# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1863_S104
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

104 Materialism, or the So-Called Results of Modern Natural Science.

...oddly resists every concept, we shall get on best if we dismiss him from us with contempt, as one who cannot even be measured against the deranged concept of a creator that we ourselves have set up; as we already explained in the preface: "God, a religious concept, cannot even be regarded as fully identical with what we have designated as creative force, etc." — "since they follow no philosophical mode of thought, but transfer individual-human properties and imperfections onto abstract concepts." — We, of course, are permitted, with our own imperfect abstract concepts, which are only properties of our individual brain, to designate that which is truly eternal, matter, in order to show that we follow a philosophical mode of thought. — "As for the last-named conception, then, in its philosophical connections, it would be carrying owls to Athens were we to trouble ourselves to demonstrate its untenability and uselessness. Already the application of the finite concept of time to the creative power contains an absurdity; a still greater one is its origin out of nothing. """Out of nothing no force can arise""" (Liebig)." — The famous chemist must, on account of the sharp blows he has dealt us materialists, be pressed into service to support our own assertions! For that whoever sets up that proposition thereby concedes to us the possibility that a force could arise out of something — which we must deny, since force may only be conceived of as eternal — that, no one will easily discover. — """An absolute nothing is unthinkable.""" (Czolbe.)

"If, then, the creative power could not have existed before the origin of things, if it cannot exist after the same, if, finally, it is not conceivable that it possessed only a momentary existence; if matter is immortal, if there is no matter without force, no force without matter — then no doubt may well be permitted to remain to us that the world cannot have been created, that it is eternal. What cannot be separated could also never have existed separated! What cannot be annihilated could also not have been created! """Matter is uncreatable, as it is indestructible.""" (Vogt.)

So, then, the chapter that here comes to its close is a new proof of the existence of God; for only the finger of God alone could brand for ever with the mark of folly every arrogant wisdom by which man undertakes to deny Him, and has already undertaken to do so through all the centuries in ever new and vain attempts; and we entertain no doubt that everyone — whether one who has not yet, through the dark windings and turnings of the denial of God, sought to escape the ray of light that bears witness to God's majesty, in order to give to matter the honor due to God, in the hope of obtaining undisturbed satisfaction in the ways of sin, or one who by divine grace has been rescued from such derangement of the senses — will recognize, in the foregoing unfolding of modern atheistic wisdom, a fresh summons to join, in thankful joy, with...