KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF. 315 



supposed to unveil for us the secrets of existence and 

 the solution of the great world-enigma, are creations 

 of the human imagination. The " truth " which the 

 credulous discover in them is a human invention ; the 

 " childlike faith " in these irrational revelations is 

 mere superstition. 



The true revelation — that is, the true source of 

 rational knowledge — is to be sought in nature alone. 

 The rich heritage of truth which forms the most 

 valuable part of human culture is derived exclusively 

 from the experiences acquired in a searching study of 

 nature, and from the rational conclusions which it 

 has reached by the just association of these empirical 

 presentations. Every intelligent man with normal 

 brain and senses finds this true revelation in nature 

 on impartial study, and thus frees himself from the 

 superstition with which the " revelations " of religion 

 had burdened him. 



