130 Heredity and Child Culture 



as an interpretation of life to the thinking 

 classes. Here is a chance for the coming gener- 

 ation to be given a truer orientation of life than 

 commonly exists at present. It is wise to start 

 early in teaching the eternal verities and the 

 simpler the faith, the easier it will be to 

 inculcate. 



The so-called ages of faith have passed, never 

 to return. We need not unduly grieve over this 

 since they were likewise ages of ignorance and 

 superstition. Yet never has the necessity of 

 strong and simple belief been greater than at 

 present. Careful observers of life cannot 

 help noticing that as faith lessens, actual living 

 is apt to weaken and degenerate. This rule is 

 true in spite of the few apparent exceptions 

 where a heredity of strong character steadies a 

 life that has lost belief. Religion best fur- 

 nishes what psychologists might call the sustain- 

 ing motive to right actions and a correct life. 

 Only a few fundamental religious truths are 

 really necessary to nourish the higher life. 

 Let them be carefully implanted in the opening 

 mind rather than trying to teach doctrines that 



