The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-05
CULTURE DISSOCLATED FROM RELI-
GION.

1t ie an interesting as we'll as O deeply
momentous inquiry to consider what are
the effects on the character and happiness
of the individual of Intellectual culture dis
sociated frcm tue influence of religion. Its
direct tendency, in the frat place, is TO
make itself it's own centre, to beget spirit
of eJotism-and how much of modern intel
lectoalism b mere egotism This egotism
shows itsetfiu the moral order in making
kind of Higher Self instead of God tie
standard of right. The mao of culture
without religion shapes his cordnct in
accordance with an ideal system of princi-
pie of his own construction. He is TOR ever
forming moral ideas, and lives in a con.
sciousy- -breathed atmosphere of principle.
Instead of the more healthy and natural
course of acting by kind of moral instinct
and in the presence of God, he proceeds
always by a conscious reference to general
principles and uaXims of which he himself
ls the source. This attitude of the mind is
the death blow of simplicity. Egotism is
entirely incompatible with the beautiful
spoutaneity of the uucopsciously simple
character, while it is equally Incompatible
with that simplicity which may co. exist
even with the most exalted consciousness.
Other effecte the character might be
studied. We contend, for instance, that
the man of mere culture must be cynical,
that d too exclusive pursuit of tho beauti-
fui IN thought ard feeling issues in dilet
tant~lsIn and sADtimep q aism which are at
variance with large warm -heartedGess and
simple caudor, aud that the highest mentaI
cultivation apart from the practical stimuli
s0pplied by religion muet in the loug cu n
lead To decay Of practical enthusiasm 1t
msy be said altogether that culture Gy
itself does not epnoble the character. lI
in-ensifes maDy of our snscepri oIities, but
it doee not thereby enhance patiye solIdity
or nobility of character, while it has Ger
lvne eear >f a
other question is the effect which culture
apart from religion has on our happiness
We stfirm thAt it ie not OF the nature, upln-
form cd by religian, to add to our hap piuees
The pursuit of knowledge or the conten
plation of the beautiful for their own sake
apart from the love of God utterly fails to
satisfy the heart. What mockery, then.
is the attempt of 80 many who have cast off
God to soothe their natures by fine art !
Culture awakens eueceptibilIties which
would not otherwise be awakened, or in
tensifes already existing susceptibilities,
and thus increases both our pleasures and
our pains. Beneath is dreadful feeling of
void from the insult cheney of earthly eu-
joyments thoroughly to satisfy the heart.
Then, again, the man ofmere culture is for
ever forming moral and estheticai ideals
which, from the fact that what he sees
within and around him ever falls short of
them, are perpetual source of unhAppi-
ness to him. This is because they are
dwelt in for their own sake apart from
God, who and not man, is the foundation
of the good and the beautiful. The mind,
craving after ideal harmony in the moral
or aesthetic orders, is being constantly
Jared by being confronted with actual
fact. Tits is the explanation of much of
the unhappiness of many poets. Poetry
has been defined by some one to be har-'
moniZisg of the sadness of the universe
and the poet, whe is essentially a contem-
platiVe maD, cannot but be saddened by
the universe around him being, 80 to
speak, so much out of jolrt, and by his
inability thoroughly to satisfy his cravings
by his ideal constructions. Tho phiso-
| sophie problem of existence, too, is per-
petual torture to the thoughtful mind
which cannot find a peaceful satisfaction
in penetrating far into the secret of
existence as God chooses to enable it. The
thoughtful man, if he is not also child
like man, is much exposed to unhappiness.
We conclude by saying that the cultiva-
| tion of our intellectual and emotional ma
ture in accordance with our opportunities
is a daty, and, when referred to God,
elevates and ennobles, but that, dissociat-
ed from religion, it not only does not en-
noble, but deteriorAtes our nature and
In ncreases our unhappiness.