Conclusions

The material of our study of human nature is now spread before us; and in this parting hour, set free from the duty of description, we can draw our theoretical and practical conclusions. In my first lecture, defending the empirical method, I foretold that whatever conclusions we might come to could be reached by spiritual judgments only, appreciations of the significance for life of religion, taken “on the whole.” Our conclusions cannot be as sharp as dogmatic conclusions would be, but I will formulate them, when the time comes, as sharply as I can.

The material for our study of human nature is now before us. In this final hour, we are free from describing it and can draw our theoretical and practical conclusions. In my first lecture, I defended the empirical method. I predicted that we could reach our conclusions only through spiritual judgments. We would have to assess what religion, taken “on the whole,” means for life. Our conclusions cannot be as precise as dogmatic conclusions. But when the time comes, I will state them as precisely as I can.

Summing up in the broadest possible way the characteristics of the religious life, as we have found them, it includes the following beliefs:—

To sum up the characteristics of religious life as broadly as possible, we have found that it includes the following beliefs:

1. That the visible world is part of a more spiritual universe from which it draws its chief significance;

1. That the visible world is part of a more spiritual universe, from which it gets its main meaning.

2. That union or harmonious relation with that higher universe is our true end;

2. That union or harmony with that higher universe is our true purpose.

3. That prayer or inner communion with the spirit thereof—be that spirit “God” or “law”—is a process wherein work is really done, and spiritual energy flows in and produces effects, psychological or material, within the phenomenal world.

3. That prayer or inner communion with its spirit, whether that spirit is “God” or “law”, is a process that really accomplishes something. Spiritual energy flows in and produces psychological or material effects in the world of experience.

Religion includes also the following psychological characteristics:—

Religion also includes the following psychological characteristics:

4. A new zest which adds itself like a gift to life, and takes the form either of lyrical enchantment or of appeal to earnestness and heroism.

4. A new zest for life that comes like a gift. It takes the form of either poetic delight or a call to seriousness and heroism.

5. An assurance of safety and a temper of peace, and, in relation to others, a preponderance of loving affections.

5. A sense of safety and peace, and mostly loving feelings toward others.

In illustrating these characteristics by documents, we have been literally bathed in sentiment. In re-reading my manuscript, I am almost appalled at the amount of emotionality which I find in it. After so much of this, we can afford to be dryer and less sympathetic in the rest of the work that lies before us.

In using documents to illustrate these characteristics, we have been literally bathed in sentiment. Rereading my manuscript, I am almost appalled by how much emotion I find in it. After so much emotion, we can afford to be drier and less sympathetic in the rest of our work.

The sentimentality of many of my documents is a consequence of the fact that I sought them among the extravagances of the subject. If any of you are enemies of what our ancestors used to brand as enthusiasm, and are, nevertheless, still listening to me now, you have probably felt my selection to have been sometimes almost perverse, and have wished I might have stuck to soberer examples. I reply that I took these extremer examples as yielding the profounder information. To learn the secrets of any science, we go to expert specialists, even though they may be eccentric persons, and not to commonplace pupils. We combine what they tell us with the rest of our wisdom, and form our final judgment independently. Even so with religion. We who have pursued such radical expressions of it may now be sure that we know its secrets as authentically as any one can know them who learns them from another; and we have next to answer, each of us for himself, the practical question: what are the dangers in this element of life? and in what proportion may it need to be restrained by other elements, to give the proper balance?

Many of my accounts are sentimental because I sought them among the more extreme examples of the subject. Some of you may dislike what our ancestors used to call enthusiasm. If you are still listening to me, you have probably found my selections almost perverse at times. You may have wished I had stayed with more restrained examples. My answer is that I chose these more extreme examples because they offer deeper insight. To learn the secrets of any science, we turn to expert specialists, even if they are eccentric people. We do not turn to ordinary students. We combine what the experts tell us with the rest of our knowledge and make our final judgment independently. The same is true of religion. We have studied such radical expressions of religion. So we can now be sure that we know its secrets as authentically as anyone can who learns them from others. Next, each of us must answer a practical question for ourselves: What are the dangers in this element of life? And how much may other elements need to restrain it to achieve the proper balance?

But this question suggests another one which I will answer immediately and get it out of the way, for it has more than once already vexed us.³²⁸ Ought it to be assumed that in all men the mixture of religion with other elements should be identical? Ought it, indeed, to be assumed that the lives of all men should show identical religious elements? In other words, is the existence of so many religious types and sects and creeds regrettable?

But this question raises another one. I will answer it immediately and get it out of the way, because it has troubled us more than once already.³²⁸ Should we assume that religion should be mixed with other elements in the same way in all people? Should we even assume that the lives of all people should contain the same religious elements? In other words, is it regrettable that there are so many religious types, sects, and creeds?

To these questions I answer “No” emphatically. And my reason is that I do not see how it is possible that creatures in such different positions and with such different powers as human individuals are, should have exactly the same functions and the same duties. No two of us have identical difficulties, nor should we be expected to work out identical solutions. Each, from his peculiar angle of observation, takes in a certain sphere of fact and trouble, which each must deal with in a unique manner. One of us must soften himself, another must harden himself; one must yield a point, another must stand firm,—in order the better to defend the position assigned him. If an Emerson were forced to be a Wesley, or a Moody forced to be a Whitman, the total human consciousness of the divine would suffer. The divine can mean no single quality, it must mean a group of qualities, by being champions of which in alternation, different men may all find worthy missions. Each attitude being a syllable in human nature's total message, it takes the whole of us to spell the meaning out completely. So a “god of battles” must be allowed to be the god for one kind of person, a god of peace and heaven and home, the god for another. We must frankly recognize the fact that we live in partial systems, and that parts are not interchangeable in the spiritual life. If we are peevish and jealous, destruction of the self must be an element of our religion; why need it be one if we are good and sympathetic from the outset? If we are sick souls, we require a religion of deliverance; but why think so much of deliverance, if we are healthy-minded?³²⁹ Unquestionably, some men have the completer experience and the higher vocation, here just as in the social world; but for each man to stay in his own experience, whate'er it be, and for others to tolerate him there, is surely best.

To these questions I answer “No” emphatically. My reason is that I cannot see how people in such different positions, with such different abilities, could have exactly the same roles and duties. No two of us face identical difficulties, and we should not be expected to find identical solutions. Each person sees a certain range of facts and troubles from a particular point of view. Each must deal with them in a unique way. One of us must become gentler, another tougher. One must give way on a point, another must stand firm. Each must do so to defend better the position assigned to them. If an Emerson were forced to be a Wesley, or a Moody forced to be a Whitman, humanity’s collective awareness of the divine would suffer. The divine cannot mean a single quality. It must mean a group of qualities, and different people may all find worthy missions by championing different qualities in turn. Each attitude is a syllable in the full message of human nature. It takes all of us to spell out that meaning completely. So a “god of battles” must be allowed to be the god for one kind of person. A god of peace and heaven and home must be allowed to be the god for another. We must frankly recognize that we live within partial systems. In spiritual life, the parts cannot be exchanged for one another. If we are irritable and jealous, the destruction of the self must be an element of our religion. But why must it be an element if we are good and sympathetic from the start? If we are sick souls, we need a religion of deliverance. But why think so much about deliverance if we are healthy-minded?³²⁹ Without question, some people have fuller experience and a higher calling here, just as in the social world. But surely it is best for each person to stay within their own experience, whatever it may be, and for others to tolerate them there.

But, you may now ask, would not this one-sidedness be cured if we should all espouse the science of religions as our own religion? In answering this question I must open again the general relations of the theoretic to the active life.

But you may now ask: Would this one-sidedness be cured if we all adopted the science of religions as our own religion? To answer this question, I must return to the general relationship between theory and action.

Knowledge about a thing is not the thing itself. You remember what Al-Ghazzali told us in the Lecture on Mysticism,—that to understand the causes of drunkenness, as a physician understands them, is not to be drunk. A science might come to understand everything about the causes and elements of religion, and might even decide which elements were qualified, by their general harmony with other branches of knowledge, to be considered true; and yet the best man at this science might be the man who found it hardest to be personally devout. Tout savoir c'est tout pardonner. The name of Renan would doubtless occur to many persons as an example of the way in which breadth of knowledge may make one only a dilettante in possibilities, and blunt the acuteness of one's living faith.³³⁰ If religion be a function by which either God's cause or man's cause is to be really advanced, then he who lives the life of it, however narrowly, is a better servant than he who merely knows about it, however much. Knowledge about life is one thing; effective occupation of a place in life, with its dynamic currents passing through your being, is another.

Knowing about something is not the same as experiencing it. Remember what Al-Ghazzali told us in the Lecture on Mysticism. A physician may understand the causes of drunkenness, but that is not the same as being drunk. A science might come to understand everything about the causes and elements of religion. It might even decide which elements could be considered true because they fit with other branches of knowledge. Yet the person most skilled in this science might find it hardest to be personally devout. To know all is to forgive all. Many people would no doubt think of Renan as an example of how broad knowledge may make someone a mere dabbler in possibilities and dull the sharpness of living faith.³³⁰ If religion is a means of truly advancing either God's cause or humanity's cause, then someone who lives a religious life is a better servant than someone who merely knows about religion. This is true however narrow the person's religious life and however extensive the other's knowledge. Knowing about life is one thing. Effectively occupying a place in life, with its powerful currents passing through your being, is another.

For this reason, the science of religions may not be an equivalent for living religion; and if we turn to the inner difficulties of such a science, we see that a point comes when she must drop the purely theoretic attitude, and either let her knots remain uncut, or have them cut by active faith. To see this, suppose that we have our science of religions constituted as a matter of fact. Suppose that she has assimilated all the necessary historical material and distilled out of it as its essence the same conclusions which I myself a few moments ago pronounced. Suppose that she agrees that religion, wherever it is an active thing, involves a belief in ideal presences, and a belief that in our prayerful communion with them,³³¹ work is done, and something real comes to pass. She has now to exert her critical activity, and to decide how far, in the light of other sciences and in that of general philosophy, such beliefs can be considered true.

For this reason, the science of religions may not be a substitute for living religion. If we consider the inner difficulties of such a science, we see a further problem. At some point, it must abandon its purely theoretical attitude. It must either leave its knots untied or let active faith cut them. To see why, suppose that we have actually established a science of religions. Suppose that it has absorbed all the necessary historical evidence. And suppose that it has distilled from that evidence the same conclusions I stated a few moments ago. Suppose it agrees that religion, wherever it is active, involves belief in ideal presences. It also involves the belief that, in our prayerful communion with them,³³¹ work is done and something real happens. The science of religions must now apply its critical judgment. In light of other sciences and general philosophy, it must decide how far such beliefs can be considered true.

Dogmatically to decide this is an impossible task. Not only are the other sciences and the philosophy still far from being completed, but in their present state we find them full of conflicts. The sciences of nature know nothing of spiritual presences, and on the whole hold no practical commerce whatever with the idealistic conceptions towards which general philosophy inclines. The scientist, so-called, is, during his scientific hours at least, so materialistic that one may well say that on the whole the influence of science goes against the notion that religion should be recognized at all. And this antipathy to religion finds an echo within the very science of religions itself. The cultivator of this science has to become acquainted with so many groveling and horrible superstitions that a presumption easily arises in his mind that any belief that is religious probably is false. In the “prayerful communion” of savages with such mumbo-jumbos of deities as they acknowledge, it is hard for us to see what genuine spiritual work—even though it were work relative only to their dark savage obligations—can possibly be done.

It is impossible to settle this question dogmatically. The other sciences and philosophy are still far from complete. Moreover, in their present state, they are full of conflicts. The natural sciences know nothing of spiritual presences. On the whole, they have no practical connection with the idealistic ideas toward which general philosophy leans. The so-called scientist is so materialistic, at least while doing science, that one may reasonably say science generally works against recognizing religion at all. This hostility to religion is echoed even in the science of religions itself. A student of religion must learn about so many degrading and horrible superstitions. As a result, such a student may easily come to assume that any religious belief is probably false. We find it hard to see what genuine spiritual work can be done in the “prayerful communion” of savages with the mumbo-jumbo deities they acknowledge. This is hard to see even if that work relates only to their dark savage obligations.

The consequence is that the conclusions of the science of religions are as likely to be adverse as they are to be favorable to the claim that the essence of religion is true. There is a notion in the air about us that religion is probably only an anachronism, a case of “survival,” an atavistic relapse into a mode of thought which humanity in its more enlightened examples has outgrown; and this notion our religious anthropologists at present do little to counteract.

As a result, the scientific study of religions is as likely to challenge the truth of religion’s essence as to support it. There is a widespread idea that religion is probably just a relic of the past, a “survival.” According to this idea, religion is a return to an old way of thinking that humanity’s more enlightened members have outgrown. Religious anthropologists today do little to challenge this idea.

This view is so widespread at the present day that I must consider it with some explicitness before I pass to my own conclusions. Let me call it the “Survival theory,” for brevity's sake.

This view is so widespread today that I must discuss it in some detail before turning to my own conclusions. For brevity, let me call it the “Survival theory.”

The pivot round which the religious life, as we have traced it, revolves, is the interest of the individual in his private personal destiny. Religion, in short, is a monumental chapter in the history of human egotism. The gods believed in—whether by crude savages or by men disciplined intellectually—agree with each other in recognizing personal calls. Religious thought is carried on in terms of personality, this being, in the world of religion, the one fundamental fact. To-day, quite as much as at any previous age, the religious individual tells you that the divine meets him on the basis of his personal concerns.

As we have seen, religious life revolves around each person’s concern for their own fate. In short, religion is a monumental chapter in the history of human self-interest. The gods people believe in all recognize personal appeals, whether their believers are crude savages or intellectually trained people. Religious thought is expressed in personal terms. In religion, personality is the one fundamental fact. Today, just as much as in any earlier age, religious individuals say that the divine meets them through their personal concerns.

Science, on the other hand, has ended by utterly repudiating the personal point of view. She catalogues her elements and records her laws indifferent as to what purpose may be shown forth by them, and constructs her theories quite careless of their bearing on human anxieties and fates. Though the scientist may individually nourish a religion, and be a theist in his irresponsible hours, the days are over when it could be said that for Science herself the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Our solar system, with its harmonies, is seen now as but one passing case of a certain sort of moving equilibrium in the heavens, realized by a local accident in an appalling wilderness of worlds where no life can exist. In a span of time which as a cosmic interval will count but as an hour, it will have ceased to be. The Darwinian notion of chance production, and subsequent destruction, speedy or deferred, applies to the largest as well as to the smallest facts. It is impossible, in the present temper of the scientific imagination, to find in the driftings of the cosmic atoms, whether they work on the universal or on the particular scale, anything but a kind of aimless weather, doing and undoing, achieving no proper history, and leaving no result. Nature has no one distinguishable ultimate tendency with which it is possible to feel a sympathy. In the vast rhythm of her processes, as the scientific mind now follows them, she appears to cancel herself. The books of natural theology which satisfied the intellects of our grandfathers seem to us quite grotesque,³³² representing, as they did, a God who conformed the largest things of nature to the paltriest of our private wants. The God whom science recognizes must be a God of universal laws exclusively, a God who does a wholesale, not a retail business. He cannot accommodate his processes to the convenience of individuals. The bubbles on the foam which coats a stormy sea are floating episodes, made and unmade by the forces of the wind and water. Our private selves are like those bubbles,—epiphenomena, as Clifford, I believe, ingeniously called them; their destinies weigh nothing and determine nothing in the world's irremediable currents of events.

Science, on the other hand, has ended up completely rejecting the personal point of view. It catalogs its elements and records its laws without caring what purpose they might reveal. It constructs its theories without concern for how they bear on human anxieties and destinies. An individual scientist may hold religious beliefs and believe in God in his unguarded hours. But the days are over when science itself could say that the heavens declare the glory of God and show his handiwork. We now see our solar system, with its harmonies, as just one passing example of a certain kind of moving equilibrium. It came about by a local accident in a terrifying wilderness of worlds where no life can exist. In a span of time that would count as only an hour on a cosmic scale, it will have ceased to exist. The Darwinian idea of chance production and eventual destruction, whether quick or delayed, applies to the largest facts and the smallest alike. In the present mood of the scientific imagination, the movements of cosmic atoms can only seem like a kind of aimless weather. This is true whether they work on the universal or the particular scale. They make and unmake things, creating no real history and leaving no result. Nature has no single, clear ultimate tendency with which we can sympathize. As the scientific mind now traces the vast rhythm of nature's processes, nature seems to cancel itself out. The books of natural theology that satisfied our grandfathers' minds seem quite grotesque to us.³³² They portrayed a God who shaped the greatest things in nature to suit our most trivial private wants. The God science recognizes must be a God of universal laws alone, a God who does wholesale business, not retail. He cannot adjust his processes for the convenience of individuals. The bubbles in the foam on a stormy sea are passing events, made and unmade by the forces of wind and water. Our private selves are like those bubbles. They are epiphenomena, as Clifford, I believe, ingeniously called them. Their destinies count for nothing and determine nothing in the world's unstoppable currents of events.

You see how natural it is, from this point of view, to treat religion as a mere survival, for religion does in fact perpetuate the traditions of the most primeval thought. To coerce the spiritual powers, or to square them and get them on our side, was, during enormous tracts of time, the one great object in our dealings with the natural world. For our ancestors, dreams, hallucinations, revelations, and cock-and-bull stories were inextricably mixed with facts. Up to a comparatively recent date such distinctions as those between what has been verified and what is only conjectured, between the impersonal and the personal aspects of existence, were hardly suspected or conceived. Whatever you imagined in a lively manner, whatever you thought fit to be true, you affirmed confidently; and whatever you affirmed, your comrades believed. Truth was what had not yet been contradicted, most things were taken into the mind from the point of view of their human suggestiveness, and the attention confined itself exclusively to the æsthetic and dramatic aspects of events.³³³

You can see how natural it is, from this point of view, to treat religion as a mere survival from the past. Religion does in fact carry on the traditions of the earliest human thought. For vast stretches of time, our main purpose in dealing with nature was to control the spiritual powers or win their favor and get them on our side. For our ancestors, dreams, hallucinations, revelations, and tall tales were hopelessly mixed up with facts. Until comparatively recently, people hardly suspected or conceived of distinctions between what had been verified and what was only conjecture. They hardly recognized the difference between the impersonal and personal aspects of existence. Whatever you vividly imagined, whatever you thought should be true, you confidently declared to be true. And whatever you declared, your companions believed. Truth was whatever had not yet been contradicted. People understood most things in terms of what they suggested about human life. Their attention was focused exclusively on the aesthetic and dramatic aspects of events.³³³

How indeed could it be otherwise? The extraordinary value, for explanation and prevision, of those mathematical and mechanical modes of conception which science uses, was a result that could not possibly have been expected in advance. Weight, movement, velocity, direction, position, what thin, pallid, uninteresting ideas! How could the richer animistic aspects of Nature, the peculiarities and oddities that make phenomena picturesquely striking or expressive, fail to have been first singled out and followed by philosophy as the more promising avenue to the knowledge of Nature's life? Well, it is still in these richer animistic and dramatic aspects that religion delights to dwell. It is the terror and beauty of phenomena, the “promise” of the dawn and of the rainbow, the “voice” of the thunder, the “gentleness” of the summer rain, the “sublimity” of the stars, and not the physical laws which these things follow, by which the religious mind still continues to be most impressed; and just as of yore, the devout man tells you that in the solitude of his room or of the fields he still feels the divine presence, that inflowings of help come in reply to his prayers, and that sacrifices to this unseen reality fill him with security and peace.

How could it be otherwise? No one could possibly have predicted how valuable science's mathematical and mechanical ideas would be for explaining and predicting things. Weight, movement, velocity, direction, position: what thin, pale, uninteresting ideas! Nature has richer, more lifelike aspects, with peculiarities and oddities that make its phenomena vividly striking or expressive. How could philosophy have failed to pursue these first, as a more promising path to understanding Nature's life? Well, religion still delights in these richer, lifelike, and dramatic aspects. The religious mind is still most impressed by the terror and beauty of phenomena, not by the physical laws they follow. It responds to the “promise” of the dawn and the rainbow, the “voice” of the thunder, the “gentleness” of the summer rain, and the “sublimity” of the stars. And, just as in the past, a devout person tells you that he still feels the divine presence alone in his room or in the fields. He says that help flows in when he prays, and that sacrifices to this unseen reality fill him with security and peace.

Pure anachronism! says the survival-theory;—anachronism for which deanthropomorphization of the imagination is the remedy required. The less we mix the private with the cosmic, the more we dwell in universal and impersonal terms, the truer heirs of Science we become.

“Pure anachronism!” says the survival theory. The remedy is to stop imagining things in human terms. The less we mix the personal with the cosmic, and the more we think in universal and impersonal terms, the more truly we become heirs of Science.

In spite of the appeal which this impersonality of the scientific attitude makes to a certain magnanimity of temper, I believe it to be shallow, and I can now state my reason in comparatively few words. That reason is that, so long as we deal with the cosmic and the general, we deal only with the symbols of reality, but as soon as we deal with private and personal phenomena as such, we deal with realities in the completest sense of the term. I think I can easily make clear what I mean by these words.

The impersonal attitude of science appeals to a certain generosity of spirit. Even so, I believe it is shallow. I can now explain why in relatively few words. As long as we deal with the universe and general matters, we deal only with symbols of reality. But as soon as we deal with private and personal experiences as such, we deal with realities in the fullest sense of the word. I think I can easily make clear what I mean.

The world of our experience consists at all times of two parts, an objective and a subjective part, of which the former may be incalculably more extensive than the latter, and yet the latter can never be omitted or suppressed. The objective part is the sum total of whatsoever at any given time we may be thinking of, the subjective part is the inner “state” in which the thinking comes to pass. What we think of may be enormous,—the cosmic times and spaces, for example,—whereas the inner state may be the most fugitive and paltry activity of mind. Yet the cosmic objects, so far as the experience yields them, are but ideal pictures of something whose existence we do not inwardly possess but only point at outwardly, while the inner state is our very experience itself; its reality and that of our experience are one. A conscious field plus its object as felt or thought of plus an attitude towards the object plus the sense of a self to whom the attitude belongs—such a concrete bit of personal experience may be a small bit, but it is a solid bit as long as it lasts; not hollow, not a mere abstract element of experience, such as the “object” is when taken all alone. It is a full fact, even though it be an insignificant fact; it is of the kind to which all realities whatsoever must belong; the motor currents of the world run through the like of it; it is on the line connecting real events with real events. That unsharable feeling which each one of us has of the pinch of his individual destiny as he privately feels it rolling out on fortune's wheel may be disparaged for its egotism, may be sneered at as unscientific, but it is the one thing that fills up the measure of our concrete actuality, and any would-be existent that should lack such a feeling, or its analogue, would be a piece of reality only half made up.³³⁴

The world we experience always has two parts, an objective part and a subjective part. The objective part may be vastly larger than the subjective part. Yet the subjective part can never be left out or suppressed. The objective part is everything we are thinking about at a given time. The subjective part is the inner “state” in which the thinking happens. What we think about may be enormous, such as cosmic time and space. The inner state, meanwhile, may be the most fleeting and trivial mental activity. Yet, as our experience presents them, cosmic objects are only mental images of something. We do not possess what they represent inwardly, but only point to it outwardly. The inner state, on the other hand, is our experience itself. Its reality and the reality of our experience are one. A field of consciousness plus its object as felt or thought about plus an attitude toward that object plus the sense of a self to whom that attitude belongs: such a concrete piece of personal experience may be small, but it is solid as long as it lasts. It is not hollow or merely an abstract element of experience, as the “object” is when taken alone. It is a full fact, even if it is an insignificant one. It belongs to the kind of fact to which all realities whatsoever must belong. The currents that drive the world run through facts like it. It lies on the line connecting real events with real events. Each of us has a feeling we cannot share with anyone else. It is the feeling of the pressure of our individual destiny as we privately feel it unfolding on fortune's wheel. This feeling may be dismissed as egotistical or mocked as unscientific. But it is the one thing that makes up the whole of our concrete reality. Anything claiming to exist that lacked such a feeling, or its equivalent, would be only a half-formed piece of reality.³³⁴

If this be true, it is absurd for science to say that the egotistic elements of experience should be suppressed. The axis of reality runs solely through the egotistic places,—they are strung upon it like so many beads. To describe the world with all the various feelings of the individual pinch of destiny, all the various spiritual attitudes, left out from the description—they being as describable as anything else—would be something like offering a printed bill of fare as the equivalent for a solid meal. Religion makes no such blunder. The individual's religion may be egotistic, and those private realities which it keeps in touch with may be narrow enough; but at any rate it always remains infinitely less hollow and abstract, as far as it goes, than a science which prides itself on taking no account of anything private at all.

If this is true, science is absurd to say that the self-centered elements of experience should be suppressed. The axis of reality runs only through these self-centered points. They are strung along it like beads. Each person feels the pressure of their own fate and has their own spiritual attitudes. These feelings and attitudes can be described just like anything else. To leave them all out of a description of the world would be like offering a printed menu instead of a substantial meal. Religion makes no such mistake. A person's religion may be self-centered, and the private realities it keeps in touch with may be narrow enough. But, as far as it goes, religion always remains infinitely less hollow and abstract than science. Science prides itself on taking no account of anything private at all.

A bill of fare with one real raisin on it instead of the word “raisin,” with one real egg instead of the word “egg,” might be an inadequate meal, but it would at least be a commencement of reality. The contention of the survival-theory that we ought to stick to non-personal elements exclusively seems like saying that we ought to be satisfied forever with reading the naked bill of fare. I think, therefore, that however particular questions connected with our individual destinies may be answered, it is only by acknowledging them as genuine questions, and living in the sphere of thought which they open up, that we become profound. But to live thus is to be religious; so I unhesitatingly repudiate the survival-theory of religion, as being founded on an egregious mistake. It does not follow, because our ancestors made so many errors of fact and mixed them with their religion, that we should therefore leave off being religious at all.³³⁵ By being religious we establish ourselves in possession of ultimate reality at the only points at which reality is given us to guard. Our responsible concern is with our private destiny, after all.

A menu with one real raisin instead of the word “raisin,” and one real egg instead of the word “egg,” might not be much of a meal. But at least it would be a start toward something real. The survival theory says that we should stick exclusively to impersonal elements. That seems like saying we should be content forever with merely reading the menu. So, however we answer particular questions about our individual destinies, I think we become profound only by recognizing them as real questions. We must also live within the realm of thought those questions open up. But to live this way is to be religious. So I reject the survival theory of religion without hesitation, because it is based on a glaring mistake. Our ancestors made many factual errors and mixed them with their religion. But that does not mean we should stop being religious altogether.³³⁵ By being religious, we gain possession of ultimate reality at the only points where reality is entrusted to our care. After all, our own personal destiny is what we are responsible for.

You see now why I have been so individualistic throughout these lectures, and why I have seemed so bent on rehabilitating the element of feeling in religion and subordinating its intellectual part. Individuality is founded in feeling; and the recesses of feeling, the darker, blinder strata of character, are the only places in the world in which we catch real fact in the making, and directly perceive how events happen, and how work is actually done.³³⁶ Compared with this world of living individualized feelings, the world of generalized objects which the intellect contemplates is without solidity or life. As in stereoscopic or kinetoscopic pictures seen outside the instrument, the third dimension, the movement, the vital element, are not there. We get a beautiful picture of an express train supposed to be moving, but where in the picture, as I have heard a friend say, is the energy or the fifty miles an hour?³³⁷

You can now see why I have focused so much on the individual throughout these lectures. You can also see why I have seemed so determined to restore the importance of feeling in religion and give its intellectual side a lesser place. Individuality is rooted in feeling. And the depths of feeling, the darker, blinder layers of character, are the only places where we catch real facts in the making. Only there do we directly perceive how events happen and how work is actually done.³³⁶ Compared with this world of living, individual feelings, the world of general objects considered by the intellect lacks substance and life. It is like stereoscopic or kinetoscopic pictures viewed outside the device. The third dimension, the movement, the vital element are missing. We see a beautiful picture of an express train that is supposed to be moving. But as a friend once said, where in the picture is the energy or the fifty miles an hour?³³⁷

Let us agree, then, that Religion, occupying herself with personal destinies and keeping thus in contact with the only absolute realities which we know, must necessarily play an eternal part in human history. The next thing to decide is what she reveals about those destinies, or whether indeed she reveals anything distinct enough to be considered a general message to mankind. We have done as you see, with our preliminaries, and our final summing up can now begin.

Let us agree, then, that religion must always play a part in human history. Religion concerns itself with personal destinies and so stays in contact with the only absolute realities we know. Next, we must decide what religion reveals about those destinies. Does it reveal anything clear enough to be considered a general message to humanity? As you can see, we have finished the preliminary discussion, and we can now begin our final summing up.

I am well aware that after all the palpitating documents which I have quoted, and all the perspectives of emotion-inspiring institution and belief that my previous lectures have opened, the dry analysis to which I now advance may appear to many of you like an anti-climax, a tapering-off and flattening out of the subject, instead of a crescendo of interest and result. I said awhile ago that the religious attitude of Protestants appears poverty-stricken to the Catholic imagination. Still more poverty-stricken, I fear, may my final summing up of the subject appear at first to some of you. On which account I pray you now to bear this point in mind, that in the present part of it I am expressly trying to reduce religion to its lowest admissible terms, to that minimum, free from individualistic excrescences, which all religions contain as their nucleus, and on which it may be hoped that all religious persons may agree. That established, we should have a result which might be small, but would at least be solid; and on it and round it the ruddier additional beliefs on which the different individuals make their venture might be grafted, and flourish as richly as you please. I shall add my own over-belief (which will be, I confess, of a somewhat pallid kind, as befits a critical philosopher), and you will, I hope, also add your over-beliefs, and we shall soon be in the varied world of concrete religious constructions once more. For the moment, let me dryly pursue the analytic part of the task.

I know that the dry analysis I now turn to may seem like an anticlimax to many of you. After the vivid accounts I have quoted, my earlier lectures have opened up views of institutions and beliefs that inspire emotion. My analysis may seem to narrow and flatten the subject, rather than build toward greater interest and results. I said earlier that the Protestant religious attitude seems impoverished to the Catholic imagination. I fear that my final summary of the subject may seem even more impoverished at first to some of you. So please bear this point in mind. In this part of my task, I am deliberately trying to reduce religion to its lowest acceptable terms. I seek the minimum at the core of all religions, free from the additions made by individuals. I hope that all religious people may agree on this minimum. Once we established that minimum, we would have a result that might be small but would at least be solid. On and around that foundation, the fuller beliefs on which different individuals stake their faith could be grafted. They could flourish as richly as you please. I shall add my own over-belief. I confess that it will be somewhat pale, as befits a critical philosopher. I hope you will add your over-beliefs too, and we shall soon return to the varied world of concrete religious constructions. For the moment, let me continue with the dry work of analysis.

Both thought and feeling are determinants of conduct, and the same conduct may be determined either by feeling or by thought. When we survey the whole field of religion, we find a great variety in the thoughts that have prevailed there; but the feelings on the one hand and the conduct on the other are almost always the same, for Stoic, Christian, and Buddhist saints are practically indistinguishable in their lives. The theories which Religion generates, being thus variable, are secondary; and if you wish to grasp her essence, you must look to the feelings and the conduct as being the more constant elements. It is between these two elements that the short circuit exists on which she carries on her principal business, while the ideas and symbols and other institutions form loop-lines which may be perfections and improvements, and may even some day all be united into one harmonious system, but which are not to be regarded as organs with an indispensable function, necessary at all times for religious life to go on. This seems to me the first conclusion which we are entitled to draw from the phenomena we have passed in review.

Both thought and feeling shape behavior, and the same behavior may be shaped by either one. When we look at religion as a whole, we find a great variety of beliefs. But the feelings and behavior are almost always the same. Stoic, Christian, and Buddhist saints live in practically indistinguishable ways. The theories religion produces vary, so they are secondary. If you want to grasp the essence of religion, you must look to feelings and behavior, which are more constant. Religion does its main work through a direct connection between feelings and behavior. Ideas, symbols, and other institutions form side routes. They may perfect and improve religion, and may even someday unite into one harmonious system. But they should not be regarded as having an indispensable function, one always necessary for religious life to continue. This seems to me the first conclusion we are entitled to draw from the phenomena we have reviewed.

The next step is to characterize the feelings. To what psychological order do they belong?

The next step is to describe the feelings. What psychological category do they belong to?

The resultant outcome of them is in any case what Kant calls a “sthenic” affection, an excitement of the cheerful, expansive, “dynamogenic” order which, like any tonic, freshens our vital powers. In almost every lecture, but especially in the lectures on Conversion and on Saintliness, we have seen how this emotion overcomes temperamental melancholy and imparts endurance to the Subject, or a zest, or a meaning, or an enchantment and glory to the common objects of life.³³⁸ The name of “faith-state,” by which Professor Leuba designates it, is a good one.³³⁹ It is a biological as well as a psychological condition, and Tolstoy is absolutely accurate in classing faith among the forces by which men live.³⁴⁰ The total absence of it, anhedonia,³⁴¹ means collapse.

In any case, the result is what Kant calls a “sthenic” feeling. It is a cheerful, expansive, “dynamogenic” excitement that, like a tonic, refreshes our vital powers. In almost every lecture, especially those on Conversion and on Saintliness, we have seen how this emotion overcomes a tendency toward melancholy. It gives the person endurance or a zest for life. It can also give everyday things meaning, enchantment, or glory.³³⁸ Professor Leuba calls this feeling the “faith-state,” and the name is a good one.³³⁹ It is a biological as well as a psychological condition. Tolstoy is absolutely right to count faith among the forces by which men live.³⁴⁰ Its complete absence, anhedonia,³⁴¹ means collapse.

The faith-state may hold a very minimum of intellectual content. We saw examples of this in those sudden raptures of the divine presence, or in such mystical seizures as Dr. Bucke described.³⁴² It may be a mere vague enthusiasm, half spiritual, half vital, a courage, and a feeling that great and wondrous things are in the air.³⁴³

A state of faith may involve very little intellectual content. We saw examples in sudden raptures of divine presence and in mystical experiences like those Dr. Bucke described.³⁴² Faith may be nothing more than a vague enthusiasm, half spiritual and half physical. It may be a sense of courage and a feeling that great and wondrous things are in the air.³⁴³

When, however, a positive intellectual content is associated with a faith-state, it gets invincibly stamped in upon belief,³⁴⁴ and this explains the passionate loyalty of religious persons everywhere to the minutest details of their so widely differing creeds. Taking creeds and faith-state together, as forming “religions,” and treating these as purely subjective phenomena, without regard to the question of their “truth,” we are obliged, on account of their extraordinary influence upon action and endurance, to class them amongst the most important biological functions of mankind. Their stimulant and anæsthetic effect is so great that Professor Leuba, in a recent article,³⁴⁵ goes so far as to say that so long as men can use their God, they care very little who he is, or even whether he is at all. “The truth of the matter can be put,” says Leuba, “in this way: God is not known, he is not understood; he is used—sometimes as meat-purveyor, sometimes as moral support, sometimes as friend, sometimes as an object of love. If he proves himself useful, the religious consciousness asks for no more than that. Does God really exist? How does he exist? What is he? are so many irrelevant questions. Not God, but life, more life, a larger, richer, more satisfying life, is, in the last analysis, the end of religion. The love of life, at any and every level of development, is the religious impulse.”³⁴⁶

When, however, a state of faith is associated with a definite belief, that belief becomes impossible to shake.³⁴⁴ This explains the passionate loyalty of religious people everywhere to the smallest details of their widely differing creeds. We can consider creeds and the state of faith together as forming “religions.” We can also treat religions as purely subjective experiences, without asking whether they are “true.” Even so, their extraordinary influence on action and endurance forces us to rank them among humanity’s most important biological functions. Their power to stimulate and numb is so great that Professor Leuba makes a striking claim in a recent article.³⁴⁵ He goes so far as to say that, as long as people can use their God, they care very little who he is, or even whether he exists at all. “The truth of the matter can be put,” says Leuba, “in this way: God is not known, he is not understood; he is used—sometimes as meat-purveyor, sometimes as moral support, sometimes as friend, sometimes as an object of love. If he proves himself useful, the religious consciousness asks for no more than that. Does God really exist? How does he exist? What is he? are so many irrelevant questions. Not God, but life, more life, a larger, richer, more satisfying life, is, in the last analysis, the end of religion. The love of life, at any and every level of development, is the religious impulse.”³⁴⁶

At this purely subjective rating, therefore, Religion must be considered vindicated in a certain way from the attacks of her critics. It would seem that she cannot be a mere anachronism and survival, but must exert a permanent function, whether she be with or without intellectual content, and whether, if she have any, it be true or false.

Judged purely by subjective experience, then, religion must be considered justified in some respects against its critics’ attacks. It seems that religion cannot be merely an outdated survival. Instead, it must serve a permanent function, whether or not it has intellectual content. This is true whether that content, if religion has any, is true or false.

We must next pass beyond the point of view of merely subjective utility, and make inquiry into the intellectual content itself.

Next, we must look beyond mere subjective usefulness and examine the intellectual content itself.

First, is there, under all the discrepancies of the creeds, a common nucleus to which they bear their testimony unanimously?

First, despite all the differences among creeds, is there a shared core that they all affirm?

And second, ought we to consider the testimony true?

And second, should we consider the testimony true?

I will take up the first question first, and answer it immediately in the affirmative. The warring gods and formulas of the various religions do indeed cancel each other, but there is a certain uniform deliverance in which religions all appear to meet. It consists of two parts:—

I will take up the first question first and immediately answer yes. The competing gods and doctrines of the various religions do cancel each other out. But all religions seem to agree on one basic message. It has two parts:

1. An uneasiness; and

1. A feeling of uneasiness, and

2. Its solution.

2. Its solution.

1. The uneasiness, reduced to its simplest terms, is a sense that there is something wrong about us as we naturally stand.

1. At its simplest, this uneasiness is a sense that there is something wrong with us in our natural state.

2. The solution is a sense that we are saved from the wrongness by making proper connection with the higher powers.

2. The solution is a sense that we are saved from what is wrong by connecting properly with higher powers.

In those more developed minds which alone we are studying, the wrongness takes a moral character, and the salvation takes a mystical tinge. I think we shall keep well within the limits of what is common to all such minds if we formulate the essence of their religious experience in terms like these:—

We are studying only more developed minds. In these minds, the sense of wrongness takes on a moral character, and salvation takes on a mystical quality. I think we can describe the essence of their religious experience in the following terms. This description will stay well within what is common to all such minds:

The individual, so far as he suffers from his wrongness and criticises it, is to that extent consciously beyond it, and in at least possible touch with something higher, if anything higher exist. Along with the wrong part there is thus a better part of him, even though it may be but a most helpless germ. With which part he should identify his real being is by no means obvious at this stage; but when stage 2 (the stage of solution or salvation) arrives,³⁴⁷ the man identifies his real being with the germinal higher part of himself; and does so in the following way. He becomes conscious that this higher part is conterminous and continuous with a more of the same quality, which is operative in the universe outside of him, and which he can keep in working touch with, and in a fashion get on board of and save himself when all his lower being has gone to pieces in the wreck.

To the extent that a person suffers from what is wrong with him and criticizes it, he is consciously beyond it. He is also at least potentially in touch with something higher, if anything higher exists. So, alongside the wrong part of him, there is a better part, even if it is only a helpless seed. At this stage, it is by no means obvious which part he should identify as his real self. But when stage 2 (the stage of solution or salvation) arrives,³⁴⁷ he identifies his real self with the seed of his higher self. He does so in the following way. He becomes aware that this higher part of him shares a boundary with, and continues into, something more of the same kind. This greater presence is at work in the universe outside him, and he can stay in active touch with it. In a way, he can get on board it and save himself when all his lower self has fallen to pieces in the wreck.

It seems to me that all the phenomena are accurately describable in these very simple general terms.³⁴⁸ They allow for the divided self and the struggle; they involve the change of personal centre and the surrender of the lower self; they express the appearance of exteriority of the helping power and yet account for our sense of union with it;³⁴⁹ and they fully justify our feelings of security and joy. There is probably no autobiographic document, among all those which I have quoted, to which the description will not well apply. One need only add such specific details as will adapt it to various theologies and various personal temperaments, and one will then have the various experiences reconstructed in their individual forms.

It seems to me that all these experiences can be accurately described in these very simple general terms.³⁴⁸ The description allows for the divided self and its struggle. It includes the shift in a person’s center and the surrender of the lower self. It expresses how the helping power seems to come from outside us, yet also accounts for our sense of union with it.³⁴⁹ It fully justifies our feelings of security and joy. The description probably applies well to every autobiographical document I have quoted. One need only add details suited to different theologies and personal temperaments. The various experiences will then be reconstructed in their individual forms.

So far, however, as this analysis goes, the experiences are only psychological phenomena. They possess, it is true, enormous biological worth. Spiritual strength really increases in the subject when he has them, a new life opens for him, and they seem to him a place of conflux where the forces of two universes meet; and yet this may be nothing but his subjective way of feeling things, a mood of his own fancy, in spite of the effects produced. I now turn to my second question: What is the objective “truth” of their content?³⁵⁰

As far as this analysis goes, however, these experiences are only psychological phenomena. It is true that they have enormous biological value. They really do increase a person’s spiritual strength and open up a new life for that person. The experiences seem to be a meeting place for the forces of two universes. Yet, despite their effects, this impression may be nothing more than a subjective feeling, a product of the person’s imagination. I now turn to my second question: What is the objective “truth” of what these experiences reveal?³⁵⁰

The part of the content concerning which the question of truth most pertinently arises is that “more of the same quality” with which our own higher self appears in the experience to come into harmonious working relation. Is such a “more” merely our own notion, or does it really exist? If so, in what shape does it exist? Does it act, as well as exist? And in what form should we conceive of that “union” with it of which religious geniuses are so convinced?

The question of truth is most relevant to the “more of the same quality.” In the experience, our own higher self seems to work in harmony with this “more.” Is this “more” merely our own idea, or does it really exist? If it exists, what form does it take? Does it act, as well as exist? And how should we understand the “union” with it that religious geniuses are so convinced of?

It is in answering these questions that the various theologies perform their theoretic work, and that their divergencies most come to light. They all agree that the “more” really exists; though some of them hold it to exist in the shape of a personal god or gods, while others are satisfied to conceive it as a stream of ideal tendency embedded in the eternal structure of the world. They all agree, moreover, that it acts as well as exists, and that something really is effected for the better when you throw your life into its hands. It is when they treat of the experience of “union” with it that their speculative differences appear most clearly. Over this point pantheism and theism, nature and second birth, works and grace and karma, immortality and reincarnation, rationalism and mysticism, carry on inveterate disputes.

The different theologies do their theoretical work by answering these questions, and their differences become most apparent in their answers. They all agree that the “more” really exists. Some believe it exists as a personal god or gods. Others are content to see it as a current of ideal tendency built into the eternal structure of the world. They also all agree that the “more” does more than exist: it acts. They agree that something really does change for the better when you put your life in its hands. Their theoretical differences appear most clearly when they discuss the experience of “union” with the “more”. On this point, longstanding disputes continue between pantheism and theism, nature and second birth, works and grace and karma, immortality and reincarnation, and rationalism and mysticism.

At the end of my lecture on Philosophy³⁵¹ I held out the notion that an impartial science of religions might sift out from the midst of their discrepancies a common body of doctrine which she might also formulate in terms to which physical science need not object. This, I said, she might adopt as her own reconciling hypothesis, and recommend it for general belief. I also said that in my last lecture I should have to try my own hand at framing such an hypothesis.

At the end of my lecture on Philosophy³⁵¹, I suggested that an impartial science of religions might identify shared beliefs among their differences. It might also express those beliefs in terms that physical science need not object to. I said that this science might adopt those beliefs as its own hypothesis for reconciling the differences and recommend them for general belief. I also said that in my last lecture I would have to try framing such a hypothesis myself.

The time has now come for this attempt. Who says “hypothesis” renounces the ambition to be coercive in his arguments. The most I can do is, accordingly, to offer something that may fit the facts so easily that your scientific logic will find no plausible pretext for vetoing your impulse to welcome it as true.

The time has now come to make this attempt. Anyone who calls an idea a “hypothesis” gives up trying to make the argument compelling. So the most I can do is offer an idea that may fit the facts so well that your scientific logic will find no plausible reason to reject your impulse to welcome it as true.

The “more,” as we called it, and the meaning of our “union” with it, form the nucleus of our inquiry. Into what definite description can these words be translated, and for what definite facts do they stand? It would never do for us to place ourselves offhand at the position of a particular theology, the Christian theology, for example, and proceed immediately to define the “more” as Jehovah, and the “union” as his imputation to us of the righteousness of Christ. That would be unfair to other religions, and, from our present standpoint at least, would be an over-belief.

The “more,” as we called it, and what our “union” with it means are at the heart of our inquiry. How can we describe the “more” and our “union” with it precisely? What definite facts do these words refer to? We cannot simply adopt the position of a particular theology, Christian theology, for example. We cannot immediately define the “more” as Jehovah and the “union” as his crediting us with the righteousness of Christ. That would be unfair to other religions. From our present standpoint, at least, it would also be an over-belief.

We must begin by using less particularized terms; and, since one of the duties of the science of religions is to keep religion in connection with the rest of science, we shall do well to seek first of all a way of describing the “more,” which psychologists may also recognize as real. The subconscious self is nowadays a well-accredited psychological entity; and I believe that in it we have exactly the mediating term required. Apart from all religious considerations, there is actually and literally more life in our total soul than we are at any time aware of. The exploration of the transmarginal field has hardly yet been seriously undertaken, but what Mr. Myers said in 1892 in his essay on the Subliminal Consciousness³⁵² is as true as when it was first written: “Each of us is in reality an abiding psychical entity far more extensive than he knows—an individuality which can never express itself completely through any corporeal manifestation. The Self manifests through the organism; but there is always some part of the Self unmanifested; and always, as it seems, some power of organic expression in abeyance or reserve.”³⁵³ Much of the content of this larger background against which our conscious being stands out in relief is insignificant. Imperfect memories, silly jingles, inhibitive timidities, “dissolutive” phenomena of various sorts, as Myers calls them, enter into it for a large part. But in it many of the performances of genius seem also to have their origin; and in our study of conversion, of mystical experiences, and of prayer, we have seen how striking a part invasions from this region play in the religious life.

We must begin with less specific terms. One duty of the science of religions is to keep religion connected with the rest of science. So we should first seek a way to describe the “more” that psychologists may also recognize as real. The subconscious self is now a well-established concept in psychology. I believe it provides exactly the link we need. Apart from all religious considerations, our whole soul actually and literally contains more life than we are ever aware of. The exploration of the field beyond the margins of consciousness has hardly yet begun in earnest. But what Mr. Myers said in 1892 in his essay on the Subliminal Consciousness³⁵² remains as true as ever: “Each of us is really a lasting psychological being, far more extensive than we know. Our individuality can never express itself completely through any physical form. The Self expresses itself through the body, but some part of the Self is always unexpressed. And there always seems to be some capacity for bodily expression held back or in reserve.”³⁵³ Much of the content of this larger background, against which our conscious being stands out, is insignificant. Imperfect memories, silly jingles, fears that hold us back, and various “dissolutive” phenomena, as Myers calls them, make up a large part of it. But many achievements of genius also seem to originate there. And in studying conversion, mystical experiences, and prayer, we have seen how striking a part incursions from this region play in religious life.

Let me then propose, as an hypothesis, that whatever it may be on its farther side, the “more” with which in religious experience we feel ourselves connected is on its hither side the subconscious continuation of our conscious life. Starting thus with a recognized psychological fact as our basis, we seem to preserve a contact with “science” which the ordinary theologian lacks. At the same time the theologian's contention that the religious man is moved by an external power is vindicated, for it is one of the peculiarities of invasions from the subconscious region to take on objective appearances, and to suggest to the Subject an external control. In the religious life the control is felt as “higher”; but since on our hypothesis it is primarily the higher faculties of our own hidden mind which are controlling, the sense of union with the power beyond us is a sense of something, not merely apparently, but literally true.

Let me propose a hypothesis. Whatever the “more” we feel connected to in religious experience may be on its farther side, on its hither side it is the subconscious continuation of our conscious life. By starting with a recognized psychological fact, we seem to maintain a connection with “science” that the ordinary theologian lacks. At the same time, the theologian's claim that an external power moves the religious person is supported. Experiences that emerge from the subconscious have a peculiar tendency to appear objective and suggest an external control to the person experiencing them. In religious life, this control is felt as “higher.” But according to our hypothesis, it is primarily the higher faculties of our own hidden mind that control us. So the sense of union with a power beyond us is not merely apparently true, but literally true.

This doorway into the subject seems to me the best one for a science of religions, for it mediates between a number of different points of view. Yet it is only a doorway, and difficulties present themselves as soon as we step through it, and ask how far our transmarginal consciousness carries us if we follow it on its remoter side. Here the over-beliefs begin: here mysticism and the conversion-rapture and Vedantism and transcendental idealism bring in their monistic interpretations³⁵⁴ and tell us that the finite self rejoins the absolute self, for it was always one with God and identical with the soul of the world.³⁵⁵ Here the prophets of all the different religions come with their visions, voices, raptures, and other openings, supposed by each to authenticate his own peculiar faith.

This approach seems to me the best entry into a science of religions, because it connects several different points of view. Yet it is only an entry, and difficulties arise as soon as we pass through it. How far does our transmarginal consciousness take us if we follow it into its more remote regions? Here the over-beliefs begin. Here mysticism, the rapture of conversion, Vedantism, and transcendental idealism offer their monistic interpretations.³⁵⁴ They tell us that the finite self rejoins the absolute self, because it was always one with God and identical with the soul of the world.³⁵⁵ Here the prophets of all the different religions come with their visions, voices, raptures, and other revelations. Each prophet believes these experiences confirm his own particular faith.

Those of us who are not personally favored with such specific revelations must stand outside of them altogether and, for the present at least, decide that, since they corroborate incompatible theological doctrines, they neutralize one another and leave no fixed result. If we follow any one of them, or if we follow philosophical theory and embrace monistic pantheism on non-mystical grounds, we do so in the exercise of our individual freedom, and build out our religion in the way most congruous with our personal susceptibilities. Among these susceptibilities intellectual ones play a decisive part. Although the religious question is primarily a question of life, of living or not living in the higher union which opens itself to us as a gift, yet the spiritual excitement in which the gift appears a real one will often fail to be aroused in an individual until certain particular intellectual beliefs or ideas which, as we say, come home to him, are touched.³⁵⁶ These ideas will thus be essential to that individual's religion;—which is as much as to say that over-beliefs in various directions are absolutely indispensable, and that we should treat them with tenderness and tolerance so long as they are not intolerant themselves. As I have elsewhere written, the most interesting and valuable things about a man are usually his over-beliefs.

Those of us who have not personally received such specific revelations must remain entirely outside them. For now, at least, we must conclude that they cancel one another out and leave no definite result. That is because they support incompatible theological doctrines. We may choose to follow one of these revelations. Or we may follow philosophical theory and embrace monistic pantheism on non-mystical grounds. In either case, we exercise our individual freedom and develop our religion in the way that best suits our personal inclinations. Our intellectual inclinations play a decisive part among these. The religious question is primarily a question of life: whether or not we live in the higher union offered to us as a gift. Yet a person will often feel the spiritual excitement that makes the gift seem real only when certain intellectual beliefs or ideas strike home.³⁵⁶ These ideas will therefore be essential to that person's religion. In other words, over-beliefs of various kinds are absolutely indispensable. We should treat them with tenderness and tolerance, as long as they are not intolerant themselves. As I have written elsewhere, the most interesting and valuable things about a person are usually their over-beliefs.

Disregarding the over-beliefs, and confining ourselves to what is common and generic, we have in the fact that the conscious person is continuous with a wider self through which saving experiences come,³⁵⁷ a positive content of religious experience which, it seems to me, is literally and objectively true as far as it goes. If I now proceed to state my own hypothesis about the farther limits of this extension of our personality, I shall be offering my own over-belief—though I know it will appear a sorry under-belief to some of you—for which I can only bespeak the same indulgence which in a converse case I should accord to yours.

Let us set aside over-beliefs and focus on what is common and general. We are left with the fact that the conscious person is connected to a wider self through which saving experiences come.³⁵⁷ This is a positive part of religious experience that, it seems to me, is literally and objectively true as far as it goes. If I now state my own hypothesis about how far our personality extends, I will be offering my own over-belief. Though I know it will seem a sorry under-belief to some of you, I can only ask you to be as tolerant of it as I would be of yours in the opposite case.

The further limits of our being plunge, it seems to me, into an altogether other dimension of existence from the sensible and merely “understandable” world. Name it the mystical region, or the supernatural region, whichever you choose. So far as our ideal impulses originate in this region (and most of them do originate in it, for we find them possessing us in a way for which we cannot articulately account), we belong to it in a more intimate sense than that in which we belong to the visible world, for we belong in the most intimate sense wherever our ideals belong. Yet the unseen region in question is not merely ideal, for it produces effects in this world. When we commune with it, work is actually done upon our finite personality, for we are turned into new men, and consequences in the way of conduct follow in the natural world upon our regenerative change.³⁵⁸ But that which produces effects within another reality must be termed a reality itself, so I feel as if we had no philosophic excuse for calling the unseen or mystical world unreal.

It seems to me that the farthest reaches of our being extend into an entirely different dimension of existence. This dimension is beyond the world we perceive and can simply “understand.” Call it the mystical region or the supernatural region, whichever you choose. Most of our impulses toward our ideals come from this region. We find ourselves possessed by them in ways we cannot clearly explain. To the extent that these impulses come from this region, we belong to it more intimately than to the visible world. For we belong most intimately wherever our ideals belong. Yet this unseen region is not merely an ideal, because it produces effects in this world. When we commune with it, it actually acts upon our finite personalities. We become new people, and our inner renewal leads to changes in our conduct in the natural world.³⁵⁸ But anything that produces effects within another reality must itself be called real. So I feel we have no philosophical excuse for calling the unseen or mystical world unreal.

God is the natural appellation, for us Christians at least, for the supreme reality, so I will call this higher part of the universe by the name of God.³⁵⁹ We and God have business with each other; and in opening ourselves to his influence our deepest destiny is fulfilled. The universe, at those parts of it which our personal being constitutes, takes a turn genuinely for the worse or for the better in proportion as each one of us fulfills or evades God's demands. As far as this goes I probably have you with me, for I only translate into schematic language what I may call the instinctive belief of mankind: God is real since he produces real effects.

For us Christians at least, God is the natural name for the supreme reality. So I will call this higher part of the universe God.³⁵⁹ We and God have dealings with each other. By opening ourselves to his influence, we fulfill our deepest destiny. Our personal lives are parts of the universe. Those parts genuinely change for the worse or the better, depending on whether each of us evades or fulfills God's demands. So far, you probably agree with me. I am only putting what I may call humanity's instinctive belief into a simple formula: God is real because he produces real effects.

The real effects in question, so far as I have as yet admitted them, are exerted on the personal centres of energy of the various subjects, but the spontaneous faith of most of the subjects is that they embrace a wider sphere than this. Most religious men believe (or “know,” if they be mystical) that not only they themselves, but the whole universe of beings to whom the God is present, are secure in his parental hands. There is a sense, a dimension, they are sure, in which we are all saved, in spite of the gates of hell and all adverse terrestrial appearances. God's existence is the guarantee of an ideal order that shall be permanently preserved. This world may indeed, as science assures us, some day burn up or freeze; but if it is part of his order, the old ideals are sure to be brought elsewhere to fruition, so that where God is, tragedy is only provisional and partial, and shipwreck and dissolution are not the absolutely final things. Only when this farther step of faith concerning God is taken, and remote objective consequences are predicted, does religion, as it seems to me, get wholly free from the first immediate subjective experience, and bring a real hypothesis into play. A good hypothesis in science must have other properties than those of the phenomenon it is immediately invoked to explain, otherwise it is not prolific enough. God, meaning only what enters into the religious man's experience of union, falls short of being an hypothesis of this more useful order. He needs to enter into wider cosmic relations in order to justify the subject's absolute confidence and peace.

The real effects I have admitted so far act on the personal centers of energy of the people involved. But most of them naturally believe that these effects extend further. Most religious people believe that they themselves are secure in God's parental hands. Mystics would say they “know” this. Most also believe that all beings to whom God is present are secure in his hands. They are sure that, in some sense or dimension, we are all saved. This is true despite the gates of hell and all appearances to the contrary on earth. God's existence guarantees an ideal order that will be preserved forever. Science assures us that this world may someday burn up or freeze. But if this world is part of God's order, the old ideals will surely come to fulfillment elsewhere. So where God is, tragedy is only temporary and partial. Disaster and destruction are not the absolutely final things. Only by taking this further step of faith about God and predicting distant consequences in the world beyond our experience does religion, it seems to me, fully move beyond the first immediate personal experience. Only then does religion bring a real hypothesis into play. A good scientific hypothesis must have implications beyond the phenomenon it was first meant to explain. Otherwise, it is not productive enough. If God means only what enters into a religious person's experience of union, God falls short of being a hypothesis of this more useful kind. God needs to enter into wider relations with the universe to justify that person's absolute confidence and peace.

That the God with whom, starting from the hither side of our own extra-marginal self, we come at its remoter margin into commerce should be the absolute world-ruler, is of course a very considerable over-belief. Over-belief as it is, though, it is an article of almost every one's religion. Most of us pretend in some way to prop it upon our philosophy, but the philosophy itself is really propped upon this faith. What is this but to say that Religion, in her fullest exercise of function, is not a mere illumination of facts already elsewhere given, not a mere passion, like love, which views things in a rosier light. It is indeed that, as we have seen abundantly. But it is something more, namely, a postulator of new facts as well. The world interpreted religiously is not the materialistic world over again, with an altered expression; it must have, over and above the altered expression, a natural constitution different at some point from that which a materialistic world would have. It must be such that different events can be expected in it, different conduct must be required.

We begin from the nearer side of our own extra-marginal self and come into contact with God at its farther edge. To claim that this God is the absolute ruler of the world is, of course, a considerable over-belief. Yet, although it is an over-belief, this claim is an article of almost everyone’s religion. Most of us claim to support this belief in some way through our philosophy. But our philosophy itself is really supported by this faith. What does this mean? It means that religion, at its fullest, does more than shed light on facts already established elsewhere. It is not merely a passion, like love, that sees things in a rosier light. Religion is indeed that, as we have seen abundantly. But it is something more. It also asserts new facts. The world understood through religion is not simply the materialistic world seen in a different light. Beyond its altered appearance, it must have a natural constitution that differs at some point from a materialistic world. It must be a world in which different events can be expected and different conduct is required.

This thoroughly “pragmatic” view of religion has usually been taken as a matter of course by common men. They have interpolated divine miracles into the field of nature, they have built a heaven out beyond the grave. It is only transcendentalist metaphysicians who think that, without adding any concrete details to Nature, or subtracting any, but by simply calling it the expression of absolute spirit, you make it more divine just as it stands.

Ordinary people have usually taken this thoroughly “pragmatic” view of religion for granted. They have added divine miracles to nature and created a heaven beyond the grave. Only transcendentalist philosophers think you can make nature more divine just as it is by calling it the expression of absolute spirit, without adding or taking away any concrete details.

I believe the pragmatic way of taking religion to be the deeper way. It gives it body as well as soul, it makes it claim, as everything real must claim, some characteristic realm of fact as its very own. What the more characteristically divine facts are, apart from the actual inflow of energy in the faith-state and the prayer-state, I know not. But the over-belief on which I am ready to make my personal venture is that they exist. The whole drift of my education goes to persuade me that the world of our present consciousness is only one out of many worlds of consciousness that exist, and that those other worlds must contain experiences which have a meaning for our life also; and that although in the main their experiences and those of this world keep discrete, yet the two become continuous at certain points, and higher energies filter in. By being faithful in my poor measure to this over-belief, I seem to myself to keep more sane and true. I can, of course, put myself into the sectarian scientist's attitude, and imagine vividly that the world of sensations and of scientific laws and objects may be all. But whenever I do this, I hear that inward monitor of which W. K. Clifford once wrote, whispering the word “bosh!” Humbug is humbug, even though it bear the scientific name, and the total expression of human experience, as I view it objectively, invincibly urges me beyond the narrow “scientific” bounds. Assuredly, the real world is of a different temperament,—more intricately built than physical science allows. So my objective and my subjective conscience both hold me to the over-belief which I express. Who knows whether the faithfulness of individuals here below to their own poor over-beliefs may not actually help God in turn to be more effectively faithful to his own greater tasks?

I believe the pragmatic approach to religion is the deeper one. It gives religion a body as well as a soul. It makes religion claim a distinct realm of facts as its own, as everything real must. I do not know what the more distinctly divine facts are, apart from the actual inflow of energy during faith and prayer. But the over-belief on which I am ready to make my personal venture is that such facts exist. Everything in my education has led me to believe that the world of our present consciousness is only one of many worlds of consciousness. Those other worlds must also contain experiences that have meaning for our lives. For the most part, their experiences and those of this world remain separate. Yet the two become connected at certain points, and higher energies filter in. By staying faithful, in my limited way, to this over-belief, I feel that I remain more sane and true. I can, of course, adopt the attitude of the sectarian scientist. I can vividly imagine that the world of sensations, scientific laws, and objects may be all there is. But whenever I do this, I hear the inner voice W. K. Clifford once wrote about, whispering “bosh!” Humbug is humbug, even when it goes by a scientific name. And the full range of human experience, as I view it objectively, irresistibly urges me beyond those narrow “scientific” bounds. Surely the real world is different in character and more intricately built than physical science allows. So both my objective and my subjective conscience hold me to the over-belief I have expressed. Who knows whether people here below, by being faithful to their own limited over-beliefs, may actually help God, in turn, to be more effectively faithful to his own greater tasks?