THE EFFECTS OF TEACHING 493 



may be held as a prejudice by followers whose minds are closed. 

 Thus, if evidence were now produced which conclusively proved 

 the flatness of the earth, it is very certain that many minds, even 

 minds of scientific men, are so trained that they would cling to the 

 notion that it is round with unalterable devotion. I think I have 

 met people who held the theory of natural selection in this way. 

 The kind of teaching which most commonly produces a faith, 

 that turns from opposing evidence with abhorrence or contempt, 

 is what is usually termed dogmatic. It is generally practised by 

 sects which take a pride in being * orthodox ' in holding opinions 

 which are quite identical for all the members and every generation 

 of the communion. 



808. It is interesting to note how readily we are able to 

 recognize as such superstitions and prejudices to which we 

 have not been trained and which conflict with our own beliefs. 

 Thus, every Mohammedan is able to perceive, not only how 

 slight is the foundation of fact, or how great the misinter- 

 pretation of fact, on which Hindoos have reared the monstrous 

 edifice of their faith, but also to perceive that nothing but 

 intense prejudice prevents, if not a recognition of the truth (the 

 doctrines of Mohammedanism), at least a recognition of false- 

 hood (the doctrines of Hindooism). If we place irrefutable 

 evidence before the ardent adult Mohammedan or Hindoo, and 

 preach it for half a century, we shall not shake his faith in the 

 least. Moreover, and this is the important point ', his mental inertia, 

 his habit of thought, extends beyond the articles of his faith. It 

 determines his whole attitude. It is hard to interest him in new 

 ideas or set him thinking on new lines. Thus, though he may be 

 forced to perceive the advantages of a new gun or some other 

 mechanical device, he will seldom invent or improve one. He is 

 capable of patient labour on traditional lines, and even of prolonged 

 and passionate outbursts of energy when under the influence of 

 strong emotion ; but he is quite incapable of that other sort of 

 patient thought and sustained effort, that wide appeal to ex- 

 perience, that rigorous deductive inference of consequences, and 

 that receptivity, which make individual men, or those collections 

 of men we call nations, pre-eminently human, thinkers of new 

 thoughts, learners and discoverers of new truth, and therefore 

 progressive and successful over competitors who are worse 

 equipped mentally. Very rarely does his race produce a man 

 distinguished in any field of human thought and endeavour except 

 religion. Examples of his great men are Peter the Hermit and 



