Theism Doctrinal and Practical, or, Didactic Religious Utterances. By Francis W. Newman |
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Axioms of Religion.
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Axioms of Religion.
To reckon up the Axioms and Postulates of Religion,
Involves no other doubt than in all the Deductive Sciences,
As in Geometry or Mechanics, where controversies still linger.
Whether Axioms be two or ten, the Science is not the less stable,
So that only every Axiom be surely affirmed by good sense.
Yet, for the beauty of reasoning, let Axioms be few,
And for its clearness, let them be simple, and in some sense co-ordinate.
Until better be proposed, we may rest in the following Axioms:
I. “Not blind, but intelligent, is that Omnipresent Law
Involves no other doubt than in all the Deductive Sciences,
As in Geometry or Mechanics, where controversies still linger.
Whether Axioms be two or ten, the Science is not the less stable,
So that only every Axiom be surely affirmed by good sense.
Yet, for the beauty of reasoning, let Axioms be few,
And for its clearness, let them be simple, and in some sense co-ordinate.
Until better be proposed, we may rest in the following Axioms:
And that Power, which we discern to animate the universe.”
Also, by Definition, we entitle this Power God.
II. “The God upon whose energy the human spirit depends,
Must have all that spirit's faculties, and more beside.”
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And, approving our efforts for Right, disapproves our Wrong.”
IV. “The God who approves our Rectitude, is himself Perfect in Rectitude.”
V. “Adoration of God is intrinsically suitable to man.”
—Coroll. Such Adoration therefore is pleasing to God.
Nothing would I call an Axiom, save that which Intuition furnishes,
So that thoughtful men believe it by the evidence of thought itself,
Not by conscious experience and by external proof,
Even though experiment and test from without be possible.
Of such a kind, as it seems, are the Axioms here proposed,
To which most men will assent for their intrinsic reasonableness,
As to those which concern Space and Surfaces and Lines.
Nor do any of them involve language doubtful or dark,
Nor is their assertion wild or mysterious, more than their denial.
They are denied by very few; and most of the rejectors
Reject them only in hatred of Bigotry and Superstition,
Which Atheists, not unnaturally, confound with Religion.
Yet to meet the denial, it is fitting to inquire for proof,
Other than that best witness which true religion brings after it.
The argument from Animal Instinct demonstrates the first Axiom;
And the arguments which we have adduced to show “God in the Conscience,”
Leave none of the five Axioms without powerful support.
So that thoughtful men believe it by the evidence of thought itself,
Not by conscious experience and by external proof,
Even though experiment and test from without be possible.
Of such a kind, as it seems, are the Axioms here proposed,
To which most men will assent for their intrinsic reasonableness,
As to those which concern Space and Surfaces and Lines.
Nor do any of them involve language doubtful or dark,
Nor is their assertion wild or mysterious, more than their denial.
They are denied by very few; and most of the rejectors
Reject them only in hatred of Bigotry and Superstition,
Which Atheists, not unnaturally, confound with Religion.
Yet to meet the denial, it is fitting to inquire for proof,
Other than that best witness which true religion brings after it.
The argument from Animal Instinct demonstrates the first Axiom;
And the arguments which we have adduced to show “God in the Conscience,”
Leave none of the five Axioms without powerful support.
On these Axioms depends the Absolute or Abstract religion,
Which belongs to every Moral being, and therefore to man.
But for Human and practical religion we need also a Postulate,
Separate in nature from those which we rank as Axioms:
—“God gives, to those who pray to him, increase of spiritual strength.”
Scarcely may one say of this, that Intuition affirms the truth;
But Instinct prompts the act, and Experience affirms the truth.
Such truths are Experimental, like the “Laws” in Mechanics.
And yet by pure reasonings, without the distinct experience,
This truth may be deduced from a simpler truth of experience,
Which all ages and nations everywhere attest,—
That “God within Man's Conscience commands and forbids.”
And to meet the secret doubts and misgivings of some,
We have already assayed to prove the Postulate as a Theorem.
Which belongs to every Moral being, and therefore to man.
But for Human and practical religion we need also a Postulate,
Separate in nature from those which we rank as Axioms:
—“God gives, to those who pray to him, increase of spiritual strength.”
Scarcely may one say of this, that Intuition affirms the truth;
But Instinct prompts the act, and Experience affirms the truth.
Such truths are Experimental, like the “Laws” in Mechanics.
And yet by pure reasonings, without the distinct experience,
This truth may be deduced from a simpler truth of experience,
Which all ages and nations everywhere attest,—
That “God within Man's Conscience commands and forbids.”
And to meet the secret doubts and misgivings of some,
We have already assayed to prove the Postulate as a Theorem.
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