首页 >出版文学> The Varieties of Religious Experience>第34章
  mustbeallowedtobethegodforonekindofperson,agodofpeaceandheavenandhome,thegodforanother。Wemustfranklyrecognizethefactthatweliveinpartialsystems,andthatpartsarenotinterchangeableinthespirituallife。Ifwearepeevishandjealous,destructionoftheselfmustbeanelementofourreligion;whyneeditbeoneifwearegoodandsympatheticfromtheoutset?Ifwearesicksouls,werequireareligionofdeliverance;butwhythinksomuchofdeliverance,ifwearehealthy-minded?[331]Unquestionably,somemenhavethecompleterexperienceandthehighervocation,herejustasinthesocialworld;butforeachmantostayinhisownexperience,whate’eritbe,andforotherstotoleratehimthere,issurelybest。
  [331]Fromthispointofview,thecontrastsbetweenthehealthyandthemorbidmind,andbetweentheonce-bornandthetwice-borntypes,ofwhichIspokeinearlierlecturesseepp。159-164,ceasetobetheradicalantagonismswhichmanythinkthem。Thetwice-bornlookdownupontherectilinearconsciousnessoflifeoftheonce-bornasbeing“meremorality。”andnotproperlyreligion。“Dr。Channing。”anorthodoxministerisreportedtohavesaid,“isexcludedfromthehighestformofreligiouslifebytheextraordinaryrectitudeofhischaracter。”Itisindeedtruethattheoutlookuponlifeofthetwice-born——holdingasitdoesmoreoftheelementofevilinsolution——isthewiderandcompleter。The“heroic“or“solemn“wayinwhichlifecomestothemisa“highersynthesis“intowhichhealthy-mindednessandmorbidnessbothenterandcombine。Evilisnotevaded,butsublatedinthehigherreligiouscheerofthesepersonsseepp。
  47-52,354-357。Butthefinalconsciousnesswhicheachtypereachesofunionwiththedivinehasthesamepracticalsignificancefortheindividual;andindividualsmaywellbeallowedtogettoitbythechannelswhichliemostopentotheirseveraltemperaments。InthecaseswhichwerequotedinLectureIV,ofthemind-cureformofhealthy-mindedness,wefoundabundantexamplesofregenerativeprocess。Theseverityofthecrisisinthisprocessisamatterofdegree。Howlongoneshallcontinuetodrinktheconsciousnessofevil,andwhenoneshallbegintoshort-circuitandgetridofit,arealsomattersofamountanddegree,sothatinmanyinstancesitisquitearbitrarywhetherweclasstheindividualasaonce-bornoratwice-bornsubject。
  But,youmaynowask,wouldnotthisone-sidednessbecuredifweshouldallespousethescienceofreligionsasourownreligion?
  InansweringthisquestionImustopenagainthegeneralrelationsofthetheoretictotheactivelife。
  Knowledgeaboutathingisnotthethingitself。YourememberwhatAl-GhazzalitoldusintheLectureonMysticism——thattounderstandthecausesofdrunkenness,asaphysicianunderstandsthem,isnottobedrunk。Asciencemightcometounderstandeverythingaboutthecausesandelementsofreligion,andmightevendecidewhichelementswerequalified,bytheirgeneralharmonywithotherbranchesofknowledge,tobeconsideredtrue;
  andyetthebestmanatthissciencemightbethemanwhofoundithardesttobepersonallydevout。Toutsavoirc’esttoutpardonner。ThenameofRenanwoulddoubtlessoccurtomanypersonsasanexampleofthewayinwhichbreadthofknowledgemaymakeoneonlyadilettanteinpossibilities,andblunttheacutenessofone’slivingfaith。[332]IfreligionbeafunctionbywhicheitherGod’scauseorman’scauseistobereallyadvanced,thenhewholivesthelifeofit,howevernarrowly,isabetterservantthanhewhomerelyknowsaboutit,howevermuch。
  Knowledgeaboutlifeisonething;effectiveoccupationofaplaceinlife,withitsdynamiccurrentspassingthroughyourbeing,isanother。
  [332]Compare,e。g。,thequotationfromRenanonp。37,above。
  Forthisreason,thescienceofreligionsmaynotbeanequivalentforlivingreligion;andifweturntotheinnerdifficultiesofsuchascience,weseethatapointcomeswhenshemustdropthepurelytheoreticattitude,andeitherletherknotsremainuncut,orhavethemcutbyactivefaith。Toseethis,supposethatwehaveourscienceofreligionsconstitutedasamatteroffact。SupposethatshehasassimilatedallthenecessaryhistoricalmaterialanddistilledoutofitasitsessencethesameconclusionswhichImyselfafewmomentsagopronounced。Supposethatsheagreesthatreligion,whereveritisanactivething,involvesabeliefinidealpresences,andabeliefthatinourprayerfulcommunionwiththem,[333]workisdone,andsomethingrealcomestopass。Shehasnowtoexerthercriticalactivity,andtodecidehowfar,inthelightofothersciencesandinthatofgeneralphilosophy,suchbeliefscanbeconsideredTRUE。
  [333]“Prayerful“takeninthebroadersenseexplainedaboveonpp。453ff。
  Dogmaticallytodecidethisisanimpossibletask。Notonlyaretheothersciencesandthephilosophystillfarfrombeingcompleted,butintheirpresentstatewefindthemfullofconflicts。Thesciencesofnatureknownothingofspiritualpresences,andonthewholeholdnopracticalcommercewhateverwiththeidealisticconceptionstowardswhichgeneralphilosophyinclines。Thescientist,so-called,is,duringhisscientifichoursatleast,somaterialisticthatonemaywellsaythatonthewholetheinfluenceofsciencegoesagainstthenotionthatreligionshouldberecognizedatall。Andthisantipathytoreligionfindsanechowithintheveryscienceofreligionsitself。Thecultivatorofthissciencehastobecomeacquaintedwithsomanygrovelingandhorriblesuperstitionsthatapresumptioneasilyarisesinhismindthatanybeliefthatisreligiousprobablyisfalse。Inthe“prayerfulcommunion“ofsavageswithsuchmumbo-jumbosofdeitiesastheyacknowledge,itishardforustoseewhatgenuinespiritualwork——eventhoughitwereworkrelativeonlytotheirdarksavageobligations——canpossiblybedone。
  Theconsequenceisthattheconclusionsofthescienceofreligionsareaslikelytobeadverseastheyaretobefavorabletotheclaimthattheessenceofreligionistrue。Thereisanotionintheairaboutusthatreligionisprobablyonlyananachronism,acaseof“survival。”anatavisticrelapseintoamodeofthoughtwhichhumanityinitsmoreenlightenedexampleshasoutgrown;andthisnotionourreligiousanthropologistsatpresentdolittletocounteract。
  ThisviewissowidespreadatthepresentdaythatImustconsideritwithsomeexplicitnessbeforeIpasstomyownconclusions。Letmecallitthe“Survivaltheory。”forbrevity’ssake。
  Thepivotroundwhichthereligiouslife,aswehavetracedit,revolves,istheinterestoftheindividualinhisprivatepersonaldestiny。Religion,inshort,isamonumentalchapterinthehistoryofhumanegotism。Thegodsbelievedin——whetherbycrudesavagesorbymendisciplinedintellectually——agreewitheachotherinrecognizingpersonalcalls。Religiousthoughtiscarriedonintermsofpersonality,thisbeing,intheworldofreligion,theonefundamentalfact。To-day,quiteasmuchasatanypreviousage,thereligiousindividualtellsyouthatthedivinemeetshimonthebasisofhispersonalconcerns。
  Science,ontheotherhand,hasendedbyutterlyrepudiatingthepersonalpointofview。Shecataloguesherelementsandrecordsherlawsindifferentastowhatpurposemaybeshownforthbythem,andconstructshertheoriesquitecarelessoftheirbearingonhumananxietiesandfates。Thoughthescientistmayindividuallynourishareligion,andbeatheistinhisirresponsiblehours,thedaysareoverwhenitcouldbesaidthatforScienceherselftheheavensdeclarethegloryofGodandthefirmamentshowethhishandiwork。Oursolarsystem,withitsharmonies,isseennowasbutonepassingcaseofacertainsortofmovingequilibriumintheheavens,realizedbyalocalaccidentinanappallingwildernessofworldswherenolifecanexist。Inaspanoftimewhichasacosmicintervalwillcountbutasanhour,itwillhaveceasedtobe。TheDarwiniannotionofchanceproduction,andsubsequentdestruction,speedyordeferred,appliestothelargestaswellastothesmallestfacts。Itisimpossible,inthepresenttemperofthescientificimagination,tofindinthedriftingsofthecosmicatoms,whethertheyworkontheuniversalorontheparticularscale,anythingbutakindofaimlessweather,doingandundoing,achievingnoproperhistory,andleavingnoresult。Naturehasnoonedistinguishableultimatetendencywithwhichitispossibletofeelasympathy。Inthevastrhythmofherprocesses,asthescientificmindnowfollowsthem,sheappearstocancelherself。
  Thebooksofnaturaltheologywhichsatisfiedtheintellectsofourgrandfathersseemtousquitegrotesque,[334]representing,astheydid,aGodwhoconformedthelargestthingsofnaturetothepaltriestofourprivatewants。TheGodwhomsciencerecognizesmustbeaGodofuniversallawsexclusively,aGodwhodoesawholesale,notaretailbusiness。Hecannotaccommodatehisprocessestotheconvenienceofindividuals。Thebubblesonthefoamwhichcoatsastormyseaarefloatingepisodes,madeandunmadebytheforcesofthewindandwater。Ourprivateselvesarelikethosebubbles——epiphenomena,asClifford,Ibelieve,ingeniouslycalledthem;theirdestiniesweighnothinganddeterminenothingintheworld’sirremediablecurrentsofevents。
  [334]Howwasiteverconceivable,weask,thatamanlikeChristianWolff,inwhosedry-as-dustheadallthelearningoftheearlyeighteenthcenturywasconcentrated,shouldhavepreservedsuchababy-likefaithinthepersonalandhumancharacterofNatureastoexpoundheroperationsashedidinhisworkontheusesofnaturalthings?This,forexample,istheaccounthegivesofthesunanditsutility:——
  “WeseethatGodhascreatedthesuntokeepthechangeableconditionsontheearthinsuchanorderthatlivingcreatures,menandbeasts,mayinhabititssurface。Sincemenarethemostreasonableofcreatures,andabletoinferGod’sinvisiblebeingfromthecontemplationoftheworld,thesuninsofarforthcontributestotheprimarypurposeofcreation:withoutittheraceofmancouldnotbepreservedorcontinued……Thesunmakesdaylight,notonlyonourearth,butalsoontheotherplanets;anddaylightisoftheutmostutilitytous,forbyitsmeanswecancommodiouslycarryonthoseoccupationswhichinthenight-timewouldeitherbequiteimpossible。Oratanyrateimpossiblewithoutourgoingtotheexpenseofartificiallight。
  Thebeastsofthefieldcanfindfoodbydaywhichtheywouldnotbeabletofindatnight。Moreoverweoweittothesunlightthatweareabletoseeeverythingthatisontheearth’ssurface,notonlynearby,butalsoatadistance,andtorecognizebothnearandfarthingsaccordingtotheirspecies,whichagainisofmanifoldusetousnotonlyinthebusinessnecessarytohumanlife,andwhenwearetraveling,butalsoforthescientificknowledgeofNature,whichknowledgeforthemostpartdependsonobservationsmadewiththehelpofsight,andwithoutthesunshine,wouldhavebeenimpossible。Ifanyonewouldrightlyimpressonhismindthegreatadvantageswhichhederivesfromthesun,lethimimaginehimselflivingthroughonlyonemonth,andseehowitwouldbewithallhisundertakings,ifitwerenotdaybutnight。Hewouldthenbesufficientlyconvincedoutofhisownexperience,especiallyifhehadmuchworktocarryoninthestreetorinthefields……Fromthesunwelearntorecognizewhenitismidday,andbyknowingthispointoftimeexactly,wecansetourclocksright,onwhichaccountastronomyowesmuchtothesun……Byhelpofthesunonecanfindthemeridian……Butthemeridianisthebasisofoursun-dials,andgenerallyspeaking,weshouldhavenosun-dialsifwehadnosun。”VernunftigeGedankenvondenAbsichterdernaturlichenDinge,1782。pp。74-84。
  OrreadtheaccountofGod’sbeneficenceintheinstitutionof“thegreatvarietythroughouttheworldofmen’sfaces,voices,andhand-writing。”giveninDerham’sPhysico-theology,abookthathadmuchvogueintheeighteenthcentury。“HadMan’sbody。”
  saysDr。Derham,“beenmadeaccordingtoanyoftheAtheisticalSchemes,oranyotherMethodthanthatoftheinfiniteLordoftheWorld,thiswiseVarietywouldneverhavebeen:butMen’sFaceswouldhavebeencastinthesame,ornotaverydifferentMould,theirOrgansofSpeechwouldhavesoundedthesameornotsogreataVarietyofNotes,andthesameStructureofMusclesandNerveswouldhavegiventheHandthesameDirectioninWriting。AndinthisCasewhatConfusion,whatDisturbance,whatMischiefswouldtheworldeternallyhavelainunder!NoSecuritycouldhavebeentoourpersons;noCertainty,noEnjoymentofourPossessions;noJusticebetweenManandMan,noDistinctionbetweenGoodandBad,betweenFriendsandFoes,betweenFatherandChild,HusbandandWife,MaleorFemale;butallwouldhavebeenturnedtopsy-turvy,bybeingexposedtotheMaliceoftheEnviousandill-Natured,totheFraudandViolenceofKnavesandRobbers,totheForgeriesofthecraftyCheat,totheLustsoftheEffeminateandDebauched,andwhatnot!OurCourtsofJusticecanabundantlytestifythedireEffectsofMistakingMen’sFaces,ofcounterfeitingtheirHands,andforgingWritings。
  ButnowastheinfinitelywiseCreatorandRulerhathorderedtheMatter,everyman’sFacecandistinguishhimintheLight,andhisVoiceintheDark,hisHand-writingcanspeakforhimthoughabsent,andbehisWitness,andsecurehisContractsinfutureGenerations。AmanifestaswellasadmirableIndicationofthedivineSuperintendenceandManagement。”
  AGodsocarefulastomakeprovisionevenfortheunmistakablesigningofbankchecksanddeedswasadeitytrulyaftertheheartofeighteenthcenturyAnglicanism。