The Faith Of An Agnostic

THE FAITH OF AN AGNOSTIC OB, FIRST ESSAYS IX RATIONALISM BY G. G. GREENWOOD GEORGE FORESTER ClBSPKD FOn THE RATIONALIST TBKSS ASSOCIATION, LT Second and Revised Edition LONDON WATTS ft CO., 17 JOHNSONS COURT, FLEET STREET, E. C. 4, 1919 ouros H-lv olcrai n ei W OVK fi w5, -yw 5, axrTrep of oi c of5a, o oto J. a. t, otKa yovv rovrov r e 0 u p riia at-r TOIT ro urre 0j clvo, TI A UT o 5a ot 5 ofouai fitrfyai. This man thinks that he knows, though he knows nothing but I neither know nor think that I know. I geem, then, to be in some small way wiser than he, m this very point, that with regard to those thing- which I do not know neither do I think that I know them. PLATO, Apology of Socrates, ch. vi. Thou art the King, Truth we bend the knee To thee we own thy wondrous sovranty And still thy praises in our songs well sing, Bidding all people with blithe minstrelsy Go forth, and welcome the eternal King. SAMUEL WADDINGTON, The New Epiphany. CONTENTS FROM PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY l II. THE OLD ENIGMA - - - 32 III. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION ..... 55 IV. A MAN-MADE MARVEL - - 81 V. AN AFTER-LIFE - - - - 91 VI. THE IMMATERIAL - - - - 129 VII. THE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE VEIL - 157 VIII. NOT WHAT is SATISFYING, BUT WHAT is TRUE - - - - - 178 IX. THE PROBLEM OF THE WILL - - 196 X. MR. MALLOCK ON THE CO-EXISTENCE OF INCOMPATIBLE TRUTHS - - 252 XI. SOCIAL EVOLUTION - - - 263 XII. AN OBJECT-LESSON - - - 285 XIII. BEVELATION AND CRUELTY - - 319 APPENDIX. SPIRITUALISM - - - 329 FROM THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION The mind of an ordinary man is in so imperfect a condition that it requires a creed that is to say, a theory concerning the unknown and the unknowable, in which it may place its deluded faith or bo at rest. But, whatever the creed may be, it should be one which is on a level with the intellect, and which inquiry will strengthen, not destroy. As for minds of the highest order, they must ever remain in suspension of judgment and in doubt. Not only do they reject the absurd traditions of the Jews, but also the most ingenious attempts which have been made to explain, on rational and moral grounds, the origin and purpose of the Universe. Intouso and long-continued labour reveals to them this alone that there are regions of thought so subtle and so sublime that the human mind is unable therein to expand its wings, to exercise its strength. WIN WOOD READE, Tlie Martyrdom of Man 1892, p. 179. 14 To my sons when they are twenty years old was the dedication prefixed by Baudot to his celebrated romance. To my children when they are old enough to think nay, to all children who are old enough to think, I would fain dedicate these first Essays in Rationalism. I remember indeed the sage counsel of Schopenhauer No child under the age of fifteen should receive instruction in subjects which may possibly be the vehicle of serious error, such as philosophy, religion, or any other branch ix x PBBEACE of knowledge where it is necessary to take large views because wrong notions imbibed early can seldom be rooted out, and of all the intellectual faculties judgment is the last to arrive at maturity. 1 But, alas Custom and Convention have proved too strong, and the childs receptive mind has been crammed with beliefs which have no more foundation than the fairy-tales and demonology of old times. Such is the rule of our society, a rule which very few have theaudacity to disobey. Here and there are to be found husband and wife in perfect accord on these subjects who resolve that no creeds, no stories of the supernatural, shall be forced upon their helpless children, and that judgment shall be allowed to ripen before it is asked to consider the doctrines and dogmas of the current theology. But how well-nigh impossible is the task they set themselves t And how must they suffer from the misunderstanding, ridicule, and reproaches of those among whom they live The children must almost of necessity be kept from school...