progress
sense of direction in life as applied to both individual and collective experience. Darwin’s theory of biological evolution has a counterpart in the thinking of Marx and other 19th century social scientists who saw in history a patterned sociologic, determinedly driving humankind towards a better future. Christian understanding of human limitations is suspicious of such expectations, especially when they are used to excuse somewhat inhuman actions in the interim to accelerate towards the desired end. However, Christianity displays its own continual hope for all the life, which comes from God and is drawn and growing towards God. Any view that the world is inexorably deteriorating derives its inspiration from elsewhere.