Sec. 39. Proposition 6. Human Body is Either Specially Created or Spontaneously Generated, Which?
According to the evolutionist and materialist, the reproduction of the human body from a fertilized ovum is, in substance and effect, the same thing as spontaneous generation of such a body from inorganic matter. The work to be done in the one case is identically the same as that to be done in the other. In fact the spermatozoön and the ovum are made of dead matter; and if we consider the making of the spermatozoön and the ovum as the first steps in the process of reproduction as they are; and also assume that the Creator takes no part in that process, we would then have to say that the human body arises by spontaneous generation from inorganic matter; for it is undoubtedly true that the spermatozoön and ovum are made of inorganic substances, namely: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. It is equally true that the fertilized ovum has no more intellect, memory nor will-power than its component atoms of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen had; nor has it any more power to generate, guide and control forces and motions than they had. It follows that the same psychic and creative force is necessary to produce a new human being whether it be made from a germ of inorganic matter or from a fertilized ovum; the ovum being only one remove from inorganic matter. Moreover, the entire human body is made of dead matter except the infinitesimal fertilized ovum.
There is no middle ground between special creation on the one side and spontaneous generation on the other; either the Creator generates, guides and controls the forces and motions which build up the embryo body, its organs and parts; or the atoms and cells, of which they are made, do, spontaneously and automatically, assemble and group themselves into the chemical combinations, and into the mechanical arrangements, which are necessary to make them.
The reader may argue that “nature,” “heredity” or the germ-cell (fertilized ovum) does this wonderful work of building up the embryo body; and, therefore, that neither the Creator nor spontaneous generation does it. But “nature” and “heredity” do all their work by and through the germ-cell; so their powers are identical with those of the germ-cell. This germ is a tiny bit of protoplasm composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, with a possible trace of sulphur and phosphorus. It has no brain, eyes, ears, nose, touch, nor taste; no intellect, memory, nor will-power; no knowledge of anatomy, chemical elements, chemical affinity, form, size, time, nor space; nor any constructive power nor force; has no power to generate forces nor to guide and control motions.
Therefore, it is impossible for the germ-cell, or its daughter-cells, to build up, automatically, the embryo body, with all its organs and parts. It follows that this body must be directly and specially created by Almighty God.
Again, every embryo body is made of cells (organic bricks) and these are made of dead atoms. In order to construct this body it is necessary to group a certain number of these atoms into certain chemical combinations; next these combinations must be grouped into certain mechanical arrangements. Thus, the skeleton is made of bones; they are made of cells, which in turn are made of dead atoms of lime, carbon, phosphorus, etc.; these cells must be grouped into phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime, gelatin, etc. These combinations must then be grouped into the two hundred and seventy-eight bones of the embryo skeleton, giving each bone its proper form, size, structure and place in the skeleton. It is clear that neither the father nor the mother takes any part in making these chemical combinations nor in making the mechanical arrangements. It is equally clear that they are not made by chance nor by accident; nor by the “factors” of evolution.
It follows that the atoms and cells of which the embryo body is made, do, spontaneously and automatically group themselves into the chemical combinations and mechanical arrangements, which are necessary to construct the several organs and parts of the embryo body without the aid or guidance of any extraneous psychic or creative force; or that every organ and part of the embryo body is directly and specially made by the Creator.