CHAPTER XII 



THE PROBLEM OF FAITH 



The object of this chapter is to consider the 

 relation of natural causes to some subjects in the 

 sphere of religion. It is taken for granted in 

 many quarters that a man can determine his re- 

 ligious faith as easily as, with a table of luxuries 

 before him, he can decide what he will eat and 

 drink. A more careful study of human life, how- 

 ever, shows that it is strictly true that no act is un- 

 related, not even that of recognition of the truth ; 

 but that every act, every volition, every thought, 

 has connection in one way or another with the 

 whole man. A long line of associated facts re- 

 quiring consideration lies behind every rational con- 

 cept and every act of faith. In the last analysis, 

 a man's religious faith is an expression of what_ he 

 is ; as Emerson says, he " bears beliefs as a tree 

 bears apples." ^ The common thought has been 

 exactly the reverse. We have been accustomed to 

 say that a man is what his faith is. That is, in- 

 deed, one aspect of the truth, but the other aspect, 



^ Essay on Worship. 

 214 



