The Great and Good, an Introduction to Rational Religion

Excerpt from The Great and Good, an Introduction to Rational Religion

Books on Religion fall under three heads: First, the great mass of "orthodox" literature; next, the semi-orthodox; and lastly, that which is rational or openly "heretical." The semi-orthodox writers are marked by caution, reticence, and something bordering on insincerity. They are adepts at pouring new wine into old bottles. They know exactly that spice of heresy which the public will tolerate, and are careful not to exceed it by the fraction of a grain. The rational or openly heretical books are mostly agnostic, atheistic, materialistic, or negative. In fact some people seem to regard the word rational as equivalent to atheistic. Not many books on Religion are at once frankly rational, and at the same time uncompromisingly idealist.

Who will ascend the watch-tower of Idealism and tell us in plain language what he sees? If this task required any higher qualification than absolute sincerity, assuredly the present writer would not have undertaken it. The object, then, of this book is to state the religious opinions of the Great and Good men of past and present times, and to trace these opinions to Idealism as the central principle in which they meet and harmonise. Wherever possible I have given not my own words but those of some distinguished writer.

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