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truththe existence of a Godno man can prove by reason。 The
ordinary proof for the existence of a God involves either an
assumption； argument in a circle； or a contradiction。 The impression
of God is kept up by experience； not by logic。 And hence； when
the experimental religion of a man； of a community； or of a nation
wanes； religion wanestheir idea of God grows indistinct； and that
man； community or nation becomes infidel。
Bear in mind； then； that all religious truths are doubtableeven
those which we hold most strongly。
What does this brief account of the origin of doubt teach us？ It
teaches us
Great intellectual humility。
It teaches us sympathy and toleration with all men who venture upon
the ocean of truth to find out a path through it for themselves。
Do you sometimes feel yourself thinking unkind things about your
fellow…students who have intellectual difficulty？ I know how hard
it is always to feel sympathy and toleration for them； but we must
address ourselves to that most carefully and most religiously。 If
my brother is short…sighted I must not abuse him or speak against
him； I must pity him； and if possible try to improve his sight； or
to make things that he is to look at so bright that he cannot help
seeing。 But never let us think evil of men who do not see as we
do。 From the bottom of our hearts let us pity them； and let us take
them by the hand and spend time and thought over them； and try to
lead them to the true light。
What has been
The church's treatment of doubt
in the past？ It has been very simple。 〃There is a heretic。 Burn
him！〃 That is all。 〃There is a man who has gone off the road。
Bring him back and torture him！〃
We have got past that physically； have we got past it morally？ What
does the modern Church say to a man who is skeptical？ Not 〃Burn
him！〃 but 〃Brand him！〃 〃Brand him！〃call him a bad name。 And
in many countries at the present time； a man who is branded as a
heretic is despised； tabooed and put out of religious society； much
more than if he had gone wrong in morals。 I think I am speaking
within the facts when I say that a man who is unsound is looked
upon in many communities with more suspicion and with more pious
horror than a man who now and then gets drunk。 〃Burn him！〃 〃Brand
him！〃 〃Excommunicate him！〃 That has been the Church's treatment
of doubt； and that is perhaps to some extent the treatment which
we ourselves are inclined to give to the men who cannot see the
truths of Christianity as we see them。
Contrast
Christ's treatment
of doubt。 I have spoken already of His strange partiality for the
outsidersfor the scattered heretics up and down the country； of
the care with which He loved to deal with them； and of the respect
in which He held their intellectual difficulties。 Christ never
failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief。 Doubt is 〃CAN'T
BELIEVE〃； unbelief is 〃WON'T BELIEVE。〃 Doubt is honesty； unbelief
is obstinacy。 Doubt is looking for light； unbelief is content with
darkness。 Loving darkness rather than lightthat is what Christ
attacked； and attacked unsparingly。 But for the intellectual
questioning of Thomas； and Philip； and Nicodemus； and the many
others who came to Him to have their great problems solved； He was
respectful and generous and tolerant。
And how did He meet their doubts？ The Church； as I have said；
says； 〃Brand him！〃 Christ said； 〃Teach him。〃 He destroyed by
fulfilling。 When Thomas came to Him and denied His very resurrection；
and stood before Him waiting for the scathing words and lashing
for his unbelief； they never came。 They never came！ Christ gave
him factsfacts！ No men can go around facts。 Christ said； 〃Behold
My hands and My feet。〃 The great god of science at the present
time is a fact。 It words with facts。 Its cry is； 〃Give me facts。
Found anything you like upon facts and we will believe it。〃 The
spirit of Christ was the scientific spirit。 He founded His religion
upon facts； and He asked all men to found their religion upon facts。
Now； get up the facts of Christianity； and take men to the facts。
Theologiesand I am not speaking disrespectfully of theology；
theology is as scientific a thing as any other science of factsbut
theologies are
Human versions
of Divine truths； and hence the varieties of the versions and the
inconsistencies of them。 I would allow a man to select whichever
version of this truth he liked AFTERWARDS； but I would ask him
to begin with no version； but go back to the facts and base his
Christian life upon these。
That is the great lesson of the New Testament way of looking at
doubtof Christ's treatment of doubt。 It is not 〃Brand him！〃but
lovingly； wisely and tenderly to teach him。 Faith is never opposed
to reason in the New Testament； it is opposed to sight。 You will
find that a principle worth thinking over。 FAITH IS NEVER OPPOSED
TO REASON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT； BUT TO SIGHT。
With these principles in mind as to the origin of doubt； as to
Christ's treatment of it； how are we ourselves to deal with those
who are in intellectual difficulty？
In the first place； I think WE MUST MAKE ALL THE CONCESSIONS TO
THEM THAT WE CONSCIENTIOUSLY CAN。
When a doubter first encounters you； he pours out a deluge of abuse
of churches； and ministers； and creeds； and Christians。 Nine…tenths
of what he says is probably true。 Make concessions。 Agree with
him。 It does him good to unburden himself of these things。 He has
been cherishing them for yearslaying them up against Christians；
against the Church； and against Christianity； and now he is startled
to find the first Christian with whom he has talked over the thing
almost entirely agrees with him。 We are； of course； not responsible
for everything that is said in the name of Christianity； and now
he is startled to find the first Christian with whom he has talked
over the thing almost entirely agrees with him。 We are； of
course； not responsible for everything that is said in the name
of Christianity； but a man does not give up medicine because there
are quack doctors； and no man has a right to give up his Christianity
because there are spurious or inconsistent Christians。 Then； as I
already said； creeds are human versions of Divine truths； and we
do not ask a man to accept all the creeds； any more than we ask
him to accept all the Christians。 We ask him to accept Christ；
and the facts about Christ and the words of Christ。 You will find
the battle is half won when you have endorsed the man's objections；
and possibly added a great many more to the charges which he has
against ourselves。 These men are
In revolt
against the kind of religion which we exhibit to the worldagainst
the cant that is taught in the name of Christianity。 And if the
men that have never seen the real thingif you could show them
that； they would receive it as eagerly as you do