Second: BEG THEM TO SET ASIDE, BY AN ACT OF WILL, ALL UNSOLVED
PROBLEMS: such as the problem of the origin of evil, the problem
of the Trinity, the problem of the relation of human will and
predestination, and so on--problems which have been investigated for
thousands of years without result--ask them to set those problems
aside as insoluble. In the meantime, just as a man who is studying
mathematics may be asked to set aside the problem of squaring the
circle, let him go on with what can be done, and what has been
done, and leave out of sight the impossible.
You will find that will relieve the skeptic's mind of a great deal
of
Unnecessary cargo
that has been in his way.
Thirdly: TALKING ABOUT DIFFICULTIES, AS A RULE, ONLY AGGRAVATES
THEM.
Entire satisfaction to the intellect is unattainable about any of
the greater problems, and if you try to get to the bottom of them
by argument, there is no bottom there; and therefore you make
the matter worse. But I would say what is known, and what can be
honestly and philosophically and scientifically said about one or
two of the difficulties that the doubter raises, just to show him
that you can do it--to show him that you are not a fool--that you
are not merely groping in the dark yourself, but you have found
whatever basis is possible. But I would not go around all the
doctrines. I would simply do that with one or two; because the
moment you cut off one, a hundred other heads will grow in its
place. It would be a pity if all these problems could be solved.
The joy of the intellectual life would be largely gone. I would
not rob a man of his problems, nor would I have another man rob
me of my problems. They are the delight of life, and the whole
intellectual world would be stale and unprofitable if we knew
everything.
Fourthly--and this is the great point: TURN AWAY FROM THE REASON
AND GO INTO THE MAN'S MORAL LIFE.
I don't mean, go into his moral life and see if the man is living
in conscious sin, which is the great blinder of the eyes--I am
speaking now of honest doubt; but open a new door into
The practical side of man's nature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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