第8章

Andnowwecometothecrucialquestionwhichtrulyconcludesthewholematter。Areasonableagnostic，ifhehashappenedtoagreewithmesofar，mayjustlyturnroundandsay，"YouhavefoundapracticalphilosophyinthedoctrineoftheFall；verywell。

YouhavefoundasideofdemocracynowdangerouslyneglectedwiselyassertedinOriginalSin；allright。Youhavefoundatruthinthedoctrineofhell；Icongratulateyou。YouareconvincedthatworshippersofapersonalGodlookoutwardsandareprogressive；

Icongratulatethem。Butevensupposingthatthosedoctrinesdoincludethosetruths，whycannotyoutakethetruthsandleavethedoctrines？Grantedthatallmodernsocietyistrustingtherichtoomuchbecauseitdoesnotallowforhumanweakness；

grantedthatorthodoxageshavehadagreatadvantagebecause（believingintheFall）theydidallowforhumanweakness，whycannotyousimplyallowforhumanweaknesswithoutbelievingintheFall？

Ifyouhavediscoveredthattheideaofdamnationrepresentsahealthyideaofdanger，whycanyounotsimplytaketheideaofdangerandleavetheideaofdamnation？Ifyouseeclearlythekernelofcommon-senseinthenutofChristianorthodoxy，whycannotyousimplytakethekernelandleavethenut？

Whycannotyou（tousethatcantphraseofthenewspaperswhichI，asahighlyscholarlyagnostic，amalittleashamedofusing）

whycannotyousimplytakewhatisgoodinChristianity，whatyoucandefineasvaluable，whatyoucancomprehend，andleavealltherest，alltheabsolutedogmasthatareintheirnatureincomprehensible？"

Thisistherealquestion；thisisthelastquestion；anditisapleasuretotrytoanswerit。

ThefirstanswerissimplytosaythatIamarationalist。

Iliketohavesomeintellectualjustificationformyintuitions。

IfIamtreatingmanasafallenbeingitisanintellectualconveniencetometobelievethathefell；andIfind，forsomeoddpsychologicalreason，thatIcandealbetterwithaman’sexerciseoffreewillifIbelievethathehasgotit。ButIaminthismatteryetmoredefinitelyarationalist。IdonotproposetoturnthisbookintooneofordinaryChristianapologetics；IshouldbegladtomeetatanyothertimetheenemiesofChristianityinthatmoreobviousarena。HereIamonlygivinganaccountofmyowngrowthinspiritualcertainty。ButImaypausetoremarkthatthemoreI

sawofthemerelyabstractargumentsagainsttheChristiancosmologythelessIthoughtofthem。ImeanthathavingfoundthemoralatmosphereoftheIncarnationtobecommonsense，IthenlookedattheestablishedintellectualargumentsagainsttheIncarnationandfoundthemtobecommonnonsense。IncasetheargumentshouldbethoughttosufferfromtheabsenceoftheordinaryapologeticI

willhereverybrieflysummarisemyownargumentsandconclusionsonthepurelyobjectiveorscientifictruthofthematter。

IfIamasked，asapurelyintellectualquestion，whyIbelieveinChristianity，Icanonlyanswer，"ForthesamereasonthatanintelligentagnosticdisbelievesinChristianity。"Ibelieveinitquiterationallyupontheevidence。Buttheevidenceinmycase，asinthatoftheintelligentagnostic，isnotreallyinthisorthatallegeddemonstration；itisinanenormousaccumulationofsmallbutunanimousfacts。ThesecularistisnottobeblamedbecausehisobjectionstoChristianityaremiscellaneousandevenscrappy；

itispreciselysuchscrappyevidencethatdoesconvincethemind。

Imeanthatamanmaywellbelessconvincedofaphilosophyfromfourbooks，thanfromonebook，onebattle，onelandscape，andoneoldfriend。Theveryfactthatthethingsareofdifferentkindsincreasestheimportanceofthefactthattheyallpointtooneconclusion。Now，thenon-Christianityoftheaverageeducatedmanto-dayisalmostalways，todohimjustice，madeupoftheseloosebutlivingexperiences。IcanonlysaythatmyevidencesforChristianityareofthesamevividbutvariedkindashisevidencesagainstit。ForwhenIlookatthesevariousanti-Christiantruths，Isimplydiscoverthatnoneofthemaretrue。

Idiscoverthatthetruetideandforceofallthefactsflowstheotherway。Letustakecases。ManyasensiblemodernmanmusthaveabandonedChristianityunderthepressureofthreesuchconvergingconvictionsasthese：first，thatmen，withtheirshape，structure，andsexuality，are，afterall，verymuchlikebeasts，amerevarietyoftheanimalkingdom；second，thatprimevalreligionaroseinignoranceandfear；third，thatpriestshaveblightedsocietieswithbitternessandgloom。Thosethreeanti-Christianargumentsareverydifferent；buttheyareallquitelogicalandlegitimate；

andtheyallconverge。Theonlyobjectiontothem（Idiscover）

isthattheyarealluntrue。Ifyouleaveofflookingatbooksaboutbeastsandmen，ifyoubegintolookatbeastsandmenthen（ifyouhaveanyhumourorimagination，anysenseofthefranticorthefarcical）youwillobservethatthestartlingthingisnothowlikemanistothebrutes，buthowunlikeheis。Itisthemonstrousscaleofhisdivergencethatrequiresanexplanation。

Thatmanandbrutearelikeis，inasense，atruism；butthatbeingsoliketheyshouldthenbesoinsanelyunlike，thatistheshockandtheenigma。Thatanapehashandsisfarlessinterestingtothephilosopherthanthefactthathavinghandshedoesnexttonothingwiththem；doesnotplayknuckle-bonesortheviolin；doesnotcarvemarbleorcarvemutton。Peopletalkofbarbaricarchitectureanddebasedart。Butelephantsdonotbuildcolossaltemplesofivoryeveninaroccocostyle；camelsdonotpaintevenbadpictures，thoughequippedwiththematerialofmanycamel’s-hairbrushes。

Certainmoderndreamerssaythatantsandbeeshaveasocietysuperiortoours。Theyhave，indeed，acivilization；butthatverytruthonlyremindsusthatitisaninferiorcivilization。Whoeverfoundanant-hilldecoratedwiththestatuesofcelebratedants？

Whohasseenabee-hivecarvedwiththeimagesofgorgeousqueensofold？No；thechasmbetweenmanandothercreaturesmayhaveanaturalexplanation，butitisachasm。Wetalkofwildanimals；

butmanistheonlywildanimal。Itismanthathasbrokenout。

Allotheranimalsaretameanimals；followingtheruggedrespectabilityofthetribeortype。Allotheranimalsaredomesticanimals；

manaloneiseverundomestic，eitherasaprofligateoramonk。

Sothatthisfirstsuperficialreasonformaterialismis，ifanything，areasonforitsopposite；itisexactlywherebiologyleavesoffthatallreligionbegins。

ItwouldbethesameifIexaminedthesecondofthethreechancerationalistarguments；theargumentthatallthatwecalldivinebeganinsomedarknessandterror。WhenIdidattempttoexaminethefoundationsofthismodernideaIsimplyfoundthattherewerenone。Scienceknowsnothingwhateveraboutpre-historicman；

fortheexcellentreasonthatheispre-historic。Afewprofessorschoosetoconjecturethatsuchthingsashumansacrificewereonceinnocentandgeneralandthattheygraduallydwindled；butthereisnodirectevidenceofit，andthesmallamountofindirectevidenceisverymuchtheotherway。Intheearliestlegendswehave，suchasthetalesofIsaacandofIphigenia，humansacrificeisnotintroducedassomethingold，butratherassomethingnew；

asastrangeandfrightfulexceptiondarklydemandedbythegods。

Historysaysnothing；andlegendsallsaythattheearthwaskinderinitsearliesttime。Thereisnotraditionofprogress；butthewholehumanracehasatraditionoftheFall。Amusinglyenough，indeed，theverydisseminationofthisideaisusedagainstitsauthenticity。

Learnedmenliterallysaythatthispre-historiccalamitycannotbetruebecauseeveryraceofmankindremembersit。Icannotkeeppacewiththeseparadoxes。

Andifwetookthethirdchanceinstance，itwouldbethesame；

theviewthatpriestsdarkenandembittertheworld。Ilookattheworldandsimplydiscoverthattheydon’t。ThosecountriesinEuropewhicharestillinfluencedbypriests，areexactlythecountrieswherethereisstillsinginganddancingandcoloureddressesandartintheopen-air。Catholicdoctrineanddisciplinemaybewalls；

buttheyarethewallsofaplayground。ChristianityistheonlyframewhichhaspreservedthepleasureofPaganism。Wemightfancysomechildrenplayingontheflatgrassytopofsometallislandinthesea。Solongastherewasawallroundthecliff’sedgetheycouldflingthemselvesintoeveryfranticgameandmaketheplacethenoisiestofnurseries。Butthewallswereknockeddown，leavingthenakedperiloftheprecipice。Theydidnotfallover；

butwhentheirfriendsreturnedtothemtheywereallhuddledinterrorinthecentreoftheisland；andtheirsonghadceased。

Thusthesethreefactsofexperience，suchfactsasgotomakeanagnostic，are，inthisview，turnedtotallyround。Iamleftsaying，"Givemeanexplanation，first，ofthetoweringeccentricityofmanamongthebrutes；second，ofthevasthumantraditionofsomeancienthappiness；third，ofthepartialperpetuationofsuchpaganjoyinthecountriesoftheCatholicChurch。"Oneexplanation，atanyrate，coversallthree：thetheorythattwicewasthenaturalorderinterruptedbysomeexplosionorrevelationsuchaspeoplenowcall"psychic。"OnceHeavencameupontheearthwithapowerorsealcalledtheimageofGod，wherebymantookcommandofNature；

andonceagain（wheninempireafterempiremenhadbeenfoundwanting）

Heavencametosavemankindintheawfulshapeofaman。

Thiswouldexplainwhythemassofmenalwayslookbackwards；

andwhytheonlycornerwheretheyinanysenselookforwardsisthelittlecontinentwhereChristhasHisChurch。IknowitwillbesaidthatJapanhasbecomeprogressive。Buthowcanthisbeananswerwheneveninsaying"Japanhasbecomeprogressive，"wereallyonlymean，"JapanhasbecomeEuropean"？ButIwishherenotsomuchtoinsistonmyownexplanationastoinsistonmyoriginalremark。

Iagreewiththeordinaryunbelievingmaninthestreetinbeingguidedbythreeorfouroddfactsallpointingtosomething；

onlywhenIcametolookatthefactsIalwaysfoundtheypointedtosomethingelse。

Ihavegivenanimaginarytriadofsuchordinaryanti-Christianarguments；ifthatbetoonarrowabasisIwillgiveonthespurofthemomentanother。ThesearethekindofthoughtswhichincombinationcreatetheimpressionthatChristianityissomethingweakanddiseased。First，forinstance，thatJesuswasagentlecreature，sheepishandunworldly，amereineffectualappealtotheworld；second，thatChristianityaroseandflourishedinthedarkagesofignorance，andthattothesetheChurchwoulddragusback；third，thatthepeoplestillstronglyreligiousor（ifyouwill）superstitious——suchpeopleastheIrish——areweak，unpractical，andbehindthetimes。

Ionlymentiontheseideastoaffirmthesamething：thatwhenI

lookedintothemindependentlyIfound，notthattheconclusionswereunphilosophical，butsimplythatthefactswerenotfacts。

InsteadoflookingatbooksandpicturesabouttheNewTestamentI

lookedattheNewTestament。ThereIfoundanaccount，notintheleastofapersonwithhishairpartedinthemiddleorhishandsclaspedinappeal，butofanextraordinarybeingwithlipsofthunderandactsofluriddecision，flingingdowntables，castingoutdevils，passingwiththewildsecrecyofthewindfrommountainisolationtoasortofdreadfuldemagogy；abeingwhooftenactedlikeanangrygod——

andalwayslikeagod。Christhadevenaliterarystyleofhisown，nottobefound，Ithink，elsewhere；itconsistsofanalmostfurioususeoftheAFORTIORI。His"howmuchmore"ispiledoneuponanotherlikecastleuponcastleintheclouds。ThedictionusedABOUTChristhasbeen，andperhapswisely，sweetandsubmissive。

ButthedictionusedbyChristisquitecuriouslygigantesque；

itisfullofcamelsleapingthroughneedlesandmountainshurledintothesea。Morallyitisequallyterrific；hecalledhimselfaswordofslaughter，andtoldmentobuyswordsiftheysoldtheircoatsforthem。Thatheusedotherevenwilderwordsonthesideofnon-resistancegreatlyincreasesthemystery；butitalso，ifanything，ratherincreasestheviolence。Wecannotevenexplainitbycallingsuchabeinginsane；forinsanityisusuallyalongoneconsistentchannel。Themaniacisgenerallyamonomaniac。HerewemustrememberthedifficultdefinitionofChristianityalreadygiven；

Christianityisasuperhumanparadoxwherebytwooppositepassionsmayblazebesideeachother。TheoneexplanationoftheGospellanguagethatdoesexplainit，isthatitisthesurveyofonewhofromsomesupernaturalheightbeholdssomemorestartlingsynthesis。

Itakeinorderthenextinstanceoffered：theideathatChristianitybelongstotheDarkAges。HereIdidnotsatisfymyselfwithreadingmoderngeneralisations；Ireadalittlehistory。

AndinhistoryIfoundthatChristianity，sofarfrombelongingtotheDarkAges，wastheonepathacrosstheDarkAgesthatwasnotdark。

Itwasashiningbridgeconnectingtwoshiningcivilizations。

Ifanyonesaysthatthefaitharoseinignoranceandsavagerytheanswerissimple：itdidn’t。ItaroseintheMediterraneancivilizationinthefullsummeroftheRomanEmpire。Theworldwasswarmingwithsceptics，andpantheismwasasplainasthesun，whenConstantinenailedthecrosstothemast。Itisperfectlytruethatafterwardstheshipsank；butitisfarmoreextraordinarythattheshipcameupagain：repaintedandglittering，withthecrossstillatthetop。Thisistheamazingthingthereligiondid：

itturnedasunkenshipintoasubmarine。Thearklivedundertheloadofwaters；afterbeingburiedunderthedebrisofdynastiesandclans，wearoseandrememberedRome。Ifourfaithhadbeenamerefadofthefadingempire，fadwouldhavefollowedfadinthetwilight，andifthecivilizationeverre-emerged（andmanysuchhaveneverre-emerged）itwouldhavebeenundersomenewbarbaricflag。

ButtheChristianChurchwasthelastlifeoftheoldsocietyandwasalsothefirstlifeofthenew。ShetookthepeoplewhowereforgettinghowtomakeanarchandshetaughtthemtoinventtheGothicarch。Inaword，themostabsurdthingthatcouldbesaidoftheChurchisthethingwehaveallheardsaidofit。HowcanwesaythattheChurchwishestobringusbackintotheDarkAges？

TheChurchwastheonlythingthateverbroughtusoutofthem。

IaddedinthissecondtrinityofobjectionsanidleinstancetakenfromthosewhofeelsuchpeopleastheIrishtobeweakenedormadestagnantbysuperstition。Ionlyaddeditbecausethisisapeculiarcaseofastatementoffactthatturnsouttobeastatementoffalsehood。ItisconstantlysaidoftheIrishthattheyareimpractical。ButifwerefrainforamomentfromlookingatwhatissaidaboutthemandlookatwhatisDONEaboutthem，weshallseethattheIrisharenotonlypractical，butquitepainfullysuccessful。Thepovertyoftheircountry，theminorityoftheirmembersaresimplytheconditionsunderwhichtheywereaskedtowork；butnoothergroupintheBritishEmpirehasdonesomuchwithsuchconditions。TheNationalistsweretheonlyminoritythateversucceededintwistingthewholeBritishParliamentsharplyoutofitspath。TheIrishpeasantsaretheonlypoormenintheseislandswhohaveforcedtheirmasterstodisgorge。Thesepeople，whomwecallpriest-ridden，aretheonlyBritonswhowillnotbesquire-ridden。AndwhenIcametolookattheactualIrishcharacter，thecasewasthesame。IrishmenarebestatthespeciallyHARDprofessions——thetradesofiron，thelawyer，andthesoldier。

Inallthesecases，therefore，Icamebacktothesameconclusion：

thescepticwasquiterighttogobythefacts，onlyhehadnotlookedatthefacts。Thescepticistoocredulous；hebelievesinnewspapersoreveninencyclopedias。Againthethreequestionsleftmewiththreeveryantagonisticquestions。TheaveragescepticwantedtoknowhowIexplainedthenamby-pambynoteintheGospel，theconnectionofthecreedwithmediaevaldarknessandthepoliticalimpracticabilityoftheCelticChristians。ButIwantedtoask，andtoaskwithanearnestnessamountingtourgency，"Whatisthisincomparableenergywhichappearsfirstinonewalkingtheearthlikealivingjudgmentandthisenergywhichcandiewithadyingcivilizationandyetforceittoaresurrectionfromthedead；

thisenergywhichlastofallcaninflameabankruptpeasantrywithsofixedafaithinjusticethattheygetwhattheyask，whileothersgoemptyaway；sothatthemosthelplessislandoftheEmpirecanactuallyhelpitself？"

Thereisananswer：itisananswertosaythattheenergyistrulyfromoutsidetheworld；thatitispsychic，oratleastoneoftheresultsofarealpsychicaldisturbance。ThehighestgratitudeandrespectareduetothegreathumancivilizationssuchastheoldEgyptianortheexistingChinese。NeverthelessitisnoinjusticeforthemtosaythatonlymodernEuropehasexhibitedincessantlyapowerofself-renewalrecurringoftenattheshortestintervalsanddescendingtothesmallestfactsofbuildingorcostume。

Allothersocietiesdiefinallyandwithdignity。Wediedaily。

Wearealwaysbeingbornagainwithalmostindecentobstetrics。

ItishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatthereisinhistoricChristendomasortofunnaturallife：itcouldbeexplainedasasupernaturallife。Itcouldbeexplainedasanawfulgalvaniclifeworkinginwhatwouldhavebeenacorpse。ForourcivilizationOUGHT

tohavedied，byallparallels，byallsociologicalprobability，intheRagnorakoftheendofRome。Thatistheweirdinspirationofourestate：youandIhavenobusinesstobehereatall。WeareallREVENANTS；alllivingChristiansaredeadpaganswalkingabout。

JustasEuropewasabouttobegatheredinsilencetoAssyriaandBabylon，somethingenteredintoitsbody。AndEuropehashadastrangelife——itisnottoomuchtosaythatithashadtheJUMPS——

eversince。

Ihavedealtatlengthwithsuchtypicaltriadsofdoubtinordertoconveythemaincontention——thatmyowncaseforChristianityisrational；butitisnotsimple。Itisanaccumulationofvariedfacts，liketheattitudeoftheordinaryagnostic。

Buttheordinaryagnostichasgothisfactsallwrong。

Heisanon-believerforamultitudeofreasons；buttheyareuntruereasons。HedoubtsbecausetheMiddleAgeswerebarbaric，buttheyweren’t；becauseDarwinismisdemonstrated，butitisn’t；

becausemiraclesdonothappen，buttheydo；becausemonkswerelazy，buttheywereveryindustrious；becausenunsareunhappy，buttheyareparticularlycheerful；becauseChristianartwassadandpale，butitwaspickedoutinpeculiarlybrightcoloursandgaywithgold；

becausemodernscienceismovingawayfromthesupernatural，butitisn’t，itismovingtowardsthesupernaturalwiththerapidityofarailwaytrain。

Butamongthesemillionfactsallflowingonewaythereis，ofcourse，onequestionsufficientlysolidandseparatetobetreatedbriefly，butbyitself；Imeantheobjectiveoccurrenceofthesupernatural。InanotherchapterIhaveindicatedthefallacyoftheordinarysuppositionthattheworldmustbeimpersonalbecauseitisorderly。Apersonisjustaslikelytodesireanorderlythingasadisorderlything。Butmyownpositiveconvictionthatpersonalcreationismoreconceivablethanmaterialfate，is，Iadmit，inasense，undiscussable。Iwillnotcallitafaithoranintuition，forthosewordsaremixedupwithmereemotion，itisstrictlyanintellectualconviction；butitisaPRIMARYintellectualconvictionlikethecertaintyofselfofthegoodofliving。

Anyonewholikes，therefore，maycallmybeliefinGodmerelymystical；

thephraseisnotworthfightingabout。Butmybeliefthatmiracleshavehappenedinhumanhistoryisnotamysticalbeliefatall；IbelieveinthemuponhumanevidencesasIdointhediscoveryofAmerica。

Uponthispointthereisasimplelogicalfactthatonlyrequirestobestatedandclearedup。Somehoworotheranextraordinaryideahasarisenthatthedisbelieversinmiraclesconsiderthemcoldlyandfairly，whilebelieversinmiraclesacceptthemonlyinconnectionwithsomedogma。Thefactisquitetheotherway。

Thebelieversinmiraclesacceptthem（rightlyorwrongly）becausetheyhaveevidenceforthem。Thedisbelieversinmiraclesdenythem（rightlyorwrongly）becausetheyhaveadoctrineagainstthem。

Theopen，obvious，democraticthingistobelieveanoldapple-womanwhenshebearstestimonytoamiracle，justasyoubelieveanoldapple-womanwhenshebearstestimonytoamurder。Theplain，popularcourseistotrustthepeasant’swordabouttheghostexactlyasfarasyoutrustthepeasant’swordaboutthelandlord。

Beingapeasanthewillprobablyhaveagreatdealofhealthyagnosticismaboutboth。StillyoucouldfilltheBritishMuseumwithevidenceutteredbythepeasant，andgiveninfavouroftheghost。

Ifitcomestohumantestimonythereisachokingcataractofhumantestimonyinfavourofthesupernatural。Ifyourejectit，youcanonlymeanoneoftwothings。Yourejectthepeasant’sstoryabouttheghosteitherbecausethemanisapeasantorbecausethestoryisaghoststory。Thatis，youeitherdenythemainprincipleofdemocracy，oryouaffirmthemainprincipleofmaterialism——

theabstractimpossibilityofmiracle。Youhaveaperfectrighttodoso；butinthatcaseyouarethedogmatist。ItisweChristianswhoacceptallactualevidence——itisyourationalistswhorefuseactualevidencebeingconstrainedtodosobyyourcreed。

ButIamnotconstrainedbyanycreedinthematter，andlookingimpartiallyintocertainmiraclesofmediaevalandmoderntimes，Ihavecometotheconclusionthattheyoccurred。Allargumentagainsttheseplainfactsisalwaysargumentinacircle。IfIsay，"Mediaevaldocumentsattestcertainmiraclesasmuchastheyattestcertainbattles，"theyanswer，"Butmediaevalsweresuperstitious"；

ifIwanttoknowinwhattheyweresuperstitious，theonlyultimateansweristhattheybelievedinthemiracles。IfIsay"apeasantsawaghost，"Iamtold，"Butpeasantsaresocredulous。"

IfIask，"Whycredulous？"theonlyansweris——thattheyseeghosts。

Icelandisimpossiblebecauseonlystupidsailorshaveseenit；

andthesailorsareonlystupidbecausetheysaytheyhaveseenIceland。

Itisonlyfairtoaddthatthereisanotherargumentthattheunbelievermayrationallyuseagainstmiracles，thoughhehimselfgenerallyforgetstouseit。

Hemaysaythattherehasbeeninmanymiraculousstoriesanotionofspiritualpreparationandacceptance：inshort，thatthemiraclecouldonlycometohimwhobelievedinit。

Itmaybeso，andifitissohowarewetotestit？Ifweareinquiringwhethercertainresultsfollowfaith，itisuselesstorepeatwearilythat（iftheyhappen）theydofollowfaith。

Iffaithisoneoftheconditions，thosewithoutfaithhaveamosthealthyrighttolaugh。Buttheyhavenorighttojudge。

Beingabelievermaybe，ifyoulike，asbadasbeingdrunk；

stillifwewereextractingpsychologicalfactsfromdrunkards，itwouldbeabsurdtobealwaystauntingthemwithhavingbeendrunk。

Supposewewereinvestigatingwhetherangrymenreallysawaredmistbeforetheireyes。Supposesixtyexcellenthouseholderssworethatwhenangrytheyhadseenthiscrimsoncloud：surelyitwouldbeabsurdtoanswer"Oh，butyouadmityouwereangryatthetime。"

Theymightreasonablyrejoin（inastentorianchorus），"Howtheblazescouldwediscover，withoutbeingangry，whetherangrypeopleseered？"

Sothesaintsandasceticsmightrationallyreply，"Supposethatthequestioniswhetherbelieverscanseevisions——eventhen，ifyouareinterestedinvisionsitisnopointtoobjecttobelievers。"

Youarestillarguinginacircle——inthatoldmadcirclewithwhichthisbookbegan。

Thequestionofwhethermiracleseveroccurisaquestionofcommonsenseandofordinaryhistoricalimagination：notofanyfinalphysicalexperiment。Onemayheresurelydismissthatquitebrainlesspieceofpedantrywhichtalksabouttheneedfor"scientificconditions"

inconnectionwithallegedspiritualphenomena。Ifweareaskingwhetheradeadsoulcancommunicatewithalivingitisludicroustoinsistthatitshallbeunderconditionsinwhichnotwolivingsoulsintheirsenseswouldseriouslycommunicatewitheachother。

Thefactthatghostspreferdarknessnomoredisprovestheexistenceofghoststhanthefactthatloverspreferdarknessdisprovestheexistenceoflove。Ifyouchoosetosay，"IwillbelievethatMissBrowncalledherfianceaperiwinkleor，anyotherendearingterm，ifshewillrepeatthewordbeforeseventeenpsychologists，"

thenIshallreply，"Verywell，ifthoseareyourconditions，youwillnevergetthetruth，forshecertainlywillnotsayit。"

Itisjustasunscientificasitisunphilosophicaltobesurprisedthatinanunsympatheticatmospherecertainextraordinarysympathiesdonotarise。ItisasifIsaidthatIcouldnottelliftherewasafogbecausetheairwasnotclearenough；orasifIinsistedonperfectsunlightinordertoseeasolareclipse。

Asacommon-senseconclusion，suchasthosetowhichwecomeaboutsexoraboutmidnight（wellknowingthatmanydetailsmustintheirownnaturebeconcealed）Iconcludethatmiraclesdohappen。

Iamforcedtoitbyaconspiracyoffacts：thefactthatthemenwhoencounterelvesorangelsarenotthemysticsandthemorbiddreamers，butfishermen，farmers，andallmenatoncecoarseandcautious；

thefactthatweallknowmenwhotestifytospiritualisticincidentsbutarenotspiritualists，thefactthatscienceitselfadmitssuchthingsmoreandmoreeveryday。SciencewillevenadmittheAscensionifyoucallitLevitation，andwillverylikelyadmittheResurrectionwhenithasthoughtofanotherwordforit。

IsuggesttheRegalvanisation。Butthestrongestofallisthedilemmaabovementioned，thatthesesupernaturalthingsareneverdeniedexceptonthebasiseitherofanti-democracyorofmaterialistdogmatism——Imaysaymaterialistmysticism。Thescepticalwaystakesoneofthetwopositions；eitheranordinarymanneednotbebelieved，oranextraordinaryeventmustnotbebelieved。

ForIhopewemaydismisstheargumentagainstwondersattemptedinthemererecapitulationoffrauds，ofswindlingmediumsortrickmiracles。Thatisnotanargumentatall，goodorbad。

AfalseghostdisprovestherealityofghostsexactlyasmuchasaforgedbanknotedisprovestheexistenceoftheBankofEngland——

ifanything，itprovesitsexistence。

Giventhisconvictionthatthespiritualphenomenadooccur（myevidenceforwhichiscomplexbutrational），wethencollidewithoneoftheworstmentalevilsoftheage。Thegreatestdisasterofthenineteenthcenturywasthis：thatmenbegantousetheword"spiritual"asthesameastheword"good。"

Theythoughtthattogrowinrefinementanduncorporealitywastogrowinvirtue。Whenscientificevolutionwasannounced，somefearedthatitwouldencouragemereanimality。Itdidworse：

itencouragedmerespirituality。Ittaughtmentothinkthatsolongastheywerepassingfromtheapetheyweregoingtotheangel。

Butyoucanpassfromtheapeandgotothedevil。Amanofgenius，verytypicalofthattimeofbewilderment，expresseditperfectly。

BenjaminDisraeliwasrightwhenhesaidhewasonthesideoftheangels。Hewasindeed；hewasonthesideofthefallenangels。

Hewasnotonthesideofanymereappetiteoranimalbrutality；

buthewasonthesideofalltheimperialismoftheprincesoftheabyss；hewasonthesideofarroganceandmystery，andcontemptofallobviousgood。Betweenthissunkenprideandthetoweringhumilitiesofheaventhereare，onemustsuppose，spiritsofshapesandsizes。Man，inencounteringthem，mustmakemuchthesamemistakesthathemakesinencounteringanyothervariedtypesinanyotherdistantcontinent。Itmustbehardatfirsttoknowwhoissupremeandwhoissubordinate。

Ifashadearosefromtheunderworld，andstaredatPiccadilly，thatshadewouldnotquiteunderstandtheideaofanordinaryclosedcarriage。Hewouldsupposethatthecoachmanontheboxwasatriumphantconqueror，draggingbehindhimakickingandimprisonedcaptive。So，ifweseespiritualfactsforthefirsttime，wemaymistakewhoisuppermost。Itisnotenoughtofindthegods；

theyareobvious；wemustfindGod，therealchiefofthegods。

Wemusthavealonghistoricexperienceinsupernaturalphenomena——

inordertodiscoverwhicharereallynatural。InthislightI

findthehistoryofChristianity，andevenofitsHebreworigins，quitepracticalandclear。ItdoesnottroublemetobetoldthattheHebrewgodwasoneamongmany。Iknowhewas，withoutanyresearchtotellmeso。JehovahandBaallookedequallyimportant，justasthesunandthemoonlookedthesamesize。Itisonlyslowlythatwelearnthatthesunisimmeasurablyourmaster，andthesmallmoononlyoursatellite。Believingthatthereisaworldofspirits，IshallwalkinitasIdointheworldofmen，lookingforthethingthatIlikeandthinkgood。

JustasIshouldseekinadesertforcleanwater，ortoilattheNorthPoletomakeacomfortablefire，soIshallsearchthelandofvoidandvisionuntilIfindsomethingfreshlikewater，andcomfortinglikefire；untilIfindsomeplaceineternity，whereIamliterallyathome。Andthereisonlyonesuchplacetobefound。

Ihavenowsaidenoughtoshow（toanyonetowhomsuchanexplanationisessential）thatIhaveintheordinaryarenaofapologetics，agroundofbelief。Inpurerecordsofexperiment（ifthesebetakendemocraticallywithoutcontemptorfavour）thereisevidencefirst，thatmiracleshappen，andsecondthatthenoblermiraclesbelongtoourtradition。ButIwillnotpretendthatthiscurtdiscussionismyrealreasonforacceptingChristianityinsteadoftakingthemoralgoodofChristianityasIshouldtakeitoutofConfucianism。

Ihaveanotherfarmoresolidandcentralgroundforsubmittingtoitasafaith，insteadofmerelypickinguphintsfromitasascheme。Andthatisthis：thattheChristianChurchinitspracticalrelationtomysoulisalivingteacher，notadeadone。

Itnotonlycertainlytaughtmeyesterday，butwillalmostcertainlyteachmeto-morrow。OnceIsawsuddenlythemeaningoftheshapeofthecross；somedayImayseesuddenlythemeaningoftheshapeofthemitre。OnefinemorningIsawwhywindowswerepointed；

somefinemorningImayseewhypriestswereshaven。Platohastoldyouatruth；butPlatoisdead。Shakespearehasstartledyouwithanimage；butShakespearewillnotstartleyouwithanymore。

Butimaginewhatitwouldbetolivewithsuchmenstillliving，toknowthatPlatomightbreakoutwithanoriginallectureto-morrow，orthatatanymomentShakespearemightshattereverythingwithasinglesong。ThemanwholivesincontactwithwhathebelievestobealivingChurchisamanalwaysexpectingtomeetPlatoandShakespeareto-morrowatbreakfast。Heisalwaysexpectingtoseesometruththathehasneverseenbefore。Thereisoneonlyotherparalleltothisposition；andthatistheparallelofthelifeinwhichweallbegan。Whenyourfathertoldyou，walkingaboutthegarden，thatbeesstungorthatrosessmeltsweet，youdidnottalkoftakingthebestoutofhisphilosophy。Whenthebeesstungyou，youdidnotcallitanentertainingcoincidence。

Whentherosesmeltsweetyoudidnotsay"Myfatherisarude，barbaricsymbol，enshrining（perhapsunconsciously）thedeepdelicatetruthsthatflowerssmell。"No：youbelievedyourfather，becauseyouhadfoundhimtobealivingfountainoffacts，athingthatreallyknewmorethanyou；athingthatwouldtellyoutruthto-morrow，aswellasto-day。Andifthiswastrueofyourfather，itwaseventruerofyourmother；atleastitwastrueofmine，towhomthisbookisdedicated。Now，whensocietyisinaratherfutilefussaboutthesubjectionofwomen，willnoonesayhowmucheverymanowestothetyrannyandprivilegeofwomen，tothefactthattheyaloneruleeducationuntileducationbecomesfutile：

foraboyisonlysenttobetaughtatschoolwhenitistoolatetoteachhimanything。Therealthinghasbeendonealready，andthankGoditisnearlyalwaysdonebywomen。Everymaniswomanised，merelybybeingborn。Theytalkofthemasculinewoman；

buteverymanisafeminisedman。AndifevermenwalktoWestminstertoprotestagainstthisfemaleprivilege，Ishallnotjointheirprocession。

ForIrememberwithcertaintythisfixedpsychologicalfact；

thattheverytimewhenIwasmostunderawoman’sauthority，Iwasmostfullofflameandadventure。Exactlybecausewhenmymothersaidthatantsbittheydidbite，andbecausesnowdidcomeinwinter（asshesaid）；thereforethewholeworldwastomeafairylandofwonderfulfulfilments，anditwaslikelivinginsomeHebraicage，whenprophecyafterprophecycametrue。Iwentoutasachildintothegarden，anditwasaterribleplacetome，preciselybecauseIhadacluetoit：ifIhadheldnoclueitwouldnothavebeenterrible，buttame。Amereunmeaningwildernessisnotevenimpressive。Butthegardenofchildhoodwasfascinating，exactlybecauseeverythinghadafixedmeaningwhichcouldbefoundoutinitsturn。InchbyinchImightdiscoverwhatwastheobjectoftheuglyshapecalledarake；orformsomeshadowyconjectureastowhymyparentskeptacat。

So，sinceIhaveacceptedChristendomasamotherandnotmerelyasachanceexample，IhavefoundEuropeandtheworldoncemorelikethelittlegardenwhereIstaredatthesymbolicshapesofcatandrake；Ilookateverythingwiththeoldelvishignoranceandexpectancy。Thisorthatriteordoctrinemaylookasuglyandextraordinaryasarake；butIhavefoundbyexperiencethatsuchthingsendsomehowingrassandflowers。Aclergymanmaybeapparentlyasuselessasacat，butheisalsoasfascinating，fortheremustbesomestrangereasonforhisexistence。Igiveoneinstanceoutofahundred；Ihavenotmyselfanyinstinctivekinshipwiththatenthusiasmforphysicalvirginity，whichhascertainlybeenanoteofhistoricChristianity。ButwhenIlooknotatmyselfbutattheworld，IperceivethatthisenthusiasmisnotonlyanoteofChristianity，butanoteofPaganism，anoteofhighhumannatureinmanyspheres。TheGreeksfeltvirginitywhentheycarvedArtemis，theRomanswhentheyrobedthevestals，theworstandwildestofthegreatElizabethanplaywrightsclungtotheliteralpurityofawomanastothecentralpillaroftheworld。

Aboveall，themodernworld（evenwhilemockingsexualinnocence）

hasflungitselfintoagenerousidolatryofsexualinnocence——

thegreatmodernworshipofchildren。Foranymanwholoveschildrenwillagreethattheirpeculiarbeautyishurtbyahintofphysicalsex。

Withallthishumanexperience，alliedwiththeChristianauthority，IsimplyconcludethatIamwrong，andthechurchright；orratherthatIamdefective，whilethechurchisuniversal。Ittakesallsortstomakeachurch；shedoesnotaskmetobecelibate。

ButthefactthatIhavenoappreciationofthecelibates，IacceptlikethefactthatIhavenoearformusic。Thebesthumanexperienceisagainstme，asitisonthesubjectofBach。

Celibacyisoneflowerinmyfather’sgarden，ofwhichIhavenotbeentoldthesweetorterriblename。ButImaybetolditanyday。

This，therefore，is，inconclusion，myreasonforacceptingthereligionandnotmerelythescatteredandseculartruthsoutofthereligion。Idoitbecausethethinghasnotmerelytoldthistruthorthattruth，buthasrevealeditselfasatruth-tellingthing。

Allotherphilosophiessaythethingsthatplainlyseemtobetrue；

onlythisphilosophyhasagainandagainsaidthethingthatdoesnotseemtobetrue，butistrue。Aloneofallcreedsitisconvincingwhereitisnotattractive；itturnsouttoberight，likemyfatherinthegarden。Theosophistsforinstancewillpreachanobviouslyattractiveidealikere-incarnation；butifwewaitforitslogicalresults，theyarespiritualsuperciliousnessandthecrueltyofcaste。Forifamanisabeggarbyhisownpre-natalsins，peoplewilltendtodespisethebeggar。ButChristianitypreachesanobviouslyunattractiveidea，suchasoriginalsin；butwhenwewaitforitsresults，theyarepathosandbrotherhood，andathunderoflaughterandpity；foronlywithoriginalsinwecanatoncepitythebeggaranddistrusttheking。Menofscienceofferushealth，anobviousbenefit；itisonlyafterwardsthatwediscoverthatbyhealth，theymeanbodilyslaveryandspiritualtedium。

Orthodoxymakesusjumpbythesuddenbrinkofhell；itisonlyafterwardsthatwerealisethatjumpingwasanathleticexercisehighlybeneficialtoourhealth。Itisonlyafterwardsthatwerealisethatthisdangeristherootofalldramaandromance。

Thestrongestargumentforthedivinegraceissimplyitsungraciousness。

TheunpopularpartsofChristianityturnoutwhenexaminedtobetheverypropsofthepeople。TheouterringofChristianityisarigidguardofethicalabnegationsandprofessionalpriests；

butinsidethatinhumanguardyouwillfindtheoldhumanlifedancinglikechildren，anddrinkingwinelikemen；forChristianityistheonlyframeforpaganfreedom。Butinthemodernphilosophythecaseisopposite；itisitsouterringthatisobviouslyartisticandemancipated；itsdespairiswithin。

Anditsdespairisthis，thatitdoesnotreallybelievethatthereisanymeaningintheuniverse；thereforeitcannothopetofindanyromance；itsromanceswillhavenoplots。Amancannotexpectanyadventuresinthelandofanarchy。Butamancanexpectanynumberofadventuresifhegoestravellinginthelandofauthority。Onecanfindnomeaningsinajungleofscepticism；

butthemanwillfindmoreandmoremeaningswhowalksthroughaforestofdoctrineanddesign。Hereeverythinghasastorytiedtoitstail，likethetoolsorpicturesinmyfather’shouse；

foritismyfather’shouse。IendwhereIbegan——attherightend。

Ihaveenteredatlastthegateofallgoodphilosophy。Ihavecomeintomysecondchildhood。

ButthislargerandmoreadventurousChristianuniversehasonefinalmarkdifficulttoexpress；yetasaconclusionofthewholematterIwillattempttoexpressit。Alltherealargumentaboutreligionturnsonthequestionofwhetheramanwhowasbornupsidedowncantellwhenhecomesrightwayup。TheprimaryparadoxofChristianityisthattheordinaryconditionofmanisnothissaneorsensiblecondition；thatthenormalitselfisanabnormality。

ThatistheinmostphilosophyoftheFall。InSirOliverLodge’sinterestingnewCatechism，thefirsttwoquestionswere：

"Whatareyou？"and"What，then，isthemeaningoftheFallofMan？"

Irememberamusingmyselfbywritingmyownanswerstothequestions；

butIsoonfoundthattheywereverybrokenandagnosticanswers。

Tothequestion，"Whatareyou？"Icouldonlyanswer，"Godknows。"

Andtothequestion，"WhatismeantbytheFall？"Icouldanswerwithcompletesincerity，"ThatwhateverIam，Iamnotmyself。"

Thisistheprimeparadoxofourreligion；somethingthatwehaveneverinanyfullsenseknown，isnotonlybetterthanourselves，butevenmorenaturaltousthanourselves。Andthereisreallynotestofthisexceptthemerelyexperimentalonewithwhichthesepagesbegan，thetestofthepaddedcellandtheopendoor。ItisonlysinceIhaveknownorthodoxythatIhaveknownmentalemancipation。

But，inconclusion，ithasonespecialapplicationtotheultimateideaofjoy。

ItissaidthatPaganismisareligionofjoyandChristianityofsorrow；itwouldbejustaseasytoprovethatPaganismispuresorrowandChristianitypurejoy。Suchconflictsmeannothingandleadnowhere。Everythinghumanmusthaveinitbothjoyandsorrow；

theonlymatterofinterestisthemannerinwhichthetwothingsarebalancedordivided。Andthereallyinterestingthingisthis，thatthepaganwas（inthemain）happierandhappierasheapproachedtheearth，butsadderandsadderasheapproachedtheheavens。

ThegaietyofthebestPaganism，asintheplayfulnessofCatullusorTheocritus，is，indeed，aneternalgaietynevertobeforgottenbyagratefulhumanity。Butitisallagaietyaboutthefactsoflife，notaboutitsorigin。Tothepaganthesmallthingsareassweetasthesmallbrooksbreakingoutofthemountain；butthebroadthingsareasbitterasthesea。Whenthepaganlooksattheverycoreofthecosmosheisstruckcold。Behindthegods，whoaremerelydespotic，sitthefates，whoaredeadly。Nay，thefatesareworsethandeadly；

theyaredead。AndwhenrationalistssaythattheancientworldwasmoreenlightenedthantheChristian，fromtheirpointofviewtheyareright。Forwhentheysay"enlightened"theymeandarkenedwithincurabledespair。ItisprofoundlytruethattheancientworldwasmoremodernthantheChristian。Thecommonbondisinthefactthatancientsandmodernshavebothbeenmiserableaboutexistence，abouteverything，whilemediaevalswerehappyaboutthatatleast。

Ifreelygrantthatthepagans，likethemoderns，wereonlymiserableabouteverything——theywerequitejollyabouteverythingelse。

IconcedethattheChristiansoftheMiddleAgeswereonlyatpeaceabouteverything——theywereatwarabouteverythingelse。

Butifthequestionturnontheprimarypivotofthecosmos，thentherewasmorecosmiccontentmentinthenarrowandbloodystreetsofFlorencethaninthetheatreofAthensortheopengardenofEpicurus。GiottolivedinagloomiertownthanEuripides，buthelivedinagayeruniverse。

Themassofmenhavebeenforcedtobegayaboutthelittlethings，butsadaboutthebigones。Nevertheless（Ioffermylastdogmadefiantly）itisnotnativetomantobeso。Manismorehimself，manismoremanlike，whenjoyisthefundamentalthinginhim，andgriefthesuperficial。Melancholyshouldbeaninnocentinterlude，atenderandfugitiveframeofmind；praiseshouldbethepermanentpulsationofthesoul。Pessimismisatbestanemotionalhalf-holiday；

joyistheuproariouslabourbywhichallthingslive。Yet，accordingtotheapparentestateofmanasseenbythepaganortheagnostic，thisprimaryneedofhumannaturecanneverbefulfilled。

Joyoughttobeexpansive；butfortheagnosticitmustbecontracted，itmustclingtoonecorneroftheworld。Griefoughttobeaconcentration；butfortheagnosticitsdesolationisspreadthroughanunthinkableeternity。ThisiswhatIcallbeingbornupsidedown。Thescepticmaytrulybesaidtobetopsy-turvy；

forhisfeetaredancingupwardsinidleecstasies，whilehisbrainisintheabyss。Tothemodernmantheheavensareactuallybelowtheearth。Theexplanationissimple；heisstandingonhishead；

whichisaveryweakpedestaltostandon。Butwhenhehasfoundhisfeetagainheknowsit。Christianitysatisfiessuddenlyandperfectlyman’sancestralinstinctforbeingtherightwayup；

satisfiesitsupremelyinthis；thatbyitscreedjoybecomessomethinggiganticandsadnesssomethingspecialandsmall。

Thevaultaboveusisnotdeafbecausetheuniverseisanidiot；

thesilenceisnottheheartlesssilenceofanendlessandaimlessworld。

Ratherthesilencearoundusisasmallandpitifulstillnesslikethepromptstillnessinasick-room。Weareperhapspermittedtragedyasasortofmercifulcomedy：becausethefranticenergyofdivinethingswouldknockusdownlikeadrunkenfarce。Wecantakeourowntearsmorelightlythanwecouldtakethetremendouslevitiesoftheangels。Sowesitperhapsinastarrychamberofsilence，whilethelaughteroftheheavensistooloudforustohear。

Joy，whichwasthesmallpublicityofthepagan，isthegiganticsecretoftheChristian。AndasIclosethischaoticvolumeIopenagainthestrangesmallbookfromwhichallChristianitycame；andI

amagainhauntedbyakindofconfirmation。ThetremendousfigurewhichfillstheGospelstowersinthisrespect，asineveryother，aboveallthethinkerswhoeverthoughtthemselvestall。Hispathoswasnatural，almostcasual。TheStoics，ancientandmodern，wereproudofconcealingtheirtears。HeneverconcealedHistears；

HeshowedthemplainlyonHisopenfaceatanydailysight，suchasthefarsightofHisnativecity。YetHeconcealedsomething。

Solemnsupermenandimperialdiplomatistsareproudofrestrainingtheiranger。HeneverrestrainedHisanger。HeflungfurnituredownthefrontstepsoftheTemple，andaskedmenhowtheyexpectedtoescapethedamnationofHell。YetHerestrainedsomething。

Isayitwithreverence；therewasinthatshatteringpersonalityathreadthatmustbecalledshyness。TherewassomethingthatHehidfromallmenwhenHewentupamountaintopray。TherewassomethingthatHecoveredconstantlybyabruptsilenceorimpetuousisolation。

TherewassomeonethingthatwastoogreatforGodtoshowuswhenHewalkeduponourearth；andIhavesometimesfanciedthatitwasHismirth。