| The fact is the
divine truths of religion come to us through human channels. Hence we have to distinguish
carefully between the husk and the kernel of religion, between the temporary and the
eternal, between the local and the universal. The customs and habits of the age, the
scientific ideas of the times and the particular social order of the day form the
perishable part of scripture. We do injustice to a scripture when we cling to the
perishable part of it and ignore the imperishable part. There
are some people who say that we should never use our reason when dealing with a scripture,
but employ faith. Faith is, no doubt, a higher faculty the reason in matters religious.
But it should be employed only when reason is found inadequate. In all things where the
guidance of reason is clear it is absurd to cling to unreason and call it faith. There
are, no doubt certain mysteries in religion, which are above reason, which are above the
categories of thought. But there are a good many things, like our relations to our
neighbours, which are within the sphere of reason and which must therefore be regarded by
it. Scripture come to fulfil reason, not to destroy it. |
