第7章
Lethim，forinstance，comparetheclassesofEuropewiththecastesofIndia。Therearistocracyisfarmoreawful，becauseitisfarmoreintellectual。Itisseriouslyfeltthatthescaleofclassesisascaleofspiritualvalues；thatthebakerisbetterthanthebutcherinaninvisibleandsacredsense。ButnoChristianity，noteventhemostignorantorperverse，eversuggestedthatabaronetwasbetterthanabutcherinthatsacredsense。NoChristianity，howeverignorantorextravagant，eversuggestedthatadukewouldnotbedamned。Inpagansocietytheremayhavebeen（Idonotknow）
somesuchseriousdivisionbetweenthefreemanandtheslave。
ButinChristiansocietywehavealwaysthoughtthegentlemanasortofjoke，thoughIadmitthatinsomegreatcrusadesandcouncilsheearnedtherighttobecalledapracticaljoke。
ButweinEuropeneverreallyandattherootofoursoulstookaristocracyseriously。Itisonlyanoccasionalnon-Europeanalien（suchasDr。OscarLevy，theonlyintelligentNietzscheite）
whocanevenmanageforamomenttotakearistocracyseriously。
Itmaybeamerepatrioticbias，thoughIdonotthinkso，butitseemstomethattheEnglisharistocracyisnotonlythetype，butisthecrownandflowerofallactualaristocracies；ithasalltheoligarchicalvirtuesaswellasallthedefects。Itiscasual，itiskind，itiscourageousinobviousmatters；butithasonegreatmeritthatoverlapseventhese。ThegreatandveryobviousmeritoftheEnglisharistocracyisthatnobodycouldpossiblytakeitseriously。
Inshort，Ihadspelledoutslowly，asusual，theneedforanequallawinUtopia；and，asusual，IfoundthatChristianityhadbeentherebeforeme。ThewholehistoryofmyUtopiahasthesameamusingsadness。Iwasalwaysrushingoutofmyarchitecturalstudywithplansforanewturretonlytofinditsittingupthereinthesunlight，shining，andathousandyearsold。Forme，intheancientandpartlyinthemodernsense，Godansweredtheprayer，"Preventus，OLord，inallourdoings。"Withoutvanity，IreallythinktherewasamomentwhenIcouldhaveinventedthemarriagevow（asaninstitution）outofmyownhead；butIdiscovered，withasigh，thatithadbeeninventedalready。But，sinceitwouldbetoolongabusinesstoshowhow，factbyfactandinchbyinch，myownconceptionofUtopiawasonlyansweredintheNewJerusalem，Iwilltakethisonecaseofthematterofmarriageasindicatingtheconvergingdrift，Imaysaytheconvergingcrashofalltherest。
WhentheordinaryopponentsofSocialismtalkaboutimpossibilitiesandalterationsinhumannaturetheyalwaysmissanimportantdistinction。Inmodernidealconceptionsofsocietytherearesomedesiresthatarepossiblynotattainable：buttherearesomedesiresthatarenotdesirable。Thatallmenshouldliveinequallybeautifulhousesisadreamthatmayormaynotbeattained。
Butthatallmenshouldliveinthesamebeautifulhouseisnotadreamatall；itisanightmare。Thatamanshouldlovealloldwomenisanidealthatmaynotbeattainable。Butthatamanshouldregardalloldwomenexactlyasheregardshismotherisnotonlyanunattainableideal，butanidealwhichoughtnottobeattained。
Idonotknowifthereaderagreeswithmeintheseexamples；
butIwilladdtheexamplewhichhasalwaysaffectedmemost。
IcouldneverconceiveortolerateanyUtopiawhichdidnotleavetomethelibertyforwhichIchieflycare，thelibertytobindmyself。
Completeanarchywouldnotmerelymakeitimpossibletohaveanydisciplineorfidelity；itwouldalsomakeitimpossibletohaveanyfun。Totakeanobviousinstance，itwouldnotbeworthwhiletobetifabetwerenotbinding。Thedissolutionofallcontractswouldnotonlyruinmoralitybutspoilsport。
Nowbettingandsuchsportsareonlythestuntedandtwistedshapesoftheoriginalinstinctofmanforadventureandromance，ofwhichmuchhasbeensaidinthesepages。Andtheperils，rewards，punishments，andfulfilmentsofanadventuremustbereal，ortheadventureisonlyashiftingandheartlessnightmare。IfIbetImustbemadetopay，orthereisnopoetryinbetting。IfIchallengeImustbemadetofight，orthereisnopoetryinchallenging。
IfIvowtobefaithfulImustbecursedwhenIamunfaithful，orthereisnofuninvowing。Youcouldnotevenmakeafairytalefromtheexperiencesofamanwho，whenhewasswallowedbyawhale，mightfindhimselfatthetopoftheEiffelTower，orwhenhewasturnedintoafrogmightbegintobehavelikeaflamingo。
Forthepurposeevenofthewildestromanceresultsmustbereal；
resultsmustbeirrevocable。Christianmarriageisthegreatexampleofarealandirrevocableresult；andthatiswhyitisthechiefsubjectandcentreofallourromanticwriting。
AndthisismylastinstanceofthethingsthatIshouldask，andaskimperatively，ofanysocialparadise；Ishouldasktobekepttomybargain，tohavemyoathsandengagementstakenseriously；
IshouldaskUtopiatoavengemyhonouronmyself。
AllmymodernUtopianfriendslookateachotherratherdoubtfully，fortheirultimatehopeisthedissolutionofallspecialties。
ButagainIseemtohear，likeakindofecho，ananswerfrombeyondtheworld。"Youwillhaverealobligations，andthereforerealadventureswhenyougettomyUtopia。Butthehardestobligationandthesteepestadventureistogetthere。"
VIIITHEROMANCEOFORTHODOXY
Itiscustomarytocomplainofthebustleandstrenuousnessofourepoch。Butintruththechiefmarkofourepochisaprofoundlazinessandfatigue；andthefactisthatthereallazinessisthecauseoftheapparentbustle。Takeonequiteexternalcase；thestreetsarenoisywithtaxicabsandmotorcars；
butthisisnotduetohumanactivitybuttohumanrepose。
Therewouldbelessbustleifthereweremoreactivity，ifpeopleweresimplywalkingabout。Ourworldwouldbemoresilentifitweremorestrenuous。Andthiswhichistrueoftheapparentphysicalbustleistruealsooftheapparentbustleoftheintellect。
Mostofthemachineryofmodernlanguageislabour-savingmachinery；
anditsavesmentallabourverymuchmorethanitought。
Scientificphrasesareusedlikescientificwheelsandpiston-rodstomakeswifterandsmootheryetthepathofthecomfortable。
Longwordsgorattlingbyuslikelongrailwaytrains。Weknowtheyarecarryingthousandswhoaretootiredortooindolenttowalkandthinkforthemselves。Itisagoodexercisetotryforonceinawaytoexpressanyopiniononeholdsinwordsofonesyllable。
Ifyousay"Thesocialutilityoftheindeterminatesentenceisrecognizedbyallcriminologistsasapartofoursociologicalevolutiontowardsamorehumaneandscientificviewofpunishment，"
youcangoontalkinglikethatforhourswithhardlyamovementofthegraymatterinsideyourskull。Butifyoubegin"IwishJonestogotogaolandBrowntosaywhenJonesshallcomeout，"
youwilldiscover，withathrillofhorror，thatyouareobligedtothink。Thelongwordsarenotthehardwords，itistheshortwordsthatarehard。Thereismuchmoremetaphysicalsubtletyintheword"damn"thanintheword"degeneration。"
Buttheselongcomfortablewordsthatsavemodernpeoplethetoilofreasoninghaveoneparticularaspectinwhichtheyareespeciallyruinousandconfusing。Thisdifficultyoccurswhenthesamelongwordisusedindifferentconnectionstomeanquitedifferentthings。
Thus，totakeawell-knowninstance，theword"idealist"hasonemeaningasapieceofphilosophyandquiteanotherasapieceofmoralrhetoric。Inthesamewaythescientificmaterialistshavehadjustreasontocomplainofpeoplemixingup"materialist"
asatermofcosmologywith"materialist"asamoraltaunt。
So，totakeacheaperinstance，themanwhohates"progressives"
inLondonalwayscallshimselfa"progressive"inSouthAfrica。
Aconfusionquiteasunmeaningasthishasariseninconnectionwiththeword"liberal"asappliedtoreligionandasappliedtopoliticsandsociety。ItisoftensuggestedthatallLiberalsoughttobefreethinkers，becausetheyoughttoloveeverythingthatisfree。YoumightjustaswellsaythatallidealistsoughttobeHighChurchmen，becausetheyoughttoloveeverythingthatishigh。
YoumightaswellsaythatLowChurchmenoughttolikeLowMass，orthatBroadChurchmenoughttolikebroadjokes。Thethingisamereaccidentofwords。InactualmodernEuropeafreethinkerdoesnotmeanamanwhothinksforhimself。Itmeansamanwho，havingthoughtforhimself，hascometooneparticularclassofconclusions，thematerialoriginofphenomena，theimpossibilityofmiracles，theimprobabilityofpersonalimmortalityandsoon。
Andnoneoftheseideasareparticularlyliberal。Nay，indeedalmostalltheseideasaredefinitelyilliberal，asitisthepurposeofthischaptertoshow。
InthefewfollowingpagesIproposetopointoutasrapidlyaspossiblethatoneverysingleoneofthemattersmoststronglyinsistedonbyliberalisersoftheologytheireffectuponsocialpracticewouldbedefinitelyilliberal。Almosteverycontemporaryproposaltobringfreedomintothechurchissimplyaproposaltobringtyrannyintotheworld。Forfreeingthechurchnowdoesnotevenmeanfreeingitinalldirections。Itmeansfreeingthatpeculiarsetofdogmaslooselycalledscientific，dogmasofmonism，ofpantheism，orofArianism，orofnecessity。
Andeveryoneofthese（andwewilltakethemonebyone）
canbeshowntobethenaturalallyofoppression。Infact，itisaremarkablecircumstance（indeednotsoveryremarkablewhenonecomestothinkofit）thatmostthingsarethealliesofoppression。
Thereisonlyonethingthatcannevergopastacertainpointinitsalliancewithoppression——andthatisorthodoxy。Imay，itistrue，twistorthodoxysoaspartlytojustifyatyrant。
ButIcaneasilymakeupaGermanphilosophytojustifyhimentirely。
Nowletustakeinordertheinnovationsthatarethenotesofthenewtheologyorthemodernistchurch。Weconcludedthelastchapterwiththediscoveryofoneofthem。Theverydoctrinewhichiscalledthemostold-fashionedwasfoundtobetheonlysafeguardofthenewdemocraciesoftheearth。Thedoctrineseeminglymostunpopularwasfoundtobetheonlystrengthofthepeople。
Inshort，wefoundthattheonlylogicalnegationofoligarchywasintheaffirmationoforiginalsin。Soitis，Imaintain，inalltheothercases。
Itakethemostobviousinstancefirst，thecaseofmiracles。
Forsomeextraordinaryreason，thereisafixednotionthatitismoreliberaltodisbelieveinmiraclesthantobelieveinthem。Why，Icannotimagine，norcananybodytellme。
Forsomeinconceivablecausea"broad"or"liberal"clergymanalwaysmeansamanwhowishesatleasttodiminishthenumberofmiracles；
itnevermeansamanwhowishestoincreasethatnumber。ItalwaysmeansamanwhoisfreetodisbelievethatChristcameoutofHisgrave；
itnevermeansamanwhoisfreetobelievethathisownauntcameoutofhergrave。ItiscommontofindtroubleinaparishbecausetheparishpriestcannotadmitthatSt。Peterwalkedonwater；
yethowrarelydowefindtroubleinaparishbecausetheclergymansaysthathisfatherwalkedontheSerpentine？Andthisisnotbecause（astheswiftsecularistdebaterwouldimmediatelyretort）
miraclescannotbebelievedinourexperience。Itisnotbecause"miraclesdonothappen，"asinthedogmawhichMatthewArnoldrecitedwithsimplefaith。MoresupernaturalthingsareALLEGEDtohavehappenedinourtimethanwouldhavebeenpossibleeightyyearsago。
Menofsciencebelieveinsuchmarvelsmuchmorethantheydid：
themostperplexing，andevenhorrible，prodigiesofmindandspiritarealwaysbeingunveiledinmodernpsychology。Thingsthattheoldscienceatleastwouldfranklyhaverejectedasmiraclesarehourlybeingassertedbythenewscience。Theonlythingwhichisstillold-fashionedenoughtorejectmiraclesistheNewTheology。
Butintruththisnotionthatitis"free"todenymiracleshasnothingtodowiththeevidencefororagainstthem。Itisalifelessverbalprejudiceofwhichtheoriginallifeandbeginningwasnotinthefreedomofthought，butsimplyinthedogmaofmaterialism。
ThemanofthenineteenthcenturydidnotdisbelieveintheResurrectionbecausehisliberalChristianityallowedhimtodoubtit。
Hedisbelievedinitbecausehisverystrictmaterialismdidnotallowhimtobelieveit。Tennyson，averytypicalnineteenthcenturyman，utteredoneoftheinstinctivetruismsofhiscontemporarieswhenhesaidthattherewasfaithintheirhonestdoubt。Therewasindeed。
Thosewordshaveaprofoundandevenahorribletruth。Intheirdoubtofmiraclestherewasafaithinafixedandgodlessfate；
adeepandsincerefaithintheincurableroutineofthecosmos。
Thedoubtsoftheagnosticwereonlythedogmasofthemonist。
OfthefactandevidenceofthesupernaturalIwillspeakafterwards。Hereweareonlyconcernedwiththisclearpoint；
thatinsofarastheliberalideaoffreedomcanbesaidtobeoneithersideinthediscussionaboutmiracles，itisobviouslyonthesideofmiracles。Reformor（intheonlytolerablesense）
progressmeanssimplythegradualcontrolofmatterbymind。
Amiraclesimplymeanstheswiftcontrolofmatterbymind。Ifyouwishtofeedthepeople，youmaythinkthatfeedingthemmiraculouslyinthewildernessisimpossible——butyoucannotthinkitilliberal。
Ifyoureallywantpoorchildrentogototheseaside，youcannotthinkitilliberalthattheyshouldgothereonflyingdragons；
youcanonlythinkitunlikely。Aholiday，likeLiberalism，onlymeansthelibertyofman。AmiracleonlymeansthelibertyofGod。
Youmayconscientiouslydenyeitherofthem，butyoucannotcallyourdenialatriumphoftheliberalidea。TheCatholicChurchbelievedthatmanandGodbothhadasortofspiritualfreedom。
Calvinismtookawaythefreedomfromman，butleftittoGod。
ScientificmaterialismbindstheCreatorHimself；itchainsupGodastheApocalypsechainedthedevil。Itleavesnothingfreeintheuniverse。Andthosewhoassistthisprocessarecalledthe"liberaltheologians。"
This，asIsay，isthelightestandmostevidentcase。
Theassumptionthatthereissomethinginthedoubtofmiraclesakintoliberalityorreformisliterallytheoppositeofthetruth。
Ifamancannotbelieveinmiraclesthereisanendofthematter；
heisnotparticularlyliberal，butheisperfectlyhonourableandlogical，whicharemuchbetterthings。Butifhecanbelieveinmiracles，heiscertainlythemoreliberalfordoingso；
becausetheymeanfirst，thefreedomofthesoul，andsecondly，itscontroloverthetyrannyofcircumstance。Sometimesthistruthisignoredinasingularlynaiveway，evenbytheablestmen。
Forinstance，Mr。BernardShawspeakswithheartyold-fashionedcontemptfortheideaofmiracles，asiftheywereasortofbreachoffaithonthepartofnature：heseemsstrangelyunconsciousthatmiraclesareonlythefinalflowersofhisownfavouritetree，thedoctrineoftheomnipotenceofwill。Justinthesamewayhecallsthedesireforimmortalityapaltryselfishness，forgettingthathehasjustcalledthedesireforlifeahealthyandheroicselfishness。
Howcanitbenobletowishtomakeone’slifeinfiniteandyetmeantowishtomakeitimmortal？No，ifitisdesirablethatmanshouldtriumphoverthecrueltyofnatureorcustom，thenmiraclesarecertainlydesirable；wewilldiscussafterwardswhethertheyarepossible。
ButImustpassontothelargercasesofthiscuriouserror；
thenotionthatthe"liberalising"ofreligioninsomewayhelpstheliberationoftheworld。Thesecondexampleofitcanbefoundinthequestionofpantheism——orratherofacertainmodernattitudewhichisoftencalledimmanentism，andwhichoftenisBuddhism。
ButthisissomuchmoredifficultamatterthatImustapproachitwithrathermorepreparation。
Thethingssaidmostconfidentlybyadvancedpersonstocrowdedaudiencesaregenerallythosequiteoppositetothefact；
itisactuallyourtruismsthatareuntrue。Hereisacase。
Thereisaphraseoffacileliberalityutteredagainandagainatethicalsocietiesandparliamentsofreligion："thereligionsoftheearthdifferinritesandforms，buttheyarethesameinwhattheyteach。"Itisfalse；itistheoppositeofthefact。
Thereligionsoftheearthdonotgreatlydifferinritesandforms；
theydogreatlydifferinwhattheyteach。Itisasifamanweretosay，"DonotbemisledbythefactthattheCHURCHTIMES
andtheFREETHINKERlookutterlydifferent，thatoneispaintedonvellumandtheothercarvedonmarble，thatoneistriangularandtheotherhectagonal；readthemandyouwillseethattheysaythesamething。"Thetruthis，ofcourse，thattheyarealikeineverythingexceptinthefactthattheydon’tsaythesamething。
AnatheiststockbrokerinSurbitonlooksexactlylikeaSwedenborgianstockbrokerinWimbledon。YoumaywalkroundandroundthemandsubjectthemtothemostpersonalandoffensivestudywithoutseeinganythingSwedenborgianinthehatoranythingparticularlygodlessintheumbrella。Itisexactlyintheirsoulsthattheyaredivided。Sothetruthisthatthedifficultyofallthecreedsoftheearthisnotasallegedinthischeapmaxim：thattheyagreeinmeaning，butdifferinmachinery。Itisexactlytheopposite。
Theyagreeinmachinery；almosteverygreatreligiononearthworkswiththesameexternalmethods，withpriests，scriptures，altars，swornbrotherhoods，specialfeasts。Theyagreeinthemodeofteaching；whattheydifferaboutisthethingtobetaught。
PaganoptimistsandEasternpessimistswouldbothhavetemples，justasLiberalsandTorieswouldbothhavenewspapers。Creedsthatexisttodestroyeachotherbothhavescriptures，justasarmiesthatexisttodestroyeachotherbothhaveguns。
ThegreatexampleofthisallegedidentityofallhumanreligionsistheallegedspiritualidentityofBuddhismandChristianity。
Thosewhoadoptthistheorygenerallyavoidtheethicsofmostothercreeds，except，indeed，Confucianism，whichtheylikebecauseitisnotacreed。ButtheyarecautiousintheirpraisesofMahommedanism，generallyconfiningthemselvestoimposingitsmoralityonlyupontherefreshmentofthelowerclasses。
TheyseldomsuggesttheMahommedanviewofmarriage（forwhichthereisagreatdealtobesaid），andtowardsThugsandfetishworshipperstheirattitudemayevenbecalledcold。ButinthecaseofthegreatreligionofGautamatheyfeelsincerelyasimilarity。
Studentsofpopularscience，likeMr。Blatchford，arealwaysinsistingthatChristianityandBuddhismareverymuchalike，especiallyBuddhism。Thisisgenerallybelieved，andIbelieveditmyselfuntilIreadabookgivingthereasonsforit。
Thereasonswereoftwokinds：resemblancesthatmeantnothingbecausetheywerecommontoallhumanity，andresemblanceswhichwerenotresemblancesatall。Theauthorsolemnlyexplainedthatthetwocreedswerealikeinthingsinwhichallcreedsarealike，orelsehedescribedthemasalikeinsomepointinwhichtheyarequiteobviouslydifferent。Thus，asacaseofthefirstclass，hesaidthatbothChristandBuddhawerecalledbythedivinevoicecomingoutofthesky，asifyouwouldexpectthedivinevoicetocomeoutofthecoal-cellar。Or，again，itwasgravelyurgedthatthesetwoEasternteachers，byasingularcoincidence，bothhadtodowiththewashingoffeet。Youmightaswellsaythatitwasaremarkablecoincidencethattheybothhadfeettowash。Andtheotherclassofsimilaritieswerethosewhichsimplywerenotsimilar。
ThusthisreconcilerofthetworeligionsdrawsearnestattentiontothefactthatatcertainreligiousfeaststherobeoftheLamaisrentinpiecesoutofrespect，andtheremnantshighlyvalued。
Butthisisthereverseofaresemblance，forthegarmentsofChristwerenotrentinpiecesoutofrespect，butoutofderision；
andtheremnantswerenothighlyvaluedexceptforwhattheywouldfetchintheragshops。Itisratherlikealludingtotheobviousconnectionbetweenthetwoceremoniesofthesword：whenittapsaman’sshoulder，andwhenitcutsoffhishead。Itisnotatallsimilarfortheman。Thesescrapsofpuerilepedantrywouldindeedmatterlittleifitwerenotalsotruethattheallegedphilosophicalresemblancesarealsoofthesetwokinds，eitherprovingtoomuchornotprovinganything。ThatBuddhismapprovesofmercyorofself-restraintisnottosaythatitisspeciallylikeChristianity；
itisonlytosaythatitisnotutterlyunlikeallhumanexistence。
Buddhistsdisapproveintheoryofcrueltyorexcessbecauseallsanehumanbeingsdisapproveintheoryofcrueltyorexcess。
ButtosaythatBuddhismandChristianitygivethesamephilosophyofthesethingsissimplyfalse。Allhumanitydoesagreethatweareinanetofsin。Mostofhumanityagreesthatthereissomewayout。
Butastowhatisthewayout，IdonotthinkthattherearetwoinstitutionsintheuniversewhichcontradicteachothersoflatlyasBuddhismandChristianity。
EvenwhenIthought，withmostotherwell-informed，thoughunscholarly，people，thatBuddhismandChristianitywerealike，therewasonethingaboutthemthatalwaysperplexedme；
Imeanthestartlingdifferenceintheirtypeofreligiousart。
Idonotmeaninitstechnicalstyleofrepresentation，butinthethingsthatitwasmanifestlymeanttorepresent。
NotwoidealscouldbemoreoppositethanaChristiansaintinaGothiccathedralandaBuddhistsaintinaChinesetemple。
Theoppositionexistsateverypoint；butperhapstheshorteststatementofitisthattheBuddhistsaintalwayshashiseyesshut，whiletheChristiansaintalwayshasthemverywideopen。
TheBuddhistsainthasasleekandharmoniousbody，buthiseyesareheavyandsealedwithsleep。Themediaevalsaint’sbodyiswastedtoitscrazybones，buthiseyesarefrightfullyalive。
Therecannotbeanyrealcommunityofspiritbetweenforcesthatproducedsymbolssodifferentasthat。Grantedthatbothimagesareextravagances，areperversionsofthepurecreed，itmustbearealdivergencewhichcouldproducesuchoppositeextravagances。
TheBuddhistislookingwithapeculiarintentnessinwards。
TheChristianisstaringwithafranticintentnessoutwards。Ifwefollowthatcluesteadilyweshallfindsomeinterestingthings。
AshorttimeagoMrs。Besant，inaninterestingessay，announcedthattherewasonlyonereligionintheworld，thatallfaithswereonlyversionsorperversionsofit，andthatshewasquitepreparedtosaywhatitwas。AccordingtoMrs。BesantthisuniversalChurchissimplytheuniversalself。Itisthedoctrinethatwearereallyalloneperson；thattherearenorealwallsofindividualitybetweenmanandman。IfImayputitso，shedoesnottellustoloveourneighbours；shetellsustobeourneighbours。
ThatisMrs。Besant’sthoughtfulandsuggestivedescriptionofthereligioninwhichallmenmustfindthemselvesinagreement。
AndIneverheardofanysuggestioninmylifewithwhichImoreviolentlydisagree。IwanttolovemyneighbournotbecauseheisI，butpreciselybecauseheisnotI。Iwanttoadoretheworld，notasonelikesalooking-glass，becauseitisone’sself，butasonelovesawoman，becausesheisentirelydifferent。
Ifsoulsareseparateloveispossible。Ifsoulsareunitedloveisobviouslyimpossible。Amanmaybesaidlooselytolovehimself，buthecanhardlyfallinlovewithhimself，or，ifhedoes，itmustbeamonotonouscourtship。Iftheworldisfullofrealselves，theycanbereallyunselfishselves。ButuponMrs。Besant’sprinciplethewholecosmosisonlyoneenormouslyselfishperson。
ItisjustherethatBuddhismisonthesideofmodernpantheismandimmanence。AnditisjustherethatChristianityisonthesideofhumanityandlibertyandlove。Lovedesirespersonality；
thereforelovedesiresdivision。ItistheinstinctofChristianitytobegladthatGodhasbrokentheuniverseintolittlepieces，becausetheyarelivingpieces。Itisherinstincttosay"littlechildrenloveoneanother"ratherthantotellonelargepersontolovehimself。ThisistheintellectualabyssbetweenBuddhismandChristianity；thatfortheBuddhistorTheosophistpersonalityisthefallofman，fortheChristianitisthepurposeofGod，thewholepointofhiscosmicidea。Theworld-souloftheTheosophistsasksmantoloveitonlyinorderthatmanmaythrowhimselfintoit。
ButthedivinecentreofChristianityactuallythrewmanoutofitinorderthathemightloveit。Theorientaldeityislikeagiantwhoshouldhavelosthislegorhandandbealwaysseekingtofindit；
buttheChristianpowerislikesomegiantwhoinastrangegenerosityshouldcutoffhisrighthand，sothatitmightofitsownaccordshakehandswithhim。WecomebacktothesametirelessnotetouchingthenatureofChristianity；allmodernphilosophiesarechainswhichconnectandfetter；Christianityisaswordwhichseparatesandsetsfree。NootherphilosophymakesGodactuallyrejoiceintheseparationoftheuniverseintolivingsouls。
ButaccordingtoorthodoxChristianitythisseparationbetweenGodandmanissacred，becausethisiseternal。ThatamanmayloveGoditisnecessarythatthereshouldbenotonlyaGodtobeloved，butamantolovehim。Allthosevaguetheosophicalmindsforwhomtheuniverseisanimmensemelting-potareexactlythemindswhichshrinkinstinctivelyfromthatearthquakesayingofourGospels，whichdeclarethattheSonofGodcamenotwithpeacebutwithasunderingsword。Thesayingringsentirelytrueevenconsideredaswhatitobviouslyis；thestatementthatanymanwhopreachesrealloveisboundtobegethate。Itisastrueofdemocraticfraternityasadivinelove；shamloveendsincompromiseandcommonphilosophy；
butreallovehasalwaysendedinbloodshed。YetthereisanotherandyetmoreawfultruthbehindtheobviousmeaningofthisutteranceofourLord。AccordingtoHimselftheSonwasaswordseparatingbrotherandbrotherthattheyshouldforanaeonhateeachother。
ButtheFatheralsowasasword，whichintheblackbeginningseparatedbrotherandbrother，sothattheyshouldloveeachotheratlast。
Thisisthemeaningofthatalmostinsanehappinessintheeyesofthemediaevalsaintinthepicture。ThisisthemeaningofthesealedeyesofthesuperbBuddhistimage。TheChristiansaintishappybecausehehasverilybeencutofffromtheworld；
heisseparatefromthingsandisstaringattheminastonishment。
ButwhyshouldtheBuddhistsaintbeastonishedatthings？——
sincethereisreallyonlyonething，andthatbeingimpersonalcanhardlybeastonishedatitself。Therehavebeenmanypantheistpoemssuggestingwonder，butnoreallysuccessfulones。Thepantheistcannotwonder，forhecannotpraiseGodorpraiseanythingasreallydistinctfromhimself。Ourimmediatebusinesshere，however，iswiththeeffectofthisChristianadmiration（whichstrikesoutwards，towardsadeitydistinctfromtheworshipper）uponthegeneralneedforethicalactivityandsocialreform。Andsurelyitseffectissufficientlyobvious。Thereisnorealpossibilityofgettingoutofpantheism，anyspecialimpulsetomoralaction。
Forpantheismimpliesinitsnaturethatonethingisasgoodasanother；whereasactionimpliesinitsnaturethatonethingisgreatlypreferabletoanother。Swinburneinthehighsummerofhisscepticismtriedinvaintowrestlewiththisdifficulty。
In"SongsbeforeSunrise，"writtenundertheinspirationofGaribaldiandtherevoltofItalyheproclaimedthenewerreligionandthepurerGodwhichshouldwitherupallthepriestsoftheworld：
"WhatdoestthounowLookingGodwardtocryIamI，thouartthou，Iamlow，thouarthigh，Iamthouthatthouseekesttofindhim，findthoubutthyself，thouartI。"
OfwhichtheimmediateandevidentdeductionisthattyrantsareasmuchthesonsofGodasGaribaldis；andthatKingBombaofNapleshaving，withtheutmostsuccess，"foundhimself"
isidenticalwiththeultimategoodinallthings。Thetruthisthatthewesternenergythatdethronestyrantshasbeendirectlyduetothewesterntheologythatsays"IamI，thouartthou。"
ThesamespiritualseparationwhichlookedupandsawagoodkingintheuniverselookedupandsawabadkinginNaples。TheworshippersofBomba’sgoddethronedBomba。TheworshippersofSwinburne’sgodhavecoveredAsiaforcenturiesandhaveneverdethronedatyrant。
TheIndiansaintmayreasonablyshuthiseyesbecauseheislookingatthatwhichisIandThouandWeandTheyandIt。
Itisarationaloccupation：butitisnottrueintheoryandnottrueinfactthatithelpstheIndiantokeepaneyeonLordCurzon。
ThatexternalvigilancewhichhasalwaysbeenthemarkofChristianity（thecommandthatweshouldWATCHandpray）hasexpresseditselfbothintypicalwesternorthodoxyandintypicalwesternpolitics：
butbothdependontheideaofadivinitytranscendent，differentfromourselves，adeitythatdisappears。CertainlythemostsagaciouscreedsmaysuggestthatweshouldpursueGodintodeeperanddeeperringsofthelabyrinthofourownego。ButonlyweofChristendomhavesaidthatweshouldhuntGodlikeaneagleuponthemountains：
andwehavekilledallmonstersinthechase。
Hereagain，therefore，wefindthatinsofaraswevaluedemocracyandtheself-renewingenergiesofthewest，wearemuchmorelikelytofindthemintheoldtheologythanthenew。
Ifwewantreform，wemustadheretoorthodoxy：especiallyinthismatter（somuchdisputedinthecounselsofMr。R。J。Campbell），thematterofinsistingontheimmanentorthetranscendentdeity。
ByinsistingspeciallyontheimmanenceofGodwegetintrospection，self-isolation，quietism，socialindifference——Tibet。ByinsistingspeciallyonthetranscendenceofGodwegetwonder，curiosity，moralandpoliticaladventure，righteousindignation——Christendom。
InsistingthatGodisinsideman，manisalwaysinsidehimself。
ByinsistingthatGodtranscendsman，manhastranscendedhimself。
Ifwetakeanyotherdoctrinethathasbeencalledold-fashionedweshallfindthecasethesame。Itisthesame，forinstance，inthedeepmatteroftheTrinity。Unitarians（asectnevertobementionedwithoutaspecialrespectfortheirdistinguishedintellectualdignityandhighintellectualhonour）areoftenreformersbytheaccidentthatthrowssomanysmallsectsintosuchanattitude。
ButthereisnothingintheleastliberalorakintoreforminthesubstitutionofpuremonotheismfortheTrinity。ThecomplexGodoftheAthanasianCreedmaybeanenigmafortheintellect；
butHeisfarlesslikelytogatherthemysteryandcrueltyofaSultanthanthelonelygodofOmarorMahomet。ThegodwhoisamereawfulunityisnotonlyakingbutanEasternking。
TheHEARTofhumanity，especiallyofEuropeanhumanity，iscertainlymuchmoresatisfiedbythestrangehintsandsymbolsthatgatherroundtheTrinitarianidea，theimageofacouncilatwhichmercypleadsaswellasjustice，theconceptionofasortoflibertyandvarietyexistingevenintheinmostchamberoftheworld。
ForWesternreligionhasalwaysfeltkeenlytheidea"itisnotwellformantobealone。"ThesocialinstinctasserteditselfeverywhereaswhentheEasternideaofhermitswaspracticallyexpelledbytheWesternideaofmonks。Soevenasceticismbecamebrotherly；
andtheTrappistsweresociableevenwhentheyweresilent。
Ifthisloveofalivingcomplexitybeourtest，itiscertainlyhealthiertohavetheTrinitarianreligionthantheUnitarian。
FortousTrinitarians（ifImaysayitwithreverence）——tousGodHimselfisasociety。Itisindeedafathomlessmysteryoftheology，andevenifIweretheologianenoughtodealwithitdirectly，itwouldnotberelevanttodosohere。SufficeittosayherethatthistripleenigmaisascomfortingaswineandopenasanEnglishfireside；
thatthisthingthatbewilderstheintellectutterlyquietstheheart：
butoutofthedesert，fromthedryplacesandthedreadfulsuns，comethecruelchildrenofthelonelyGod；therealUnitarianswhowithscimitarinhandhavelaidwastetheworld。ForitisnotwellforGodtobealone。
Again，thesameistrueofthatdifficultmatterofthedangerofthesoul，whichhasunsettledsomanyjustminds。Tohopeforallsoulsisimperative；anditisquitetenablethattheirsalvationisinevitable。Itistenable，butitisnotspeciallyfavourabletoactivityorprogress。Ourfightingandcreativesocietyoughtrathertoinsistonthedangerofeverybody，onthefactthateverymanishangingbyathreadorclingingtoaprecipice。
Tosaythatallwillbewellanyhowisacomprehensibleremark：
butitcannotbecalledtheblastofatrumpet。Europeoughtrathertoemphasizepossibleperdition；andEuropealwayshasemphasizedit。
Hereitshighestreligionisatonewithallitscheapestromances。
TotheBuddhistortheeasternfatalistexistenceisascienceoraplan，whichmustendupinacertainway。ButtoaChristianexistenceisaSTORY，whichmayendupinanyway。Inathrillingnovel（thatpurelyChristianproduct）theheroisnoteatenbycannibals；butitisessentialtotheexistenceofthethrillthatheMIGHTbeeatenbycannibals。Theheromust（sotospeak）
beaneatablehero。SoChristianmoralshavealwayssaidtotheman，notthathewouldlosehissoul，butthathemusttakecarethathedidn’t。InChristianmorals，inshort，itiswickedtocallaman"damned"：butitisstrictlyreligiousandphilosophictocallhimdamnable。
AllChristianityconcentratesonthemanatthecross-roads。
Thevastandshallowphilosophies，thehugesynthesesofhumbug，alltalkaboutagesandevolutionandultimatedevelopments。
Thetruephilosophyisconcernedwiththeinstant。Willamantakethisroadorthat？——thatistheonlythingtothinkabout，ifyouenjoythinking。Theaeonsareeasyenoughtothinkabout，anyonecanthinkaboutthem。Theinstantisreallyawful：
anditisbecauseourreligionhasintenselyfelttheinstant，thatithasinliteraturedealtmuchwithbattleandintheologydealtmuchwithhell。ItisfullofDANGER，likeaboy’sbook：
itisatanimmortalcrisis。Thereisagreatdealofrealsimilaritybetweenpopularfictionandthereligionofthewesternpeople。
Ifyousaythatpopularfictionisvulgarandtawdry，youonlysaywhatthedrearyandwell-informedsayalsoabouttheimagesintheCatholicchurches。Life（accordingtothefaith）isverylikeaserialstoryinamagazine：lifeendswiththepromise（ormenace）
"tobecontinuedinournext。"Also，withanoblevulgarity，lifeimitatestheserialandleavesoffattheexcitingmoment。
Fordeathisdistinctlyanexcitingmoment。
Butthepointisthatastoryisexcitingbecauseithasinitsostronganelementofwill，ofwhattheologycallsfree-will。
Youcannotfinishasumhowyoulike。Butyoucanfinishastoryhowyoulike。WhensomebodydiscoveredtheDifferentialCalculustherewasonlyoneDifferentialCalculushecoulddiscover。
ButwhenShakespearekilledRomeohemighthavemarriedhimtoJuliet’soldnurseifhehadfeltinclined。AndChristendomhasexcelledinthenarrativeromanceexactlybecauseithasinsistedonthetheologicalfree-will。Itisalargematterandtoomuchtoonesideoftheroadtobediscussedadequatelyhere；butthisistherealobjectiontothattorrentofmoderntalkabouttreatingcrimeasdisease，aboutmakingaprisonmerelyahygienicenvironmentlikeahospital，ofhealingsinbyslowscientificmethods。
Thefallacyofthewholethingisthatevilisamatterofactivechoicewhereasdiseaseisnot。Ifyousaythatyouaregoingtocureaprofligateasyoucureanasthmatic，mycheapandobviousansweris，"Producethepeoplewhowanttobeasthmaticsasmanypeoplewanttobeprofligates。"Amanmayliestillandbecuredofamalady。
Buthemustnotliestillifhewantstobecuredofasin；
onthecontrary，hemustgetupandjumpaboutviolently。
Thewholepointindeedisperfectlyexpressedintheverywordwhichweuseforamaninhospital；"patient"isinthepassivemood；
"sinner"isintheactive。Ifamanistobesavedfrominfluenza，hemaybeapatient。Butifheistobesavedfromforging，hemustbenotapatientbutanIMPATIENT。Hemustbepersonallyimpatientwithforgery。Allmoralreformmuststartintheactivenotthepassivewill。
Hereagainwereachthesamesubstantialconclusion。InsofaraswedesirethedefinitereconstructionsandthedangerousrevolutionswhichhavedistinguishedEuropeancivilization，weshallnotdiscouragethethoughtofpossibleruin；weshallratherencourageit。
Ifwewant，liketheEasternsaints，merelytocontemplatehowrightthingsare，ofcourseweshallonlysaythattheymustgoright。
ButifweparticularlywanttoMAKEthemgoright，wemustinsistthattheymaygowrong。
Lastly，thistruthisyetagaintrueinthecaseofthecommonmodernattemptstodiminishortoexplainawaythedivinityofChrist。
Thethingmaybetrueornot；thatIshalldealwithbeforeIend。
Butifthedivinityistrueitiscertainlyterriblyrevolutionary。
Thatagoodmanmayhavehisbacktothewallisnomorethanweknewalready；butthatGodcouldhavehisbacktothewallisaboastforallinsurgentsforever。ChristianityistheonlyreligiononearththathasfeltthatomnipotencemadeGodincomplete。
ChristianityalonehasfeltthatGod，tobewhollyGod，musthavebeenarebelaswellasaking。Aloneofallcreeds，ChristianityhasaddedcouragetothevirtuesoftheCreator。
Fortheonlycourageworthcallingcouragemustnecessarilymeanthatthesoulpassesabreakingpoint——anddoesnotbreak。
InthisindeedIapproachamattermoredarkandawfulthanitiseasytodiscuss；andIapologiseinadvanceifanyofmyphrasesfallwrongorseemirreverenttouchingamatterwhichthegreatestsaintsandthinkershavejustlyfearedtoapproach。
ButinthatterrifictaleofthePassionthereisadistinctemotionalsuggestionthattheauthorofallthings（insomeunthinkableway）
wentnotonlythroughagony，butthroughdoubt。Itiswritten，"ThoushaltnottempttheLordthyGod。"No；buttheLordthyGodmaytemptHimself；anditseemsasifthiswaswhathappenedinGethsemane。
InagardenSatantemptedman：andinagardenGodtemptedGod。
Hepassedinsomesuperhumanmannerthroughourhumanhorrorofpessimism。Whentheworldshookandthesunwaswipedoutofheaven，itwasnotatthecrucifixion，butatthecryfromthecross：
thecrywhichconfessedthatGodwasforsakenofGod。Andnowlettherevolutionistschooseacreedfromallthecreedsandagodfromallthegodsoftheworld，carefullyweighingallthegodsofinevitablerecurrenceandofunalterablepower。Theywillnotfindanothergodwhohashimselfbeeninrevolt。Nay，（themattergrowstoodifficultforhumanspeech，）butlettheatheiststhemselveschooseagod。
Theywillfindonlyonedivinitywhoeverutteredtheirisolation；
onlyonereligioninwhichGodseemedforaninstanttobeanatheist。
Thesecanbecalledtheessentialsoftheoldorthodoxy，ofwhichthechiefmeritisthatitisthenaturalfountainofrevolutionandreform；andofwhichthechiefdefectisthatitisobviouslyonlyanabstractassertion。Itsmainadvantageisthatitisthemostadventurousandmanlyofalltheologies。
Itschiefdisadvantageissimplythatitisatheology。Itcanalwaysbeurgedagainstitthatitisinitsnaturearbitraryandintheair。
Butitisnotsohighintheairbutthatgreatarchersspendtheirwholelivesinshootingarrowsatit——yes，andtheirlastarrows；
therearemenwhowillruinthemselvesandruintheircivilizationiftheymayruinalsothisoldfantastictale。Thisisthelastandmostastoundingfactaboutthisfaith；thatitsenemieswilluseanyweaponagainstit，theswordsthatcuttheirownfingers，andthefirebrandsthatburntheirownhomes。MenwhobegintofighttheChurchforthesakeoffreedomandhumanityendbyflingingawayfreedomandhumanityifonlytheymayfighttheChurch。
Thisisnoexaggeration；Icouldfillabookwiththeinstancesofit。
Mr。Blatchfordsetout，asanordinaryBible-smasher，toprovethatAdamwasguiltlessofsinagainstGod；inmanoeuvringsoastomaintainthisheadmitted，asameresideissue，thatallthetyrants，fromNerotoKingLeopold，wereguiltlessofanysinagainsthumanity。
Iknowamanwhohassuchapassionforprovingthathewillhavenopersonalexistenceafterdeaththathefallsbackonthepositionthathehasnopersonalexistencenow。HeinvokesBuddhismandsaysthatallsoulsfadeintoeachother；inordertoprovethathecannotgotoheavenheprovesthathecannotgotoHartlepool。
Ihaveknownpeoplewhoprotestedagainstreligiouseducationwithargumentsagainstanyeducation，sayingthatthechild’smindmustgrowfreelyorthattheoldmustnotteachtheyoung。Ihaveknownpeoplewhoshowedthattherecouldbenodivinejudgmentbyshowingthattherecanbenohumanjudgment，evenforpracticalpurposes。
Theyburnedtheirowncorntosetfiretothechurch；theysmashedtheirowntoolstosmashit；anystickwasgoodenoughtobeatitwith，thoughitwerethelaststickoftheirowndismemberedfurniture。
Wedonotadmire，wehardlyexcuse，thefanaticwhowrecksthisworldforloveoftheother。Butwhatarewetosayofthefanaticwhowrecksthisworldoutofhatredoftheother？Hesacrificestheveryexistenceofhumanitytothenon-existenceofGod。
Heoffershisvictimsnottothealtar，butmerelytoasserttheidlenessofthealtarandtheemptinessofthethrone。
Heisreadytoruineventhatprimaryethicbywhichallthingslive，forhisstrangeandeternalvengeanceuponsomeonewhoneverlivedatall。
Andyetthethinghangsintheheavensunhurt。Itsopponentsonlysucceedindestroyingallthattheythemselvesjustlyholddear。
Theydonotdestroyorthodoxy；theyonlydestroypoliticalandcommoncouragesense。TheydonotprovethatAdamwasnotresponsibletoGod；howcouldtheyproveit？Theyonlyprove（fromtheirpremises）thattheCzarisnotresponsibletoRussia。
TheydonotprovethatAdamshouldnothavebeenpunishedbyGod；
theyonlyprovethatthenearestsweatershouldnotbepunishedbymen。
Withtheirorientaldoubtsaboutpersonalitytheydonotmakecertainthatweshallhavenopersonallifehereafter；theyonlymakecertainthatweshallnothaveaveryjollyorcompleteonehere。
WiththeirparalysinghintsofallconclusionscomingoutwrongtheydonottearthebookoftheRecordingAngel；theyonlymakeitalittlehardertokeepthebooksofMarshall&Snelgrove。
Notonlyisthefaiththemotherofallworldlyenergies，butitsfoesarethefathersofallworldlyconfusion。Thesecularistshavenotwreckeddivinethings；butthesecularistshavewreckedsecularthings，ifthatisanycomforttothem。TheTitansdidnotscaleheaven；
buttheylaidwastetheworld。
IXAUTHORITYANDTHEADVENTURER
Thelastchapterhasbeenconcernedwiththecontentionthatorthodoxyisnotonly（asisoftenurged）theonlysafeguardianofmoralityororder，butisalsotheonlylogicalguardianofliberty，innovationandadvance。Ifwewishtopulldowntheprosperousoppressorwecannotdoitwiththenewdoctrineofhumanperfectibility；
wecandoitwiththeolddoctrineofOriginalSin。Ifwewanttouprootinherentcrueltiesorliftuplostpopulationswecannotdoitwiththescientifictheorythatmatterprecedesmind；wecandoitwiththesupernaturaltheorythatmindprecedesmatter。
Ifwewishspeciallytoawakenpeopletosocialvigilanceandtirelesspursuitofpractise，wecannothelpitmuchbyinsistingontheImmanentGodandtheInnerLight：fortheseareatbestreasonsforcontentment；wecanhelpitmuchbyinsistingonthetranscendentGodandtheflyingandescapinggleam；forthatmeansdivinediscontent。IfwewishparticularlytoasserttheideaofagenerousbalanceagainstthatofadreadfulautocracyweshallinstinctivelybeTrinitarianratherthanUnitarian。IfwedesireEuropeancivilizationtobearaidandarescue，weshallinsistratherthatsoulsareinrealperilthanthattheirperilisultimatelyunreal。Andifwewishtoexalttheoutcastandthecrucified，weshallratherwishtothinkthataveritableGodwascrucified，ratherthanameresageorhero。Aboveall，ifwewishtoprotectthepoorweshallbeinfavouroffixedrulesandcleardogmas。
TheRULESofaclubareoccasionallyinfavourofthepoormember。
Thedriftofaclubisalwaysinfavouroftherichone。