4 PRESENT-DAY RATIONALISM 



it in physiology.] ..." In Secularism Reason is the sole 

 guide." ..." Whatever in any of the supposed sacred 

 writings of the world is good, pure, elevating and in- 

 spiring, Secularism thankfully accepts and assimilates. 

 Whatever is evil, corrupt, ignoble and degrading it sternly 

 rejects." 



With regard to Happiness as being the sole end of 

 action in Secularism, all sensual pleasures were regarded 

 as degrading, and rational pleasures were to be aimed 

 at. They are " by no means comparable to those of the 

 great-minded philosopher who penetrates into the pro- 

 foundest mysteries of Nature, or to those of the large- 

 souled philanthropist whose whole life is a loving 

 ministration to wants of suffering humanity ". 



" To the utilitarian standard all actions must be 

 made to conform ; all other standards are the veriest 

 delusions, as inconsistent as they are misleading. Mo- 

 rality cannot be founded upon the will of God, for no 

 power can decree morality. If God has a claim upon 

 my gratitude, or reverence, or worship, it can only be 

 because he is himself gracious, adorable and worshipful, 

 and not because of his power to exact from me a 

 reluctant prostration. So it is not power but goodness 

 which entitles God to reverence, and therefore, at bottom, 

 goodness and not God is the object of adoration." 



" Secularism is utilitarian, regarding happiness as the 

 aim of action ; happiness pursued through Duty, not 

 because Duty possesses a distinctive and inherent sacred- 

 ness, but because it is the necessary road to happiness. 

 Duty is imperative upon all because it implies the per- 

 formance of such actions as are absolutely necessary to 

 the preservation of society, and without which retrogres- 

 sion and anarchy would inevitably ensue." 



" Secularism being concerned only with the region of 



