Product Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXI THE RELIGIOUS IMPERATIVE Mr. 0ptime. It is my opinion, Pessimo, that mankind is more religions to-day than ever before. Mr. Pessimo. You astonish me. Neither the evidence of our senses nor the weight of authority bears out your belief. It seems to me that all proof points to the contrary. There was never a time when irreligion flourished as it does to-day. Mr. 0. But you will agree that there is a spirit of faith in man and an impelling desire for truth which are seeking forever to realize themselves. Surely this constant striving, together with the accumulation of spiritual values through the ages, must affect favorably the religious sentiments of the race. Mr. P. There is no evidence that mankind has profited by this accumulation of race experience. Mr. 0. We have seen, however, that increased intelligence, as typified by the scientific spirit, has lifted man to a higher plane of existence. It would be strange indeed if the religious sentiments have not shared in the enlightenment. Mr. P. No necessary relationship exists between the two. Religion rests upon conversion and faith and a feeling of dependence upon a supreme Power in the universe. It seems to me that intensified knowledge may often block the way to spiritual experiences. It is certainly not a fact that the most intelligent people are the most religious. Mr. 0. Are you willing, Pessimo, to defend this proposition? The more ignorant men are the more susceptible they are to religious influences. Mr. P. Not without time for deliberation. Mr. 0. Let us examine the question of faith a moment. You will agree, I am sure, that faith, like emotion, must have some object, or idea about which it gathers. We cannot have faith in nothing. To be of value faith must have something of worth as it...
