AD VER TISEMENTS 



what right certain people seek to impose 

 theological or other dogmas upon man- 

 kind. Thus, after careful consideration, 

 aided by the advice of several well- 

 known thinkers, the following definition 

 of Rationalism has been adopted and 

 embodied in the Memorandum of Asso- 

 tion of the R. P. A. : 



Rationalism may be defined as the 

 mental attitude which tmreservedly 

 accepts the supremacy of reason and 

 aims at establishing a system of philo- 

 sophy and ethics verifiable by experience 

 and independent of all arbitrary assump- 

 tions or authority. 



It is to be observed that most Pro- 

 testants are rationalists in their attitude 

 towards contemporary or recent instances 

 of alleged miracle and inspiration. They 

 are rationalists in their attitude towards 

 the sacred literatures of Buddhists, Brah- 

 mans, Parsees, and Mohammedans, and 

 towards the distinctive teachings of the 

 Church of Rome. As regards the narra- 

 tive and theology contained in the Bible, 

 however, they are not rationalists, but 

 at best compromisers between traditional 

 reverence and scientific inquiry. Thus, 

 while what has been called "the spirit 

 of rationalism " is rife, the attempt to 

 raise rationalism into a consistent rule 

 of the intellectual life is by no means 

 popular. This, however, is the task 

 which the R. P. A. seeks to accomplish. 



Rationalism and Morality. 



In making direct mention of ethics in 

 the foregoing definition of Rationalism, 

 it is desired to accentuate the fact that 

 the philosophy of Rationalism cannot 

 fail to have bearings on human conduct 

 which will be far more beneficent in the 

 long run than those of traditional theo- 

 logy. Granting that supernaturalism 

 has had its place in the evolution of a 

 rational code of morals, it has, neverthe- 

 less, formed the husk rather than the 

 kernel of moral advancement. In many 

 respects it has been detrimental to the 

 progress and well-being of the human 



race, and its moral influence, despite all 

 the efforts of ecclesiastical bodies, has 

 only sufficed to affect the lives of the 

 few. 



It is often assumed that those who 

 relinquish the ancient religious beliefs 

 leave themselves without motives or 

 incentives to resist temptation and to 

 lead good and upright lives. But, 

 whenever this appears to be the case, 

 the blame is to be laid (i) on the religions 

 themselves, which have held out illusory 

 and largely ineffectual bribes of superna- 

 tural reward, or threats of supernatural 

 retribution, and ignored the powerful 

 reasons for morality which lie in man's 

 social nature and needs ; (2) on the 

 individual doubters, who are not suffi- 

 ciently earnest in their search for truth 

 to make a serious study of the natural 

 and human grounds of moral law. The 

 mental realisation of these grounds must 

 tend towards the practical realisation of 

 the good life, although acquired habits 

 of character cannot be suddenly trans- 

 formed by changes of opinion. While 

 the R. P. A. has not at present any 

 organisation to take the place of the 

 older religious churches (such as the 

 Positivist and Ethical Societies possess), 

 it is hoped that a tacit fellowship will 

 grow up among its widely scattered 

 members, tending to promote the ulti- 

 mate unity of the various sections of 

 liberal tHinkers. Wherever there is true 

 devotion to human well-being, and 

 proper regard for the happiness of all 

 sentient creatures, there is true religion, 

 or (if exception be taken to that word) 

 something better than religion; and, 

 whatever our views of the constitution 

 of the universe may be, Nature remains, 

 for those who follow the paths of reason 

 and science, a supreme source of interest, 

 wonder, and inspiration. 



Conditions of Membership. 



The Rationalist Press Association, Ltd., 

 is " a Company Limited by Guarantee, 

 and not having a Capital divided into 

 shares." It is a propagandist, not a 



