Pantheism, atheism, agnosticism, materialism, pessimism--how
many ugly, dangerous words there are in the dictionary, and
how many young men imagine that they have all these spiritual
diseases when, as a matter of fact, they are only in the way
of normal spiritual development. A man comes to say of certain
things that are mysterious, of which he thought he knew, “I
don’t know.” Then he labels himself or allows himself to be
labeled an “Agnostic.” No religious life for him. Another man
sees that the great God can not stand apart from His universe,
but must be working in it and through it all. He labels himself
“Pantheist,” or is so labeled. Another man suddenly discovers
the abyss of actual wo in the world, the evil that, for the
present at least, is without remedy. He is called a “Pessimist.”
Another man looks to the right hand and to the left hand,
and for the time he sees not God. The final word for him is
“Atheist.” Now, we can not have a free expression of what people
from time to time are actually believing until we get over our
fear of all such names. We must have a faith that is wholesome
enough and large enough to keep us from being afraid of our
own thought. The fact is, that we are continually mistaking
the passing moods of the spirit for the finalities of thought.
These moods through which we pass have been familiar to the most
profoundly religious minds.--SAMUEL M. CROTHERS.
(2096)