The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-21

| thinks. with aort OF eHpenmehtst ecNaint'
to the planet Earth. whose history 10 snfncient
IL well known 10 rs to prevent any pccullarlt,
| OF its government escaping our notice. We
can apply II also without hesitation to the sun
and to the whole solar system. which form In
company with ourselves only 4 single small
cosmos We can even apply 1t to tho whole
| sidereal system. which 10 revealed to the ip-
| habitants OF tho earth. thanks to the trans
| parency OF air and space. In spite Of the dis
| tances surprising all Imagination which
separate these different bodies from each
other and from us. We have been able
TO verify tho fact that the physical
forces. the mechanism. the chemistry OF these
bodies are identical with those OF the solar sys-
tenn. There Is no doubt that they. like the
solar system. follow the laws OF developrien emit
which contains within Itself its own causes.
In any case. tho burden Of proof will lie with
those who should maintain the contrary. In
virtue Of tho principle that wo nluet not dis
cuss No possible that which no indication leads
us to assume.
NJ Renan. then, assumes as a thesis the
proposition that the hai uhe .der.oniaVl By. In
ternal development without exterior interven-
ton is the law. OF tho whole universe
which we behold. An infinite number OF blows
makes everything come to pass. and causes
the ends attained by chance to seem TO have
been attained by volition. Our universe
within tho reach OF our experiment Ia not
governed by any Intelligent reason. God. as
the common herd understand him. tho living
God the acting God. the God Providence. does
not show himself in it. The question Is to
know whether this universe constitutes the
totally OF existence. Hore doubt begins.
The active God is absent from this universe.
Does he not exist beyond itp
Alter considering this question at great
length NJ. Renau arrives ut the following con-
ciIsion, viz. that while the two fundamental
dogmas Of religion. God md immortality. re.
main nationally undemonstrable. one cannot
say that they are sniittcn with absolute lmpos-
sibiiity. The touching efforts Of humanity to
savo these two doymas must not BIZ censured
rs being pure chimera. A general con-
sciousness pervadin2 the universe. a soul Of
the world. arc things which experience has
never proved: but a mo!ccule from one Of our
bones has no suspicion Of tho consciousness
resident In the body OF which il forms part,
OF that consciousness which constitutes our
individual unity Tho most logical attitude Of
tho thinker in the presence OF religion isto act
as though 1t were true. One must behave rs
though God and the soul existed Religion.
In other words. is an indispensable working
hypothesis, and immortality while a posto'iUi
the most feeble OF dogmas IL priori the most
necessary. This is obviously the next thing
10 echoing the old admission that II God did
not exist It would be neediul to invent Him.
NJ. ReEan. indeed. considers the existence OF a |
superior to the universe much |
more probable than individual immortality. |
We have no other foundation Tor our hopes in |
he latter aspect than the great presumption |
rs to the goodness of the supreme being. Yet |
although the eternal paradise promised to |
nan may have no reality. it's, nevertheless.
necessary to act as though It had it is neces-
'ary that those who do not believe in 1t should
urpass in goodness and in selfabnegation
hose who do believe.