The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-06
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AGNOSTICISM AND RELIGION

AGNOSTlCISM AND RELIGION.
Believing that scientific discovery.
properly understood, Is the compile
ment and not the foe Of religion, and
that the prevalent anti-theistic spirit
threatens not only individual future
happiness, but also the very founda-
tions Of present civilization, Rev.
George J. Lucas. of Archibald. when
standing as a candidate for the first
doctorate in dogmatic theology at the
Catholic university Of America. chose
as the theme for his dissertation con-
sideration of Herbert Spencer's religion
Of the unknowable. or modern agnosti-
cism In its most synthetic and attrac-
tive form. His discussion Of the sub
ject. now printed in book form. by John
Murphy l. Co.. Baltimore. must take
high rank In Christian polemics. both
for It's scrupulous fairness to the oppo-
sition and for the incisive logic with
which It asserts the theistic position.
1t should be added that Mr.. Lucas
writes not as a Catholic. but as Chris
tian; and that the tenor OF his argument
responds to the warning voice OF the
late Bishop Brooks when he said: "The
world Is trembling on the brink OF
atheism. while men are frittering away
their lives in championing the shio-
boleths of their creeds."
Prehxed to the authors main argu-
ment is a history. in 45 pages. OF the
rise OF agnosticism from Nenophanes
to Spencer which is marvel or 1air
condensation. Beginning with an eN-
PLANTATION Of the origin Of the word ag-
nostic. which was first used by the late
Professor Huxley, and not very aptly
either, to designate those persons who'
in modern time. represent the opposite
extreme to the pretentious and KNOW
all Gnostics OF the early church, the
author proceeds to note the origin, rise
and decline OF each separate philoso-
phic school which. within the purview
of recorded history has sought to evolve
a metaphysical hypothesis for existing
things independent OF the conception
of a living God. We have not the space
at our command to follow Mr.. Lucas
as We would like to- through his Keen
dissections Of the fallacies or each OF
these various schools: but We pause TO
note a significant passage or two. First,
in his section on Hindu Sensationalism,
since the thought in 1t possesses gen.
eral applicability, the author truly
says:
When a school of philosophers bid ad'eu
TO the principle Of Gods existence. they
promise fair to leave all else that Is noble
in truth beside. The history OF philosophy
points to no non-theist.c school which has
not torn piece-meal all that is exalted in
man, the grandeur Of his higher nature,
his superiority over matter. the essential
difference between him and the lower
forms of Efe and the iEperishableness or
the higher part Of him when the lower anu
material part of his existence has begun
TO perish. Divorce from the verify that
we know God to exist, is divorce from all
the fountain principles of true philosophy,
morality and religion.
Referring to Aristotle, 'the father Of
modern realism" Mr.. Lucas writes:
Aristotle was a physicist only per acci-
dens, he was first and last metaphysi-
clan. think every person will admit that
there has never been a man. and most
probably never shall be, however SUPER
eminent he may be in intellect, who can
dispense with the experimental science OF
his time. and wing his mental flight into
the higher planes of revolut.on.zed prog
ress Of the ages yet unborn, and see things
in those ages which his contemporaries
cannot even dream Of. The great scientific
gen.uses have. as a rule, made but one no.
table discovery; this was effected at times
nft 10, an1 nr,y
years of search, most often because .he
age had grown up TO and was ripe for the
new point Of progress. The reason is
simple. the physical sciences depend on
experiment and observation. II these are
not at hand, intellect has no lamp to guide
It, inquiry no path to follow. Aristotle's )
physics were not his defects, but the inn
perfections Of that age. 1t was not an era
Of great natural discoveries.
From Aristotle our author jumps
over the medieval ages, in which.
however much religion may have been
pervertt1, 1t was at no time seriously
threatened by skepticism, and takes up
the discussion of modern agnostic doc
trines. beginning with Lord Bacon,
the brilliant. dogmatic and, shall we
not say, conceited restorer OF the physi-
cal sciences. Introductory to this con-
sideration OF agnosticism's modern
manifestations, DR.. Lucas says:
II we disregard It's antique form, Agnos-
ticism eliminated in the Sophist's supreme
dictum that all cogn!tion Is encircled
within the circumference OF the mind 8
affections; that Is. 1t does not transcend
the phenomenal or subjective Impressions
of the age For this Is also the final word
Of actual Agnostic philosophy. In this,
their message to this age. the trinity OF
the latest apostles, Messrs. Huxley, Tyn-
dali and Spencer are In, cxultant accord.
In beginning, therefore, TO trace the resus-
citation and growth Of modern Agnosti-
cism from Bacon to Mr.. Spencer. weare
viewing not SO much a progression as n
retrogression, not SO much an onward as
a backward march to the days when .ne
voice of Protagoras and the others spoke
10 the cities Of Greece. -
The adventiti6us and circumlocutory
philosophy of Descartes. which Profess
sor Huxley has eulogized as embodying
the golden rule Of science. h shown to
be not eply not original with Descartes
its centl. iinciple-T think, therefore
am"-having been uttered centuries
prior by st. Augustine, but also not
what It pretends to be, that Is, basic
and fundamental. "1f," says DR.. Lucas
1--WE do not pre-suppose and pre-admit
the principle Of contradiction, viz
that 1t rs impossible for the same thing
to be and not to be at the same time and
in the same circumstances-what will
become Of Descartes' prime principle
and first foundation, I thinkT With.
out the principle of contradiction, the
statements I think and I don't think,
4 now am thinking and I now am not
thinking will be in equal glory. the