262 Science Religion and Reality 



a scientific habit of mind, we have no difficulty in distinguishing 

 between what does and what does not belong to science. And, 

 in like manner, if we have a religious interest and a religious 

 attitude of mind, we shall know what belongs and what does not 

 belong to religion. 



This view contains at least an important truth. Our particular 

 departments of study are determined rather by our particular 

 interests than by any rigid divisions in the universe : and, there- 

 fore, if we ourselves are without the right kind of interest, we 

 shall certainly lack an essential kind of guidance for determining 

 them. Practically, moreover, the value of this criterion is seldom 

 questioned, except in respect of the one subject of religion. It is 

 not expected that anyone without scientific interest and a scientific 

 attitude of mind can have much to say of value about the sphere of 

 science, while it is fairly confidently assumed that, if he have 

 these qualifications, he will not readily mistake for Science anything 

 outside its territory. Nor do we expect a valuable discussion on 

 the sphere of art from anyone who is interested in it only as creating 

 articles for sale at a profit or as a means of advertising. The 

 significant facts in any subject cannot be discerned without the 

 right kind of interest, however great labour be devoted to search 

 for them : and that is quite apart from the difficulty of pursuing 

 the study of any subject without interest. 



Religion, more than any other subject, claims interest as its due, 

 and more definitely affirms that it cannot be found or understood 

 without something like enthusiasm for it ; and practically it would 

 seem to be even more dependent than other subjects upon interest 

 for discerning its facts and carrying on the right kind of study of 

 them. But this view is far from receiving universal acceptance. 

 While students of other subjects are approved for regarding their 

 facts as certain and important, interest in religion is frequently, 

 forthwith and without further discrimination, identified with bias. 

 Thus, not merely complete lack of interest, but a positive distaste 

 for the whole business has at times been put forward as a neces- 

 sary qualification for uncorrupted inquiry. Should the student 

 affirm that he wishes to know the truth about religion precisely 

 because it is to him of supreme interest, and to be rid of unreality 

 because he knows by experience its essential reality, he would 

 be in great danger of being regarded as a hopeless obscurantist. 

 Instead of interest in religion to sustain his labours, he is expected 



