Even that fundamental
truth--the existence of a God--no man can prove by reason. The
ordinary proof for the existence of God involves either an assumption,
argument in a circle, or a contradiction. The impression of God is
kept up by experience, not by logic. And hence, when the experimental
religion of a man, of a community, or of a nation wanes, religion
wanes--their idea of God grows indistinct, and that man, community or
nation becomes infidel.
Bear in mind, then, that all religious truths are doubtable--even
those which we hold most strongly.
What does this brief account of the origin of doubt teach us? It
teaches us
GREAT INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY.
It teaches us sympathy and toleration with all men who venture upon
the ocean of truth to find out a path through it for themselves. Do
you sometimes feel yourself thinking unkind things about your
fellow-students who have intellectual difficulty? I know how hard it
is always to feel sympathy and toleration for them; but we must
address ourselves to that most carefully and most religiously.
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