ABSTRACT

Among those who no longer believe in the religion of their fathers, some are proudly defiant, and many are indifferent. But there are also a few, perhaps an increasing number, who feel that there is a vacancy in their lives. The modern age has been rich both in prophecies that men would at last inherit the kingdoms of this world, and in complaints at the kind of world they inherited. To more placid temperaments the pangs of freedom are no doubt less acute. It is possible for multitudes in time of peace and security to exist agreeably - somewhat incoherently, perhaps, but without convulsions - to dream a little and not unpleasantly, to have only now and then a nightmare, and only occasionally a rude awakening. It might seem as if, in all this, men were merely going through once again what they have often gone through before.