54 HAS SCIENCE DISCOVERED GOD? 



that science has suddenly found close analogy between 

 its most cherished and latest beliefs and those of re- 

 ligion, in so far as both assume the transcendental 

 and the unknowable. The survey of this common 

 ground, a liaison obtained through a similarity of be- 

 liefs permissible, will form a large part of this treat- 

 ment, even though not explicitly included in the title. 



Shall I then, in attempting to amplify and elaborate 

 this theme as assigned me, make a preliminary attempt 

 to clarify the treatment by starting with definitions 

 of the concepts involved? Perhaps this is not really 

 necessary, yet it will serve to set certain limitations 

 which I regard as vital. There are hundreds of ex- 

 cellent definitions of religion, and doubtless a different 

 definition of the term would be given by each reader, 

 — definitions which would in each case show radical 

 variations from that given by one's neighbor. Yet in 

 all such definitions there are certain elements in com- 

 mon, so generally accepted, so axiomatic, if I may be 

 permitted to use that term, that the individual differ- 

 ences may be passed over as unimportant. 



My brother kneeleth, — saith Kabir, 



To brass and stone in heathen wise. 

 But in my brother's voice I hear 



My own unanswered agonies. 

 His God is as his fates assign; 



His prayer is all the world's, — and mine. 



Kipling. 



Pantheist, theist, deist. Christian, Buddhist, or Mo- 

 hammedan, — all have at least two common factors, 

 namely, — the assumption of, or belief in, some con- 

 cept of a Higher Power or Mind over and above the 



