INTRODUCTION.

...essential elements of a truly universal original: "Catholic"; here used in its literal sense meaning "universal" or "all-embracing" rather than referring to the Roman Catholic Church. faith.* Speculative opinions have little influence on action, and formal beliefs have even less. Some of the best and most gifted men the world has ever seen have had very little capacity for religious belief original: "believingness" in their nature, yet they have lived beloved by their friends and have often made all of humanity their debtors until the end of time through the noble works they have left behind them.

And, again, it is notorious that the zealous and perfectly sincere believer original: "professor"; one who "professes" or declares their faith openly.—to say nothing of the far deeper crimes committed by the fanatic—has occasionally been proven to be the swindler of the widow and the orphan entrusted to his care. Such people have been the forgers of deeds that made innocent children beggars, or the selfish, self-indulgent people original: "sybarite"; a person devoted to luxury and pleasure, named after the ancient Greek city of Sybaris. who consumed the hard-earned wages of the laboring poor in sensual indulgence. It is time that another test of human worth was appealed to besides religious profession. In particular, men of letters and good breeding should stop insulting those who differ from them in their theoretical theology with such labels as "infidel" and "atheist."

The path entered upon at the glorious Reformation, in short, cannot now be abandoned, nor may we linger on the way. "Forward, ever forward, without haste, but without rest" original: Ohne Hast, aber ohne Rast† is the motto written in letters of light on the modern banner. Infallibility and rigid dogma original: "dogmatism" are no more; scientific truth associated with reason, justice, and charity must henceforth show the way. It would be a deliberate lack of trust in the Almighty to question the healthiness of the conclusions to which they will lead, however much these may clash with preconceived opinions and personal interests. Our science is not that of the Jews from the days of Moses and Joshua; it is not the science of our ancestors, nor even the science of yesterday, but ever progressive, ever extending, ever becoming...

* The grounds of a universal religion are excellently provided, and at greater length, by our author in chapter 14. — Editor

† "Without haste, but without rest" original: Ohne Hast, aber ohne Rast; Goethe's motto, featuring a sun in the center as an emblem original: "cognizance"; a heraldic badge or mark of recognition..