The Natural History of Religious Feeling

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV Natural Causes Of Conversion IN determining the question, whether conversion is wholly or in part, the product of a supernatural cause, we shall have to take account of the various natural causes which undoubtedly make some contribution to the result. If these causes shall be found to be adequate to the production of the whole result, the hypothesis of a supernatural cause would be excluded unless its presence should be manifested by special and indubitable signs. We shall, therefore, now proceed to the consideration of those causes. i. The Discontent, Dissatisfaction and Distress which arise from the inherent physical, mental, and moral imperfection of man; and from the troubles unto which all men are born. The desire for relief from these evils is one of the strongest and most persistent of all that rise in the breast of man. To this end all his labors are directed; but he soon finds that his labor is in vain; he is compelled to recognize the fact that no human agency will ever be able to give the relief he wants; and that, if it ever come, it must come from heaven. In the Christian world however, he will encounter serious obstacles to his turning to heaven for relief. The conception of the deity as a being of perfect holiness, which Christianity has brought into the world, instead of relieving his distress, aggravates it, extinguishing all hope and fills his heart with despair. From heaven comes the declaration: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that he cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."1 The sad soliloquy of the sinful soul must be: "Therefore, am I troubled at his...