III.--THE GREEK SAGES BEFORE PLATO IN THE LIGHT OF THE WISDOM OF THE MYSTERIES 39 IV.--PLATO AS A MYSTIC 63 V.--THE WISDOM OF THE MYSTERIES AND THE MYTH 93 VI.--THE MYSTERY WISDOM OF EGYPT 127 VII.--THE GOSPELS 147 VIII.--THE LAZARUS MIRACLE 159 IX.--THE APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN 177 X.--JESUS AND HIS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 198 XI.--THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY 203 XII.--CHRISTIANITY AND HEATHEN WISDOM 215 XIII.--ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE CHURCH 227 NOTES 239 * * * * * CHRISTIANITY AS MYSTICAL FACT * * * * * Christianity as Mystical Fact I POINTS OF VIEW Natural Science has deeply influenced modern thought. It is becoming more and more impossible to speak of spiritual needs and the life of the soul, without taking into consideration the achievements and methods of this science. It must be admitted, however, that many people satisfy these needs, without letting themselves be troubled by its influence. But those who feel the beating of the pulse of the age must take this influence into consideration. With increasing swiftness do ideas derived from natural science take possession of our brains, and, unwillingly though it may be, our hearts follow, often in dejection and dismay. It is not a question only of the number thus won over, but of the fact that there is a force within the method of natural science, which convinces the attentive observer that that method contains something which cannot be neglected, and is one by which any modern conception of the universe must be profoundly affected. Many of the outgrowths of this method compel a justifiable rejection. But such rejection is not sufficient in an age in which very many resort to this way of thinking, and are attracted to it as if by magic. The case is in no way altered because some people see that true science long ago passed, by its own initiative, beyond the shallow doctrines of force and matter taught by materialists. It would be better, apparently, to listen to those who boldly declare that the ideas of natural science will form the basis of a new religion. If these ideas also appear shallow and superficial to one who knows the deeper spiritual needs of humanity, he must nevertheless take note of them, for it is to them that attention is now turned, and there is reason to think they will claim more and more notice in the near future.