The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-18
POPULAR APoLoeETlcs.
Adapted from the German of Rev.
Peter Mikes, s. j., by Rev.
James Watcher.
XVII. Unknown Causes.
(Ignoramus).

Objection: Before / admit the
existence of God l rather assume I'M
known causes for the existence Of
the world and life and say with Du
Bois-Raymond: 'Ignoramus ct ig-
norabimus: We do not know and
never will know" A scientist does
not go beyond this position; he is
satisfied with a modest: We do not
know; he leaves such subtle ques-
tons to theologians.
Answer: You may be content with
this, if you can; but then you must
give up your claim to sound reason.
These unknown causes" remind one
of the horse thief who says in court
that he bought the horse from an
unknown man"
Now this may be possible; but that
life comes from dead matter and or
der from confusion is impossible.
Sound human reason demands cause
and this cause is God; it will not do
to blindfold oneself and say:
'Ignoramus: We do not know" but
reason is perfectly convinced that
TINS cause, Gou, eAlSIS.
But Science! Science" forbids
this conclusion; it keeps itself in
humble reserve.-What science?-
Natural science!--Is that the only
one, the one that decides all ques
tions? Are there not many questions
that are above and beyond natural
science? Is philosophy no science
and even a higher science? 1t is an
unscientiffc usurpation, even inso'
lence, if infidel scientists act as
though they were in the exclusive
possession Of all truth. These ig'
noramus-gentleme imagine in their
narrowmindedness what can not be
proved with the telescope, the mi
croscope, the retort, and the balance
and similar instruments, or what can
not be calculated by higher mathe
MATES, is not true.
They would like to nan up the
world of knowledge with their ma
tural-science boards and on the seven
gates ("The unsolvable World-Rid
dies" of Du Bois-Raymond) to fasten
the scientific police regulation: INC
exit! No further thinking allowed!
Hannibal ante portas! (Hannibal is
outside the gatesD God is outside the
gates! Whoever dares to go to Him
loses his scientific standing. Signed:
Ignoramus-C Committee.
BY your leave, gentlemen: Sound
reason and sound philosophy care not
for such police regulations; with the
mailed fist of logic they demolish
< these impediments to thinking and
open a way of liberty to the last
v satisfactory cause of all being, to
God.
Whoever does not close his eyes
sees the MONDAY sun; whoever does
not hinder his sound reason knows
God, his Lord, and the necessity tx
serve Him, as we'll as eternal retri
button. That is the problem of life
and there is no use to try to aVoit
this with sham ignorance: the con
seriousness of responsibility to the
Creator and Judge remains in the
soul in spite of it.
Good and bad will stand near thu
scales of the balance Of life, ant
there are ever so many reasons tt
load the one or other balance, just a.
one chooses. There is set before yol
good and evil, life and death, blessing
and cursing: whatever you choose
YOU shall have. (Cf Deut. 30:15, 10.
Stupidity and ignorance help to ex
cuse many a fault; but not so willfu
stupidity and culpable ignorance
Call me a rogue, but not a block
head" says the modern man; but il
religion many pride themselves to b.
blockheads and ignoramuses, onl.
they call themselves by the more
dignified name of agnostic!