Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-31
AeNosTIcIsM is CowARDLY.
BY Rev. DR.. D. C. GAR

have to be proven. He Is the condi-
ton of every thought.
The subtle skepticism of to-day as
sumes the attitude of agnosticism. In
it's popular but superficial form 1t has
affected numbers, who find thereby an
easy escape from thinking about spir-
itual truths, release from all re-
ligious responsibilities.
As matter of philosophy, agnosti-
cism is the doctrine of the unknow-
able All knowledge, it is said, is rela-
tive. We can only know an object by
It's lacking what something else pos
sesses or possessing what some other
lacks. AS the infinite or absolute can
not be thus limited, it is unthink-
able. and therefore unknowable. The
agnostic processes to believe only phe-
nomena or appearances he will not adj
NIT the reality Of anything behind or
through appearances. That which can
not be proven by strict inductive rea-
soning must be relegated to the realm
of the unknowable.
l would have you notice in the first
place that there is a reyerent, even
religious, kind of agnosticism. Indeed,
the origin of this philosophy lay in
the attempt to strengthen faith. II
God Is unknowable, there is all the
more reason for reliance upon testi-
monies in the shape of belief. 1t has
been remarkable transition OF agnos-
tic philosophy from Mansel and Sir
William Hamilton to Herbert Spencer.
Even Spencer postulates a great ere
alive energy.
The first answer to aggressive agnos-
ticism is that 1t is cowardly com
promise.
Another stand Christianity takes
against the new skepticism is that it
is phllosophically contradictory, and,
judged at the bar of reason, is con-
demned as false. To say that the abb
solute or God Is unknowable and in
the same breath to hold that one may
know the unknown is unlnowable is an
absurdity.
To hold that an object is unknown !;
that is, to some persons or at a GER
tain point of time or growth, or as
regards all of it's characteristics, Is
logical; but to declare it is unknowable
Is the grossest dogmatism, contradlcted
by reason and experience.
Still another reply to unbelieying ag-
Mysticism is that 1t Is scientifically I'M
true and practically untenable. 1t is
fatty contradicted by facts of every
day life Against the assumption of not
believing what one does not know is
the whole progress of mankind. The
man of business believes what he does
not know when he buys a certain stock
! of goods on faith that they will bring
certain profit The business world
would be paralyzed If for a single day
there was universal doubt as to ordi-
nary credit, personal honor and integ-
rity.
The man of science believes what he
does not know, and there has not been
a single discovery or invention in the
line Of natural sciences that has not
been based on belief in not the un-
movable, but the unknown.
Columbus believed what he did not
know when he set sail for the unknown
world.
Finally, Christianity challenges az
Mysticism by proclaiming mans need OF
religion. and showing how the relig-
ion of Christ, not exclusively, but in
the highest and fullest form, answers
this need. Frederick Harrison, not q
Christian, but posltivist, which makes
the argument all the stronger, has
given agnosticism the worst drubblne
1t has ever received in language which
if coming from the pulpit. might be
considered intolerant.
Says Mr.. Harrison, one of the ablest
thinkers Of his day: "Agnosticism says
to the churches that 1t declines to be
lieve in your religion. But the necessi
ty for some religion remains, just as II
did before And until agnosticism has
told us what religion We are to believe
or why religion is henceforth super
fluous, 1t will remain the private opin
ion of isolated and cultivated minds
In more or less comfortable surround
ings. This explains the mysterious fact
that, in spite Of the hailstorm of criti
clsm which is necessarily poured into
every bastion, fort and outwork of the
churches, they still continue to reply
to the fire of the enemy, and are still
full Of enthusiastic defenders. He only
destroys who can replace. And the
agnostic position ex hypothesi is a pure
negation. The profound instinct of al
healthy spirits recognizes that a state
OF no religion, Of deliberate acquies
cence in negatlon, or non-interest or
principle In these dominant questions
is weak. unworthy and even immoral
But there are other phenomena that
appeal TO the animal senses. How
about religious phenomena? II is tot
late to scout the experience Of count
less intelligent and noble-hearted per