Forlong - Rivers of Life

402
Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Man in all Lands.
the law. The covenanter might commit rape or arson, but he was always willing to
shed the last drop of his blood for his covenant, or for a text of his Fetish.
Let me conclude this chapter with the words of a great philosopher;—“Ancient
creeds and time-honoured formulas are yielding as much to intemal pressure, as to external
assault. The expansion of knowledge is loosening the very earth, clutched by the roots
of creeds and churches. Science is penetrating everywhere, and slowly penetrating men’s
conception of the world, and of man’s destiny. Some considerable thinkers are therefore
of opinion that religion has played its part in the evolution of humanity, whilst others—
and I hold with these—believe that it has still a part to play, and will continue to regulate
the evolution. To do so, however, it must express the highest thought of the
time. It must not attempt to imprison the mind, nor force on our acceptance as
explanations of the universe, dogmas which were originally the childish guesses at
truth by barbarous tribes. It must no longer put forward principles which are unintelligible
and incredible, nor make their unintelligibility a source of glory, and a belief
in them a higher virtue than belief in demonstration. Instead of proclaiming the
nothingness of this life, the worthlessness of human love, and the impotence of the
human mind, it will proclaim the supreme importance of this life, the supreme value
of human love, and the grandeur of the human intellect.” 1
1 Problems of Life and Mind, by G. H. Lewis, I.