IX AGNOSTICISM AND CHRISTIANITY 313 



form of Theology, is another. . With scientific 

 Theology, Agnosticism has no quarrel. On the 

 contrary, the Agnostic, knowing too well the 

 influence of prejudice and idiosyncrasy, even on 

 those who desire most earnestly to be impartial, 

 can wish for nothing more urgently than that the 

 scientific theologian should not only be at perfect 

 liberty to thresh out the matter in his own 

 fashion ; but that he should, if he can, find flaws 

 in the Agnostic position ; and, even if demonstra- 

 tion is not to be had, that he should put, in their 

 full force, the grounds of the conclusions he thinks 

 probable. The scientific theologian admits the 

 Agnostic principle, however widely his results 

 may differ from those reached by the majority of 

 Agnostics. 



But, as between Agnosticism and Ecclesiasti- 

 cisra, or, as our neighbours across the Channel 

 call it, Clericalism, there can be neither peace nor 

 truce. The Cleric asserts that it is morally wrong 

 not to believe certain propositions, whatever the 

 results of a strict scientific investigation of the 

 evidence of these propositions. He tells us " that 

 religious error is, in itself, of an immoral nature." * 

 He declares that he has prejudged certain con- 

 clusions, and looks upon those who show cause 

 for arrest of judgment as emissaries of Satan. It 

 necessarily follows that, for him, the attainment 

 of faith, not the ascertainment of truth, is the 

 1 Dr. Newman, Essay on Development p. 357. 



