INTRODUCTION 



reason that has any positive force can be alleged. 

 Science is simply negative with regard to all 

 such matters ; for science is limited to this our 

 present world, where matter and mind run, in 

 case of our own life, parallel one to another. 

 Fiske then suggests that since our aspirations 

 demand, in the way just pointed out, at least 

 the hope of the existence of some such spiritual 

 world, none can take away from us the right to 

 indulge this hope. 



37. The collection of essays contained in the 

 book which we are now citing furnishes several 

 other examples of reference to religious pro- 

 blems. We here find ourselves interested in two 

 different statements of the essential nature of 

 religion. One of these statements is contained 

 in the essay on " Nathan the Wise," which was 

 written in 1868, but which, being here published 

 without change, indicates that Fiske saw as yet 

 no reason to change the expression. This pas- 

 sage defines the religious consciousness still in 

 terms of the Sense of Mystery. Genuine reli- 

 gious feeling, as Fiske says, "contemplates the 

 dark side of the shield." Hereupon there fol- 

 lows a brief statement of the negative Spence- 

 rianism which we have found emphasized in the 

 " Cosmic Philosophy." Religion is a " restless 

 yearning for something that we know ourselves 

 unable to attain." The other one of our two 

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