To one who has relinquished the creed of his fathers there comes from time to time the question --What shall I say to those who believe as of old? To answer is difficult, since the reasons for and against this or that line of conduct are many and variable. Of course sincerity must be the dominant guide; but sincerity has sundry forms. There is an aggressive sincerity which seizes every occasion for trying to change others' views. There is a sincerity, less aggressive, which is ready to discuss, and to utter adverse beliefs candidly. There is a sincerity which enters with reluctance into arguments that disclose changed convictions. And there is a sincerity which is silent and even shuns the utterance of opinions at variance with those that are current. What attitude to take under these or those conditions is often a query not to be answered in a satisfactory way.
In many cases the Agnostic is misled by the assumption that a secular creed may with advantage forthwith replace the creed distinguished as sacred.
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: Facts and Comments.
Contributors: Herbert Spencer - Author.
Publisher: D. Appleton and Company.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 1902.
Page number: 292.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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