Natural religion resembles Revealed religion in this. Supposing both
divine, both have been arranged so that, as far as reason can lead us,
there is only enough evidence of design to arouse serious attention to
the question of it. In other words, as regards both, the attitude of
pure reason ought to be that of pure agnosticism. (Observe that the
inadequacy of teleology, or design in nature, to prove Theism has been
expressly recognized by all the more intellectual Christians of all
ages, although such recognition has become more general since Darwin. On
this point I may refer to Pascal especially[76], and many other
authors.) This is another striking analogy between Nature and
Revelation, supposing both to have emanated from the same author--i.e.
quite as much so as identity of developmental method in both.
_Supposing the hypothesis of design in both to be true_, it follows that
in both this hypothesis can be alike verified only by the organ of
immediate intuition--i.e. that other mode of human apprehension which is
supplementary to the rational. Here again we note the analogy. And if a
man has this supplementary mode of apprehending the highest truth (by
hypothesis such), it will be his duty to exercise his spiritual eyesight
in searching for God in nature as in revelation, when (still on our
present hypothesis that 'God is, and is the rewarder of them who seek
Him diligently') he will find that his subjective evidence of God in
Nature and in Revelation will mutually corroborate one another--so
yielding additional evidence to his reason.
The teleology of Revelation supplements that of Nature, and so, to the
spiritually minded man, they logically and mutually corroborate one
another.
Paley's writings form an excellent illustration of the identity of the
teleological argument from Nature and from Revelation; though a very
imperfect illustration of the latter taken by itself, inasmuch as he
treats only of the New Testament, and even of that very
partially--ignoring all that went before Christ, and much of what
happened after the apostles. Yet Paley himself does not seem to have
observed the similarity of the argument, as developed in his _Natural
Theology_ and _Evidences of Christianity_ respectively. But no one has
developed the argument better in both cases. His great defect was in not
perceiving that this teleological argument, _per se_, is not in either
case enough to convince, but only to arouse serious attention. Paley
everywhere represents that such an appeal to reason alone ought to be
sufficient. He fails to see that if it were, there could be no room for
faith. In other words, he fails to recognize the spiritual organ in
man, and its complementary object, grace in God. So far he fails to be a
Christian. And, whether Theism and Christianity be true or false, it is
certain that the teleological argument alone _ought_ to result, not in
conviction, but in agnosticism.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account