to spiritual facts and truths is mere magnitude or mere number; and that, at all events, it is our rational course to judge of what is here presented to our spiritual nature on substantive grounds of evidence and suitability.—I am, Sir, &c.,
1 Wintor Road, Dublin, December 9th. R. P. GRAVES.
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