第5章
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  Ireadthescientificandscepticalliteratureofmytime——allofit,atleast,thatIcouldfindwritteninEnglishandlyingabout;

  andIreadnothingelse;ImeanIreadnothingelseonanyothernoteofphilosophy。ThepennydreadfulswhichIalsoreadwereindeedinahealthyandheroictraditionofChristianity;

  butIdidnotknowthisatthetime。IneverreadalineofChristianapologetics。IreadaslittleasIcanofthemnow。

  ItwasHuxleyandHerbertSpencerandBradlaughwhobroughtmebacktoorthodoxtheology。Theysowedinmymindmyfirstwilddoubtsofdoubt。OurgrandmotherswerequiterightwhentheysaidthatTomPaineandthefree-thinkersunsettledthemind。Theydo。

  Theyunsettledminehorribly。Therationalistmademequestionwhetherreasonwasofanyusewhatever;andwhenIhadfinishedHerbertSpencerIhadgotasfarasdoubting(forthefirsttime)

  whetherevolutionhadoccurredatall。AsIlaiddownthelastofColonelIngersoll’satheisticlecturesthedreadfulthoughtbrokeacrossmymind,\"AlmostthoupersuadestmetobeaChristian。\"Iwasinadesperateway。

  Thisoddeffectofthegreatagnosticsinarousingdoubtsdeeperthantheirownmightbeillustratedinmanyways。

  Itakeonlyone。AsIreadandre-readallthenon-Christianoranti-Christianaccountsofthefaith,fromHuxleytoBradlaugh,aslowandawfulimpressiongrewgraduallybutgraphicallyuponmymind——theimpressionthatChristianitymustbeamostextraordinarything。Fornotonly(asIunderstood)hadChristianitythemostflamingvices,butithadapparentlyamysticaltalentforcombiningviceswhichseemedinconsistentwitheachother。

  Itwasattackedonallsidesandforallcontradictoryreasons。

  Nosoonerhadonerationalistdemonstratedthatitwastoofartotheeastthananotherdemonstratedwithequalclearnessthatitwasmuchtoofartothewest。NosoonerhadmyindignationdieddownatitsangularandaggressivesquarenessthanIwascalledupagaintonoticeandcondemnitsenervatingandsensualroundness。

  IncaseanyreaderhasnotcomeacrossthethingImean,IwillgivesuchinstancesasIrememberatrandomofthisself-contradictioninthescepticalattack。Igivefourorfiveofthem;therearefiftymore。

  Thus,forinstance,IwasmuchmovedbytheeloquentattackonChristianityasathingofinhumangloom;forIthought(andstillthink)sincerepessimismtheunpardonablesin。

  Insincerepessimismisasocialaccomplishment,ratheragreeablethanotherwise;andfortunatelynearlyallpessimismisinsincere。

  ButifChristianitywas,asthesepeoplesaid,athingpurelypessimisticandopposedtolife,thenIwasquitepreparedtoblowupSt。Paul’sCathedral。Buttheextraordinarythingisthis。

  TheydidprovetomeinChapterI。(tomycompletesatisfaction)

  thatChristianitywastoopessimistic;andthen,inChapterII。,theybegantoprovetomethatitwasagreatdealtoooptimistic。

  OneaccusationagainstChristianitywasthatitpreventedmen,bymorbidtearsandterrors,fromseekingjoyandlibertyinthebosomofNature。Butanotheraccusationwasthatitcomfortedmenwithafictitiousprovidence,andputtheminapink-and-whitenursery。

  OnegreatagnosticaskedwhyNaturewasnotbeautifulenough,andwhyitwashardtobefree。AnothergreatagnosticobjectedthatChristianoptimism,\"thegarmentofmake-believewovenbypioushands,\"hidfromusthefactthatNaturewasugly,andthatitwasimpossibletobefree。OnerationalisthadhardlydonecallingChristianityanightmarebeforeanotherbegantocallitafool’sparadise。Thispuzzledme;thechargesseemedinconsistent。

  Christianitycouldnotatoncebetheblackmaskonawhiteworld,andalsothewhitemaskonablackworld。ThestateoftheChristiancouldnotbeatoncesocomfortablethathewasacowardtoclingtoit,andsouncomfortablethathewasafooltostandit。

  Ifitfalsifiedhumanvisionitmustfalsifyitonewayoranother;

  itcouldnotwearbothgreenandrose-colouredspectacles。

  Irolledonmytonguewithaterriblejoy,asdidallyoungmenofthattime,thetauntswhichSwinburnehurledatthedrearinessofthecreed——

  \"Thouhastconquered,OpaleGalilaean,theworldhasgrowngraywithThybreath。\"

  ButwhenIreadthesamepoet’saccountsofpaganism(asin\"Atalanta\"),Igatheredthattheworldwas,ifpossible,moregraybeforetheGalileanbreathedonitthanafterwards。

  Thepoetmaintained,indeed,intheabstract,thatlifeitselfwaspitchdark。Andyet,somehow,Christianityhaddarkenedit。

  TheverymanwhodenouncedChristianityforpessimismwashimselfapessimist。Ithoughttheremustbesomethingwrong。Anditdidforonewildmomentcrossmymindthat,perhaps,thosemightnotbetheverybestjudgesoftherelationofreligiontohappinesswho,bytheirownaccount,hadneitheronenortheother。

  ItmustbeunderstoodthatIdidnotconcludehastilythattheaccusationswerefalseortheaccusersfools。IsimplydeducedthatChristianitymustbesomethingevenweirderandwickederthantheymadeout。Athingmighthavethesetwooppositevices;

  butitmustbearatherqueerthingifitdid。Amanmightbetoofatinoneplaceandtoothininanother;buthewouldbeanoddshape。

  AtthispointmythoughtswereonlyoftheoddshapeoftheChristianreligion;Ididnotallegeanyoddshapeintherationalisticmind。

  Hereisanothercaseofthesamekind。IfeltthatastrongcaseagainstChristianitylayinthechargethatthereissomethingtimid,monkish,andunmanlyaboutallthatiscalled\"Christian,\"

  especiallyinitsattitudetowardsresistanceandfighting。

  Thegreatscepticsofthenineteenthcenturywerelargelyvirile。

  Bradlaughinanexpansiveway,Huxley,inareticentway,weredecidedlymen。Incomparison,itdidseemtenablethattherewassomethingweakandoverpatientaboutChristiancounsels。

  TheGospelparadoxabouttheothercheek,thefactthatpriestsneverfought,ahundredthingsmadeplausibletheaccusationthatChristianitywasanattempttomakeamantoolikeasheep。

  Ireaditandbelievedit,andifIhadreadnothingdifferent,Ishouldhavegoneonbelievingit。ButIreadsomethingverydifferent。

  Iturnedthenextpageinmyagnosticmanual,andmybrainturnedup-sidedown。NowIfoundthatIwastohateChristianitynotforfightingtoolittle,butforfightingtoomuch。Christianity,itseemed,wasthemotherofwars。Christianityhaddelugedtheworldwithblood。

  IhadgotthoroughlyangrywiththeChristian,becauseheneverwasangry。AndnowIwastoldtobeangrywithhimbecausehisangerhadbeenthemosthugeandhorriblethinginhumanhistory;

  becausehisangerhadsoakedtheearthandsmokedtothesun。

  TheverypeoplewhoreproachedChristianitywiththemeeknessandnon-resistanceofthemonasteriesweretheverypeoplewhoreproacheditalsowiththeviolenceandvalouroftheCrusades。ItwasthefaultofpooroldChristianity(somehoworother)boththatEdwardtheConfessordidnotfightandthatRichardCoeurdeLeondid。

  TheQuakers(weweretold)weretheonlycharacteristicChristians;

  andyetthemassacresofCromwellandAlvawerecharacteristicChristiancrimes。Whatcoulditallmean?WhatwasthisChristianitywhichalwaysforbadewarandalwaysproducedwars?Whatcouldbethenatureofthethingwhichonecouldabusefirstbecauseitwouldnotfight,andsecondbecauseitwasalwaysfighting?

  Inwhatworldofriddleswasbornthismonstrousmurderandthismonstrousmeekness?TheshapeofChristianitygrewaqueerershapeeveryinstant。

  Itakeathirdcase;thestrangestofall,becauseitinvolvestheonerealobjectiontothefaith。TheonerealobjectiontotheChristianreligionissimplythatitisonereligion。Theworldisabigplace,fullofverydifferentkindsofpeople。Christianity(itmayreasonablybesaid)isonethingconfinedtoonekindofpeople;

  itbeganinPalestine,ithaspracticallystoppedwithEurope。

  Iwasdulyimpressedwiththisargumentinmyyouth,andIwasmuchdrawntowardsthedoctrineoftenpreachedinEthicalSocieties——

  Imeanthedoctrinethatthereisonegreatunconsciouschurchofallhumanityfoundedontheomnipresenceofthehumanconscience。

  Creeds,itwassaid,dividedmen;butatleastmoralsunitedthem。

  Thesoulmightseekthestrangestandmostremotelandsandagesandstillfindessentialethicalcommonsense。ItmightfindConfuciusunderEasterntrees,andhewouldbewriting\"Thoushaltnotsteal。\"Itmightdecipherthedarkesthieroglyphiconthemostprimevaldesert,andthemeaningwhendecipheredwouldbe\"Littleboysshouldtellthetruth。\"Ibelievedthisdoctrineofthebrotherhoodofallmeninthepossessionofamoralsense,andIbelieveitstill——withotherthings。AndIwasthoroughlyannoyedwithChristianityforsuggesting(asIsupposed)

  thatwholeagesandempiresofmenhadutterlyescapedthislightofjusticeandreason。ButthenIfoundanastonishingthing。

  IfoundthattheverypeoplewhosaidthatmankindwasonechurchfromPlatotoEmersonweretheverypeoplewhosaidthatmoralityhadchangedaltogether,andthatwhatwasrightinoneagewaswronginanother。IfIasked,say,foranaltar,Iwastoldthatweneedednone,formenourbrothersgaveusclearoraclesandonecreedintheiruniversalcustomsandideals。ButifImildlypointedoutthatoneofmen’suniversalcustomswastohaveanaltar,thenmyagnosticteachersturnedcleanroundandtoldmethatmenhadalwaysbeenindarknessandthesuperstitionsofsavages。

  IfounditwastheirdailytauntagainstChristianitythatitwasthelightofonepeopleandhadleftallotherstodieinthedark。

  ButIalsofoundthatitwastheirspecialboastforthemselvesthatscienceandprogresswerethediscoveryofonepeople,andthatallotherpeopleshaddiedinthedark。TheirchiefinsulttoChristianitywasactuallytheirchiefcomplimenttothemselves,andthereseemedtobeastrangeunfairnessaboutalltheirrelativeinsistenceonthetwothings。Whenconsideringsomepaganoragnostic,weweretorememberthatallmenhadonereligion;whenconsideringsomemysticorspiritualist,wewereonlytoconsiderwhatabsurdreligionssomemenhad。WecouldtrusttheethicsofEpictetus,becauseethicshadneverchanged。WemustnottrusttheethicsofBossuet,becauseethicshadchanged。Theychangedintwohundredyears,butnotintwothousand。

  Thisbegantobealarming。ItlookednotsomuchasifChristianitywasbadenoughtoincludeanyvices,butratherasifanystickwasgoodenoughtobeatChristianitywith。

  Whatagaincouldthisastonishingthingbelikewhichpeopleweresoanxioustocontradict,thatindoingsotheydidnotmindcontradictingthemselves?Isawthesamethingoneveryside。

  Icangivenofurtherspacetothisdiscussionofitindetail;

  butlestanyonesupposesthatIhaveunfairlyselectedthreeaccidentalcasesIwillrunbrieflythroughafewothers。

  Thus,certainscepticswrotethatthegreatcrimeofChristianityhadbeenitsattackonthefamily;ithaddraggedwomentothelonelinessandcontemplationofthecloister,awayfromtheirhomesandtheirchildren。But,then,othersceptics(slightlymoreadvanced)

  saidthatthegreatcrimeofChristianitywasforcingthefamilyandmarriageuponus;thatitdoomedwomentothedrudgeryoftheirhomesandchildren,andforbadethemlonelinessandcontemplation。

  Thechargewasactuallyreversed。Or,again,certainphrasesintheEpistlesorthemarriageservice,weresaidbytheanti-Christianstoshowcontemptforwoman’sintellect。ButIfoundthattheanti-Christiansthemselveshadacontemptforwoman’sintellect;

  foritwastheirgreatsneerattheChurchontheContinentthat\"onlywomen\"wenttoit。Oragain,Christianitywasreproachedwithitsnakedandhungryhabits;withitssackclothanddriedpeas。

  ButthenextminuteChristianitywasbeingreproachedwithitspompanditsritualism;itsshrinesofporphyryanditsrobesofgold。

  Itwasabusedforbeingtooplainandforbeingtoocoloured。

  AgainChristianityhadalwaysbeenaccusedofrestrainingsexualitytoomuch,whenBradlaughtheMalthusiandiscoveredthatitrestrainedittoolittle。Itisoftenaccusedinthesamebreathofprimrespectabilityandofreligiousextravagance。BetweenthecoversofthesameatheisticpamphletIhavefoundthefaithrebukedforitsdisunion,\"Onethinksonething,andoneanother,\"

  andrebukedalsoforitsunion,\"Itisdifferenceofopinionthatpreventstheworldfromgoingtothedogs。\"Inthesameconversationafree-thinker,afriendofmine,blamedChristianityfordespisingJews,andthendespisedithimselfforbeingJewish。

  Iwishedtobequitefairthen,andIwishtobequitefairnow;

  andIdidnotconcludethattheattackonChristianitywasallwrong。

  IonlyconcludedthatifChristianitywaswrong,itwasverywrongindeed。Suchhostilehorrorsmightbecombinedinonething,butthatthingmustbeverystrangeandsolitary。Therearemenwhoaremisers,andalsospendthrifts;buttheyarerare。Therearemensensualandalsoascetic;buttheyarerare。Butifthismassofmadcontradictionsreallyexisted,quakerishandbloodthirsty,toogorgeousandtoothread-bare,austere,yetpanderingpreposterouslytothelustoftheeye,theenemyofwomenandtheirfoolishrefuge,asolemnpessimistandasillyoptimist,ifthisevilexisted,thentherewasinthisevilsomethingquitesupremeandunique。

  ForIfoundinmyrationalistteachersnoexplanationofsuchexceptionalcorruption。Christianity(theoreticallyspeaking)

  wasintheireyesonlyoneoftheordinarymythsanderrorsofmortals。

  THEYgavemenokeytothistwistedandunnaturalbadness。

  Suchaparadoxofevilrosetothestatureofthesupernatural。

  Itwas,indeed,almostassupernaturalastheinfallibilityofthePope。

  Anhistoricinstitution,whichneverwentright,isreallyquiteasmuchofamiracleasaninstitutionthatcannotgowrong。

  TheonlyexplanationwhichimmediatelyoccurredtomymindwasthatChristianitydidnotcomefromheaven,butfromhell。Really,ifJesusofNazarethwasnotChrist,HemusthavebeenAntichrist。

  Andtheninaquiethourastrangethoughtstruckmelikeastillthunderbolt。Therehadsuddenlycomeintomymindanotherexplanation。

  Supposeweheardanunknownmanspokenofbymanymen。Supposewewerepuzzledtohearthatsomemensaidhewastootallandsometooshort;someobjectedtohisfatness,somelamentedhisleanness;

  somethoughthimtoodark,andsometoofair。Oneexplanation(ashasbeenalreadyadmitted)wouldbethathemightbeanoddshape。

  Butthereisanotherexplanation。Hemightbetherightshape。

  Outrageouslytallmenmightfeelhimtobeshort。Veryshortmenmightfeelhimtobetall。Oldbuckswhoaregrowingstoutmightconsiderhiminsufficientlyfilledout;oldbeauxwhoweregrowingthinmightfeelthatheexpandedbeyondthenarrowlinesofelegance。

  PerhapsSwedes(whohavepalehairliketow)calledhimadarkman,whilenegroesconsideredhimdistinctlyblonde。Perhaps(inshort)

  thisextraordinarythingisreallytheordinarything;atleastthenormalthing,thecentre。Perhaps,afterall,itisChristianitythatissaneandallitscriticsthataremad——invariousways。

  Itestedthisideabyaskingmyselfwhethertherewasaboutanyoftheaccusersanythingmorbidthatmightexplaintheaccusation。

  Iwasstartledtofindthatthiskeyfittedalock。Forinstance,itwascertainlyoddthatthemodernworldchargedChristianityatoncewithbodilyausterityandwithartisticpomp。Butthenitwasalsoodd,veryodd,thatthemodernworlditselfcombinedextremebodilyluxurywithanextremeabsenceofartisticpomp。

  ThemodernmanthoughtBecket’srobestoorichandhismealstoopoor。

  Butthenthemodernmanwasreallyexceptionalinhistory;nomanbeforeeveratesuchelaboratedinnersinsuchuglyclothes。Themodernmanfoundthechurchtoosimpleexactlywheremodernlifeistoocomplex;

  hefoundthechurchtoogorgeousexactlywheremodernlifeistoodingy。

  Themanwhodislikedtheplainfastsandfeastswasmadonentrees。

  Themanwhodislikedvestmentsworeapairofpreposteroustrousers。

  Andsurelyiftherewasanyinsanityinvolvedinthematteratallitwasinthetrousers,notinthesimplyfallingrobe。Iftherewasanyinsanityatall,itwasintheextravagantentrees,notinthebreadandwine。

  Iwentoverallthecases,andIfoundthekeyfittedsofar。

  ThefactthatSwinburnewasirritatedattheunhappinessofChristiansandyetmoreirritatedattheirhappinesswaseasilyexplained。

  ItwasnolongeracomplicationofdiseasesinChristianity,butacomplicationofdiseasesinSwinburne。TherestraintsofChristianssaddenedhimsimplybecausehewasmorehedonistthanahealthymanshouldbe。ThefaithofChristiansangeredhimbecausehewasmorepessimistthanahealthymanshouldbe。

  InthesamewaytheMalthusiansbyinstinctattackedChristianity;

  notbecausethereisanythingespeciallyanti-MalthusianaboutChristianity,butbecausethereissomethingalittleanti-humanaboutMalthusianism。

  Neverthelessitcouldnot,Ifelt,bequitetruethatChristianitywasmerelysensibleandstoodinthemiddle。Therewasreallyanelementinitofemphasisandevenfrenzywhichhadjustifiedthesecularistsintheirsuperficialcriticism。Itmightbewise,Ibeganmoreandmoretothinkthatitwaswise,butitwasnotmerelyworldlywise;itwasnotmerelytemperateandrespectable。

  Itsfiercecrusadersandmeeksaintsmightbalanceeachother;

  still,thecrusaderswereveryfierceandthesaintswereverymeek,meekbeyondalldecency。Now,itwasjustatthispointofthespeculationthatIrememberedmythoughtsaboutthemartyrandthesuicide。Inthatmattertherehadbeenthiscombinationbetweentwoalmostinsanepositionswhichyetsomehowamountedtosanity。

  Thiswasjustsuchanothercontradiction;andthisIhadalreadyfoundtobetrue。Thiswasexactlyoneoftheparadoxesinwhichscepticsfoundthecreedwrong;andinthisIhadfounditright。

  MadlyasChristiansmightlovethemartyrorhatethesuicide,theyneverfeltthesepassionsmoremadlythanIhadfeltthemlongbeforeIdreamedofChristianity。Thenthemostdifficultandinterestingpartofthementalprocessopened,andIbegantotracethisideadarklythroughalltheenormousthoughtsofourtheology。

  TheideawasthatwhichIhadoutlinedtouchingtheoptimistandthepessimist;thatwewantnotanamalgamorcompromise,butboththingsatthetopoftheirenergy;loveandwrathbothburning。

  HereIshallonlytraceitinrelationtoethics。ButIneednotremindthereaderthattheideaofthiscombinationisindeedcentralinorthodoxtheology。FororthodoxtheologyhasspeciallyinsistedthatChristwasnotabeingapartfromGodandman,likeanelf,noryetabeinghalfhumanandhalfnot,likeacentaur,butboththingsatonceandboththingsthoroughly,verymanandveryGod。

  NowletmetracethisnotionasIfoundit。

  Allsanemencanseethatsanityissomekindofequilibrium;

  thatonemaybemadandeattoomuch,ormadandeattoolittle。

  SomemodernshaveindeedappearedwithvagueversionsofprogressandevolutionwhichseekstodestroytheMESONorbalanceofAristotle。

  Theyseemtosuggestthatwearemeanttostarveprogressively,ortogooneatinglargerandlargerbreakfastseverymorningforever。

  ButthegreattruismoftheMESONremainsforallthinkingmen,andthesepeoplehavenotupsetanybalanceexcepttheirown。

  Butgrantedthatwehavealltokeepabalance,therealinterestcomesinwiththequestionofhowthatbalancecanbekept。

  ThatwastheproblemwhichPaganismtriedtosolve:thatwastheproblemwhichIthinkChristianitysolvedandsolvedinaverystrangeway。

  Paganismdeclaredthatvirtuewasinabalance;Christianitydeclareditwasinaconflict:thecollisionoftwopassionsapparentlyopposite。Ofcoursetheywerenotreallyinconsistent;

  buttheyweresuchthatitwashardtoholdsimultaneously。

  Letusfollowforamomenttheclueofthemartyrandthesuicide;

  andtakethecaseofcourage。Noqualityhaseversomuchaddledthebrainsandtangledthedefinitionsofmerelyrationalsages。

  Courageisalmostacontradictioninterms。Itmeansastrongdesiretolivetakingtheformofareadinesstodie。\"Hethatwilllosehislife,thesameshallsaveit,\"isnotapieceofmysticismforsaintsandheroes。Itisapieceofeverydayadviceforsailorsormountaineers。ItmightbeprintedinanAlpineguideoradrillbook。Thisparadoxisthewholeprincipleofcourage;

  evenofquiteearthlyorquitebrutalcourage。Amancutoffbytheseamaysavehislifeifhewillriskitontheprecipice。

  Hecanonlygetawayfromdeathbycontinuallysteppingwithinaninchofit。Asoldiersurroundedbyenemies,ifheistocuthiswayout,needstocombineastrongdesireforlivingwithastrangecarelessnessaboutdying。Hemustnotmerelyclingtolife,forthenhewillbeacoward,andwillnotescape。Hemustnotmerelywaitfordeath,forthenhewillbeasuicide,andwillnotescape。

  Hemustseekhislifeinaspiritoffuriousindifferencetoit;

  hemustdesirelifelikewaterandyetdrinkdeathlikewine。

  Nophilosopher,Ifancy,haseverexpressedthisromanticriddlewithadequatelucidity,andIcertainlyhavenotdoneso。

  ButChristianityhasdonemore:ithasmarkedthelimitsofitintheawfulgravesofthesuicideandthehero,showingthedistancebetweenhimwhodiesforthesakeoflivingandhimwhodiesforthesakeofdying。AndithasheldupeversinceabovetheEuropeanlancesthebannerofthemysteryofchivalry:theChristiancourage,whichisadisdainofdeath;nottheChinesecourage,whichisadisdainoflife。

  AndnowIbegantofindthatthisduplexpassionwastheChristiankeytoethicseverywhere。Everywherethecreedmadeamoderationoutofthestillcrashoftwoimpetuousemotions。Take,forinstance,thematterofmodesty,ofthebalancebetweenmereprideandmereprostration。Theaveragepagan,liketheaverageagnostic,wouldmerelysaythathewascontentwithhimself,butnotinsolentlyself-satisfied,thatthereweremanybetterandmanyworse,thathisdesertswerelimited,buthewouldseethathegotthem。

  Inshort,hewouldwalkwithhisheadintheair;butnotnecessarilywithhisnoseintheair。Thisisamanlyandrationalposition,butitisopentotheobjectionwenotedagainstthecompromisebetweenoptimismandpessimism——the\"resignation\"ofMatthewArnold。

  Beingamixtureoftwothings,itisadilutionoftwothings;

  neitherispresentinitsfullstrengthorcontributesitsfullcolour。

  Thisproperpridedoesnotlifttheheartlikethetongueoftrumpets;

  youcannotgocladincrimsonandgoldforthis。Ontheotherhand,thismildrationalistmodestydoesnotcleansethesoulwithfireandmakeitclearlikecrystal;itdoesnot(likeastrictandsearchinghumility)makeamanasalittlechild,whocansitatthefeetofthegrass。Itdoesnotmakehimlookupandseemarvels;

  forAlicemustgrowsmallifsheistobeAliceinWonderland。Thusitlosesboththepoetryofbeingproudandthepoetryofbeinghumble。

  Christianitysoughtbythissamestrangeexpedienttosavebothofthem。

  Itseparatedthetwoideasandthenexaggeratedthemboth。

  InonewayManwastobehaughtierthanhehadeverbeenbefore;

  inanotherwayhewastobehumblerthanhehadeverbeenbefore。

  InsofarasIamManIamthechiefofcreatures。InsofarasIamamanIamthechiefofsinners。Allhumilitythathadmeantpessimism,thathadmeantmantakingavagueormeanviewofhiswholedestiny——allthatwastogo。WeweretohearnomorethewailofEcclesiastesthathumanityhadnopre-eminenceoverthebrute,ortheawfulcryofHomerthatmanwasonlythesaddestofallthebeastsofthefield。ManwasastatueofGodwalkingaboutthegarden。Manhadpre-eminenceoverallthebrutes;

  manwasonlysadbecausehewasnotabeast,butabrokengod。

  TheGreekhadspokenofmencreepingontheearth,asifclingingtoit。NowManwastotreadontheearthasiftosubdueit。

  Christianitythusheldathoughtofthedignityofmanthatcouldonlybeexpressedincrownsrayedlikethesunandfansofpeacockplumage。

  Yetatthesametimeitcouldholdathoughtabouttheabjectsmallnessofmanthatcouldonlybeexpressedinfastingandfantasticsubmission,inthegrayashesofSt。DominicandthewhitesnowsofSt。Bernard。

  WhenonecametothinkofONE’SSELF,therewasvistaandvoidenoughforanyamountofbleakabnegationandbittertruth。Theretherealisticgentlemancouldlethimselfgo——aslongashelethimselfgoathimself。Therewasanopenplaygroundforthehappypessimist。

  Lethimsayanythingagainsthimselfshortofblasphemingtheoriginalaimofhisbeing;lethimcallhimselfafoolandevenadamnedfool(thoughthatisCalvinistic);buthemustnotsaythatfoolsarenotworthsaving。Hemustnotsaythataman,QUAman,canbevalueless。Here,againinshort,Christianitygotoverthedifficultyofcombiningfuriousopposites,bykeepingthemboth,andkeepingthembothfurious。TheChurchwaspositiveonbothpoints。

  Onecanhardlythinktoolittleofone’sself。Onecanhardlythinktoomuchofone’ssoul。

  Takeanothercase:thecomplicatedquestionofcharity,whichsomehighlyuncharitableidealistsseemtothinkquiteeasy。

  Charityisaparadox,likemodestyandcourage。Statedbaldly,charitycertainlymeansoneoftwothings——pardoningunpardonableacts,orlovingunlovablepeople。Butifweaskourselves(aswedidinthecaseofpride)whatasensiblepaganwouldfeelaboutsuchasubject,weshallprobablybebeginningatthebottomofit。

  Asensiblepaganwouldsaythatthereweresomepeopleonecouldforgive,andsomeonecouldn’t:aslavewhostolewinecouldbelaughedat;

  aslavewhobetrayedhisbenefactorcouldbekilled,andcursedevenafterhewaskilled。Insofarastheactwaspardonable,themanwaspardonable。Thatagainisrational,andevenrefreshing;

  butitisadilution。Itleavesnoplaceforapurehorrorofinjustice,suchasthatwhichisagreatbeautyintheinnocent。Anditleavesnoplaceforameretendernessformenasmen,suchasisthewholefascinationofthecharitable。Christianitycameinhereasbefore。

  Itcameinstartlinglywithasword,andcloveonethingfromanother。

  Itdividedthecrimefromthecriminal。Thecriminalwemustforgiveuntoseventytimesseven。Thecrimewemustnotforgiveatall。

  Itwasnotenoughthatslaveswhostolewineinspiredpartlyangerandpartlykindness。Wemustbemuchmoreangrywiththeftthanbefore,andyetmuchkindertothievesthanbefore。Therewasroomforwrathandlovetorunwild。AndthemoreIconsideredChristianity,themoreIfoundthatwhileithadestablishedaruleandorder,thechiefaimofthatorderwastogiveroomforgoodthingstorunwild。

  Mentalandemotionallibertyarenotsosimpleastheylook。

  Reallytheyrequirealmostascarefulabalanceoflawsandconditionsasdosocialandpoliticalliberty。Theordinaryaestheticanarchistwhosetsouttofeeleverythingfreelygetsknottedatlastinaparadoxthatpreventshimfeelingatall。Hebreaksawayfromhomelimitstofollowpoetry。Butinceasingtofeelhomelimitshehasceasedtofeelthe\"Odyssey。\"Heisfreefromnationalprejudicesandoutsidepatriotism。Butbeingoutsidepatriotismheisoutside\"HenryV。\"Suchaliterarymanissimplyoutsideallliterature:

  heismoreofaprisonerthananybigot。Forifthereisawallbetweenyouandtheworld,itmakeslittledifferencewhetheryoudescribeyourselfaslockedinoraslockedout。Whatwewantisnottheuniversalitythatisoutsideallnormalsentiments;

  wewanttheuniversalitythatisinsideallnormalsentiments。

  Itisallthedifferencebetweenbeingfreefromthem,asamanisfreefromaprison,andbeingfreeofthemasamanisfreeofacity。IamfreefromWindsorCastle(thatis,Iamnotforciblydetainedthere),butIambynomeansfreeofthatbuilding。

  Howcanmanbeapproximatelyfreeoffineemotions,abletoswingtheminaclearspacewithoutbreakageorwrong?THISwastheachievementofthisChristianparadoxoftheparallelpassions。

  Grantedtheprimarydogmaofthewarbetweendivineanddiabolic,therevoltandruinoftheworld,theiroptimismandpessimism,aspurepoetry,couldbeloosenedlikecataracts。

  St。Francis,inpraisingallgood,couldbeamoreshoutingoptimistthanWaltWhitman。St。Jerome,indenouncingallevil,couldpainttheworldblackerthanSchopenhauer。Bothpassionswerefreebecausebothwerekeptintheirplace。Theoptimistcouldpouroutallthepraisehelikedonthegaymusicofthemarch,thegoldentrumpets,andthepurplebannersgoingintobattle。

  Buthemustnotcallthefightneedless。Thepessimistmightdrawasdarklyashechosethesickeningmarchesorthesanguinewounds。

  Buthemustnotcallthefighthopeless。Soitwaswithalltheothermoralproblems,withpride,withprotest,andwithcompassion。

  Bydefiningitsmaindoctrine,theChurchnotonlykeptseeminglyinconsistentthingssidebyside,but,whatwasmore,allowedthemtobreakoutinasortofartisticviolenceotherwisepossibleonlytoanarchists。Meeknessgrewmoredramaticthanmadness。

  HistoricChristianityroseintoahighandstrangeCOUPDETHEATRE

  ofmorality——thingsthataretovirtuewhatthecrimesofNeroaretovice。Thespiritsofindignationandofcharitytookterribleandattractiveforms,rangingfromthatmonkishfiercenessthatscourgedlikeadogthefirstandgreatestofthePlantagenets,tothesublimepityofSt。Catherine,who,intheofficialshambles,kissedthebloodyheadofthecriminal。Poetrycouldbeactedaswellascomposed。Thisheroicandmonumentalmannerinethicshasentirelyvanishedwithsupernaturalreligion。They,beinghumble,couldparadethemselves:butwearetooproudtobeprominent。

  Ourethicalteacherswritereasonablyforprisonreform;butwearenotlikelytoseeMr。Cadbury,oranyeminentphilanthropist,gointoReadingGaolandembracethestrangledcorpsebeforeitiscastintothequicklime。Ourethicalteacherswritemildlyagainstthepowerofmillionaires;butwearenotlikelytoseeMr。Rockefeller,oranymoderntyrant,publiclywhippedinWestminsterAbbey。

  Thus,thedoublechargesofthesecularists,thoughthrowingnothingbutdarknessandconfusiononthemselves,throwareallightonthefaith。ItistruethatthehistoricChurchhasatonceemphasisedcelibacyandemphasisedthefamily;hasatonce(ifonemayputitso)

  beenfiercelyforhavingchildrenandfiercelyfornothavingchildren。

  Ithaskeptthemsidebysideliketwostrongcolours,redandwhite,liketheredandwhiteupontheshieldofSt。George。Ithasalwayshadahealthyhatredofpink。Ithatesthatcombinationoftwocolourswhichisthefeebleexpedientofthephilosophers。

  Ithatesthatevolutionofblackintowhitewhichistantamounttoadirtygray。Infact,thewholetheoryoftheChurchonvirginitymightbesymbolizedinthestatementthatwhiteisacolour:

  notmerelytheabsenceofacolour。AllthatIamurgingherecanbeexpressedbysayingthatChristianitysoughtinmostofthesecasestokeeptwocolourscoexistentbutpure。Itisnotamixturelikerussetorpurple;itisratherlikeashotsilk,forashotsilkisalwaysatrightangles,andisinthepatternofthecross。

  Soitisalso,ofcourse,withthecontradictorychargesoftheanti-Christiansaboutsubmissionandslaughter。ItIStruethattheChurchtoldsomementofightandothersnottofight;

  anditIStruethatthosewhofoughtwerelikethunderboltsandthosewhodidnotfightwerelikestatues。AllthissimplymeansthattheChurchpreferredtouseitsSupermenandtouseitsTolstoyans。TheremustbeSOMEgoodinthelifeofbattle,forsomanygoodmenhaveenjoyedbeingsoldiers。TheremustbeSOMEgoodintheideaofnon-resistance,forsomanygoodmenseemtoenjoybeingQuakers。AllthattheChurchdid(sofarasthatgoes)

  wastopreventeitherofthesegoodthingsfromoustingtheother。

  Theyexistedsidebyside。TheTolstoyans,havingallthescruplesofmonks,simplybecamemonks。TheQuakersbecameaclubinsteadofbecomingasect。MonkssaidallthatTolstoysays;theypouredoutlucidlamentationsaboutthecrueltyofbattlesandthevanityofrevenge。ButtheTolstoyansarenotquiterightenoughtorunthewholeworld;andintheagesoffaiththeywerenotallowedtorunit。TheworlddidnotlosethelastchargeofSirJamesDouglasorthebannerofJoantheMaid。Andsometimesthispuregentlenessandthispurefiercenessmetandjustifiedtheirjuncture;

  theparadoxofalltheprophetswasfulfilled,and,inthesoulofSt。Louis,thelionlaydownwiththelamb。Butrememberthatthistextistoolightlyinterpreted。Itisconstantlyassured,especiallyinourTolstoyantendencies,thatwhenthelionliesdownwiththelambthelionbecomeslamb-like。Butthatisbrutalannexationandimperialismonthepartofthelamb。Thatissimplythelambabsorbingthelioninsteadofthelioneatingthelamb。

  Therealproblemis——Canthelionliedownwiththelambandstillretainhisroyalferocity?THATistheproblemtheChurchattempted;

  THATisthemiraclesheachieved。

  ThisiswhatIhavecalledguessingthehiddeneccentricitiesoflife。Thisisknowingthataman’sheartistotheleftandnotinthemiddle。Thisisknowingnotonlythattheearthisround,butknowingexactlywhereitisflat。Christiandoctrinedetectedtheodditiesoflife。Itnotonlydiscoveredthelaw,butitforesawtheexceptions。ThoseunderrateChristianitywhosaythatitdiscoveredmercy;anyonemightdiscovermercy。Infacteveryonedid。Buttodiscoveraplanforbeingmercifulandalsosevere——

  THATwastoanticipateastrangeneedofhumannature。Fornoonewantstobeforgivenforabigsinasifitwerealittleone。

  Anyonemightsaythatweshouldbeneitherquitemiserablenorquitehappy。ButtofindouthowfaroneMAYbequitemiserablewithoutmakingitimpossibletobequitehappy——thatwasadiscoveryinpsychology。Anyonemightsay,\"Neitherswaggernorgrovel\";

  anditwouldhavebeenalimit。Buttosay,\"Hereyoucanswaggerandthereyoucangrovel\"——thatwasanemancipation。

  ThiswasthebigfactaboutChristianethics;thediscoveryofthenewbalance。Paganismhadbeenlikeapillarofmarble,uprightbecauseproportionedwithsymmetry。Christianitywaslikeahugeandraggedandromanticrock,which,thoughitswaysonitspedestalatatouch,yet,becauseitsexaggeratedexcrescencesexactlybalanceeachother,isenthronedthereforathousandyears。

  InaGothiccathedralthecolumnswerealldifferent,buttheywereallnecessary。Everysupportseemedanaccidentalandfantasticsupport;

  everybuttresswasaflyingbuttress。SoinChristendomapparentaccidentsbalanced。Becketworeahairshirtunderhisgoldandcrimson,andthereismuchtobesaidforthecombination;

  forBecketgotthebenefitofthehairshirtwhilethepeopleinthestreetgotthebenefitofthecrimsonandgold。Itisatleastbetterthanthemannerofthemodernmillionaire,whohastheblackandthedraboutwardlyforothers,andthegoldnexthisheart。

  Butthebalancewasnotalwaysinoneman’sbodyasinBecket’s;

  thebalancewasoftendistributedoverthewholebodyofChristendom。

  BecauseamanprayedandfastedontheNorthernsnows,flowerscouldbeflungathisfestivalintheSoutherncities;andbecausefanaticsdrankwateronthesandsofSyria,mencouldstilldrinkciderintheorchardsofEngland。ThisiswhatmakesChristendomatoncesomuchmoreperplexingandsomuchmoreinterestingthanthePaganempire;

  justasAmiensCathedralisnotbetterbutmoreinterestingthantheParthenon。Ifanyonewantsamodernproofofallthis,lethimconsiderthecuriousfactthat,underChristianity,Europe(whileremainingaunity)hasbrokenupintoindividualnations。

  Patriotismisaperfectexampleofthisdeliberatebalancingofoneemphasisagainstanotheremphasis。TheinstinctofthePaganempirewouldhavesaid,\"YoushallallbeRomancitizens,andgrowalike;lettheGermangrowlessslowandreverent;

  theFrenchmenlessexperimentalandswift。\"ButtheinstinctofChristianEuropesays,\"LettheGermanremainslowandreverent,thattheFrenchmanmaythemoresafelybeswiftandexperimental。

  Wewillmakeanequipoiseoutoftheseexcesses。TheabsurditycalledGermanyshallcorrecttheinsanitycalledFrance。\"

  Lastandmostimportant,itisexactlythiswhichexplainswhatissoinexplicabletoallthemoderncriticsofthehistoryofChristianity。Imeanthemonstrouswarsaboutsmallpointsoftheology,theearthquakesofemotionaboutagestureoraword。

  Itwasonlyamatterofaninch;butaninchiseverythingwhenyouarebalancing。TheChurchcouldnotaffordtoswerveahair’sbreadthonsomethingsifshewastocontinuehergreatanddaringexperimentoftheirregularequilibrium。Onceletoneideabecomelesspowerfulandsomeotherideawouldbecometoopowerful。ItwasnoflockofsheeptheChristianshepherdwasleading,butaherdofbullsandtigers,ofterribleidealsanddevouringdoctrines,eachoneofthemstrongenoughtoturntoafalsereligionandlaywastetheworld。

  RememberthattheChurchwentinspecificallyfordangerousideas;

  shewasaliontamer。TheideaofbirththroughaHolySpirit,ofthedeathofadivinebeing,oftheforgivenessofsins,orthefulfilmentofprophecies,areideaswhich,anyonecansee,needbutatouchtoturnthemintosomethingblasphemousorferocious。

  ThesmallestlinkwasletdropbytheartificersoftheMediterranean,andthelionofancestralpessimismbursthischainintheforgottenforestsofthenorth。OfthesetheologicalequalisationsIhavetospeakafterwards。Hereitisenoughtonoticethatifsomesmallmistakeweremadeindoctrine,hugeblundersmightbemadeinhumanhappiness。AsentencephrasedwrongaboutthenatureofsymbolismwouldhavebrokenallthebeststatuesinEurope。

  Aslipinthedefinitionsmightstopallthedances;mightwitheralltheChristmastreesorbreakalltheEastereggs。Doctrineshadtobedefinedwithinstrictlimits,eveninorderthatmanmightenjoygeneralhumanliberties。TheChurchhadtobecareful,ifonlythattheworldmightbecareless。

  ThisisthethrillingromanceofOrthodoxy。Peoplehavefallenintoafoolishhabitofspeakingoforthodoxyassomethingheavy,humdrum,andsafe。Thereneverwasanythingsoperilousorsoexcitingasorthodoxy。Itwassanity:andtobesaneismoredramaticthantobemad。Itwastheequilibriumofamanbehindmadlyrushinghorses,seemingtostoopthiswayandtoswaythat,yetineveryattitudehavingthegraceofstatuaryandtheaccuracyofarithmetic。

  TheChurchinitsearlydayswentfierceandfastwithanywarhorse;

  yetitisutterlyunhistorictosaythatshemerelywentmadalongoneidea,likeavulgarfanaticism。Sheswervedtoleftandright,soexactlyastoavoidenormousobstacles。SheleftononehandthehugebulkofArianism,buttressedbyalltheworldlypowerstomakeChristianitytooworldly。Thenextinstantshewasswervingtoavoidanorientalism,whichwouldhavemadeittoounworldly。

  TheorthodoxChurchnevertookthetamecourseoracceptedtheconventions;theorthodoxChurchwasneverrespectable。ItwouldhavebeeneasiertohaveacceptedtheearthlypoweroftheArians。

  Itwouldhavebeeneasy,intheCalvinisticseventeenthcentury,tofallintothebottomlesspitofpredestination。Itiseasytobeamadman:itiseasytobeaheretic。Itisalwayseasytolettheagehaveitshead;thedifficultthingistokeepone’sown。

  Itisalwayseasytobeamodernist;asitiseasytobeasnob。

  TohavefallenintoanyofthoseopentrapsoferrorandexaggerationwhichfashionafterfashionandsectaftersectsetalongthehistoricpathofChristendom——thatwouldindeedhavebeensimple。

  Itisalwayssimpletofall;thereareaninfinityofanglesatwhichonefalls,onlyoneatwhichonestands。TohavefallenintoanyoneofthefadsfromGnosticismtoChristianSciencewouldindeedhavebeenobviousandtame。Buttohaveavoidedthemallhasbeenonewhirlingadventure;andinmyvisiontheheavenlychariotfliesthunderingthroughtheages,thedullheresiessprawlingandprostrate,thewildtruthreelingbuterect。

  VIITHEETERNALREVOLUTION

  Thefollowingpropositionshavebeenurged:First,thatsomefaithinourlifeisrequiredeventoimproveit;second,thatsomedissatisfactionwiththingsastheyareisnecessaryeveninordertobesatisfied;third,thattohavethisnecessarycontentandnecessarydiscontentitisnotsufficienttohavetheobviousequilibriumoftheStoic。Formereresignationhasneitherthegiganticlevityofpleasurenorthesuperbintoleranceofpain。

  Thereisavitalobjectiontotheadvicemerelytogrinandbearit。

  Theobjectionisthatifyoumerelybearit,youdonotgrin。

  Greekheroesdonotgrin:butgargoylesdo——becausetheyareChristian。

  AndwhenaChristianispleased,heis(inthemostexactsense)

  frightfullypleased;hispleasureisfrightful。ChristprophesiedthewholeofGothicarchitectureinthathourwhennervousandrespectablepeople(suchpeopleasnowobjecttobarrelorgans)

  objectedtotheshoutingofthegutter-snipesofJerusalem。

  Hesaid,\"Iftheseweresilent,theverystoneswouldcryout。\"

  UndertheimpulseofHisspiritaroselikeaclamorouschorusthefacadesofthemediaevalcathedrals,throngedwithshoutingfacesandopenmouths。Theprophecyhasfulfilleditself:theverystonescryout。

  Ifthesethingsbeconceded,thoughonlyforargument,wemaytakeupwhereweleftitthethreadofthethoughtofthenaturalman,calledbytheScotch(withregrettablefamiliarity),\"TheOldMan。\"Wecanaskthenextquestionsoobviouslyinfrontofus。Somesatisfactionisneededeventomakethingsbetter。

  Butwhatdowemeanbymakingthingsbetter?Mostmoderntalkonthismatterisamereargumentinacircle——thatcirclewhichwehavealreadymadethesymbolofmadnessandofmererationalism。

  Evolutionisonlygoodifitproducesgood;goodisonlygoodifithelpsevolution。Theelephantstandsonthetortoise,andthetortoiseontheelephant。

  Obviously,itwillnotdototakeouridealfromtheprincipleinnature;forthesimplereasonthat(exceptforsomehumanordivinetheory),thereisnoprincipleinnature。Forinstance,thecheapanti-democratofto-daywilltellyousolemnlythatthereisnoequalityinnature。Heisright,buthedoesnotseethelogicaladdendum。Thereisnoequalityinnature;alsothereisnoinequalityinnature。Inequality,asmuchasequality,impliesastandardofvalue。Toreadaristocracyintotheanarchyofanimalsisjustassentimentalastoreaddemocracyintoit。

  Botharistocracyanddemocracyarehumanideals:theonesayingthatallmenarevaluable,theotherthatsomemenaremorevaluable。

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