THE MODERN MIND 353
And this is pre-eminently the age of large enterprises. Social groups are so large and the human organization is so immense that men are stimulated not only to achieve, but to achieve largely. Men have a craving to do things and to see things done on a colossal scale, which is the natural psycho logical effect of living in such a vast humanly organized en vironment. This desire is almost an obsession of the mod ern mind. Notwithstanding all the expressions of horror at the unspeakable tragedy of the great war, it is probable that millions of people feel a half-conscious pride in the fact that this generation has conducted war on a scale which utterly dwarfs all previous efforts of men in this sanguinary business. The achievements of men rapidly build up about them an environment which kindles to a more intense flame the desire to accomplish things on a still larger scale. It is a spirit which grows upon its own success. Where will it end?
A very important result is that attention is focused more and more upon this present life, and, to a corresponding de gree, is diverted from the existence beyond this. Com petent observers in all walks of society testify that interest and belief in personal immortality are declining; and, in part, it seems to be accounted for by the constant occupation of the attention with the possibilities and problems of the stimulating environment in which men live today. This is surely a deeply important aspect of the religious life of our time, and seriously challenges the thought of every intel ligent preacher.
(6) The great development of science has wrought or perhaps we should say is working a most significant change in the mental attitude of men toward the whole uni verse of phenomena, though the change was first effected and is yet most obvious with respect to the physical world. Of course, there are many men who have been only partially affected by this influence. But science has become the main factor in determining the mode of thought of the educated world; and through the activities of the intellectual classes
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