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: (1) 
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 life 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 life, 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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