CHAPTER XVI 



IDEALIZATION AND RELIGION 



We have already noted to some extent the influence of these 

 factors in the various social theories passed in review, but have 

 reserved till this later chapter a more complete analysis of the 

 process of idealization in accordance with the principle of adapta- 

 tion. This process may be interpreted in terms of " active moral 

 adaptation " leading to " active social adaptation " and finally 

 to " religious adaptation." 



Idealization as a factor in social progress has three elements: (i) 

 the intellectual by which the ideal is created, i. e., imagination, 

 (2) the emotional response of the individual by way of attraction, 

 and (3) the volitional expression of thought and feeling in art, 

 religion and rational conduct. In the latter case, where the 

 individual endeavors to harmonize his lif e with his ideal, we have a 

 form of adaptation that may be termed active moral, and growing 

 out of this is a fourth element, — the desire and effort to bring 

 others to accept the ideal which dominates our life, due to the 

 demand of our whole nature for internal harmony, and adjust- 

 ment with our spiritual environment. Normal man can never be 

 satisfied to live in solitude, even in his thought lif e, nor can he be 

 satisfied to live in conflict. 1 John Wesley was wise when he urged 

 his missionaries as they started for America to " find companions 

 or make them." If man cannot find or make companions in the 

 flesh he seeks them in the spiritual realm, either as revealed in 

 their writings or as created by his imagination. 



1 Social mal-adaptation not only does violence to our egoistic and social interests 

 and instincts and hence leads to dissatisfaction and an endeavor to secure adjust- 

 ment, but it causes intellectual conflicts and the tendency of the mind is to secure 

 harmony. The resolution of conflict is always pleasure-giving. Cf. Bradley, 

 Appearance and Reality, ch. XIV; also Comte, A General View, pp. 387 f. 



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