Andnowwecometothecrucialquestionwhichtrulyconcludesthewholematter。Areasonableagnostic，ifhehashappenedtoagreewithmesofar，mayjustlyturnroundandsay，\"YouhavefoundapracticalphilosophyinthedoctrineoftheFall；verywell。
YouhavefoundasideofdemocracynowdangerouslyneglectedwiselyassertedinOriginalSin；allright。Youhavefoundatruthinthedoctrineofhell；Icongratulateyou。YouareconvincedthatworshippersofapersonalGodlookoutwardsandareprogressive；
Icongratulatethem。Butevensupposingthatthosedoctrinesdoincludethosetruths，whycannotyoutakethetruthsandleavethedoctrines？Grantedthatallmodernsocietyistrustingtherichtoomuchbecauseitdoesnotallowforhumanweakness；
grantedthatorthodoxageshavehadagreatadvantagebecause（believingintheFall）theydidallowforhumanweakness，whycannotyousimplyallowforhumanweaknesswithoutbelievingintheFall？
Ifyouhavediscoveredthattheideaofdamnationrepresentsahealthyideaofdanger，whycanyounotsimplytaketheideaofdangerandleavetheideaofdamnation？Ifyouseeclearlythekernelofcommon-senseinthenutofChristianorthodoxy，whycannotyousimplytakethekernelandleavethenut？
Whycannotyou（tousethatcantphraseofthenewspaperswhichI，asahighlyscholarlyagnostic，amalittleashamedofusing）
whycannotyousimplytakewhatisgoodinChristianity，whatyoucandefineasvaluable，whatyoucancomprehend，andleavealltherest，alltheabsolutedogmasthatareintheirnatureincomprehensible？\"
Thisistherealquestion；thisisthelastquestion；anditisapleasuretotrytoanswerit。
ThefirstanswerissimplytosaythatIamarationalist。
Iliketohavesomeintellectualjustificationformyintuitions。
IfIamtreatingmanasafallenbeingitisanintellectualconveniencetometobelievethathefell；andIfind，forsomeoddpsychologicalreason，thatIcandealbetterwithaman’sexerciseoffreewillifIbelievethathehasgotit。ButIaminthismatteryetmoredefinitelyarationalist。IdonotproposetoturnthisbookintooneofordinaryChristianapologetics；IshouldbegladtomeetatanyothertimetheenemiesofChristianityinthatmoreobviousarena。HereIamonlygivinganaccountofmyowngrowthinspiritualcertainty。ButImaypausetoremarkthatthemoreI
sawofthemerelyabstractargumentsagainsttheChristiancosmologythelessIthoughtofthem。ImeanthathavingfoundthemoralatmosphereoftheIncarnationtobecommonsense，IthenlookedattheestablishedintellectualargumentsagainsttheIncarnationandfoundthemtobecommonnonsense。IncasetheargumentshouldbethoughttosufferfromtheabsenceoftheordinaryapologeticI
willhereverybrieflysummarisemyownargumentsandconclusionsonthepurelyobjectiveorscientifictruthofthematter。
IfIamasked，asapurelyintellectualquestion，whyIbelieveinChristianity，Icanonlyanswer，\"ForthesamereasonthatanintelligentagnosticdisbelievesinChristianity。\"Ibelieveinitquiterationallyupontheevidence。Buttheevidenceinmycase，asinthatoftheintelligentagnostic，isnotreallyinthisorthatallegeddemonstration；itisinanenormousaccumulationofsmallbutunanimousfacts。ThesecularistisnottobeblamedbecausehisobjectionstoChristianityaremiscellaneousandevenscrappy；
itispreciselysuchscrappyevidencethatdoesconvincethemind。
Imeanthatamanmaywellbelessconvincedofaphilosophyfromfourbooks，thanfromonebook，onebattle，onelandscape，andoneoldfriend。Theveryfactthatthethingsareofdifferentkindsincreasestheimportanceofthefactthattheyallpointtooneconclusion。Now，thenon-Christianityoftheaverageeducatedmanto-dayisalmostalways，todohimjustice，madeupoftheseloosebutlivingexperiences。IcanonlysaythatmyevidencesforChristianityareofthesamevividbutvariedkindashisevidencesagainstit。ForwhenIlookatthesevariousanti-Christiantruths，Isimplydiscoverthatnoneofthemaretrue。
Idiscoverthatthetruetideandforceofallthefactsflowstheotherway。Letustakecases。ManyasensiblemodernmanmusthaveabandonedChristianityunderthepressureofthreesuchconvergingconvictionsasthese：first，thatmen，withtheirshape，structure，andsexuality，are，afterall，verymuchlikebeasts，amerevarietyoftheanimalkingdom；second，thatprimevalreligionaroseinignoranceandfear；third，thatpriestshaveblightedsocietieswithbitternessandgloom。Thosethreeanti-Christianargumentsareverydifferent；buttheyareallquitelogicalandlegitimate；
andtheyallconverge。Theonlyobjectiontothem（Idiscover）
isthattheyarealluntrue。Ifyouleaveofflookingatbooksaboutbeastsandmen，ifyoubegintolookatbeastsandmenthen（ifyouhaveanyhumourorimagination，anysenseofthefranticorthefarcical）youwillobservethatthestartlingthingisnothowlikemanistothebrutes，buthowunlikeheis。Itisthemonstrousscaleofhisdivergencethatrequiresanexplanation。
Thatmanandbrutearelikeis，inasense，atruism；butthatbeingsoliketheyshouldthenbesoinsanelyunlike，thatistheshockandtheenigma。Thatanapehashandsisfarlessinterestingtothephilosopherthanthefactthathavinghandshedoesnexttonothingwiththem；doesnotplayknuckle-bonesortheviolin；doesnotcarvemarbleorcarvemutton。Peopletalkofbarbaricarchitectureanddebasedart。Butelephantsdonotbuildcolossaltemplesofivoryeveninaroccocostyle；camelsdonotpaintevenbadpictures，thoughequippedwiththematerialofmanycamel’s-hairbrushes。
Certainmoderndreamerssaythatantsandbeeshaveasocietysuperiortoours。Theyhave，indeed，acivilization；butthatverytruthonlyremindsusthatitisaninferiorcivilization。Whoeverfoundanant-hilldecoratedwiththestatuesofcelebratedants？
Whohasseenabee-hivecarvedwiththeimagesofgorgeousqueensofold？No；thechasmbetweenmanandothercreaturesmayhaveanaturalexplanation，butitisachasm。Wetalkofwildanimals；
butmanistheonlywildanimal。Itismanthathasbrokenout。
Allotheranimalsaretameanimals；followingtheruggedrespectabilityofthetribeortype。Allotheranimalsaredomesticanimals；
manaloneiseverundomestic，eitherasaprofligateoramonk。
Sothatthisfirstsuperficialreasonformaterialismis，ifanything，areasonforitsopposite；itisexactlywherebiologyleavesoffthatallreligionbegins。
ItwouldbethesameifIexaminedthesecondofthethreechancerationalistarguments；theargumentthatallthatwecalldivinebeganinsomedarknessandterror。WhenIdidattempttoexaminethefoundationsofthismodernideaIsimplyfoundthattherewerenone。Scienceknowsnothingwhateveraboutpre-historicman；
fortheexcellentreasonthatheispre-historic。Afewprofessorschoosetoconjecturethatsuchthingsashumansacrificewereonceinnocentandgeneralandthattheygraduallydwindled；butthereisnodirectevidenceofit，andthesmallamountofindirectevidenceisverymuchtheotherway。Intheearliestlegendswehave，suchasthetalesofIsaacandofIphigenia，humansacrificeisnotintroducedassomethingold，butratherassomethingnew；
asastrangeandfrightfulexceptiondarklydemandedbythegods。
Historysaysnothing；andlegendsallsaythattheearthwaskinderinitsearliesttime。Thereisnotraditionofprogress；butthewholehumanracehasatraditionoftheFall。Amusinglyenough，indeed，theverydisseminationofthisideaisusedagainstitsauthenticity。
Learnedmenliterallysaythatthispre-historiccalamitycannotbetruebecauseeveryraceofmankindremembersit。Icannotkeeppacewiththeseparadoxes。
Andifwetookthethirdchanceinstance，itwouldbethesame；
theviewthatpriestsdarkenandembittertheworld。Ilookattheworldandsimplydiscoverthattheydon’t。ThosecountriesinEuropewhicharestillinfluencedbypriests，areexactlythecountrieswherethereisstillsinginganddancingandcoloureddressesandartintheopen-air。Catholicdoctrineanddisciplinemaybewalls；
buttheyarethewallsofaplayground。ChristianityistheonlyframewhichhaspreservedthepleasureofPaganism。Wemightfancysomechildrenplayingontheflatgrassytopofsometallislandinthesea。Solongastherewasawallroundthecliff’sedgetheycouldflingthemselvesintoeveryfranticgameandmaketheplacethenoisiestofnurseries。Butthewallswereknockeddown，leavingthenakedperiloftheprecipice。Theydidnotfallover；
butwhentheirfriendsreturnedtothemtheywereallhuddledinterrorinthecentreoftheisland；andtheirsonghadceased。
Thusthesethreefactsofexperience，suchfactsasgotomakeanagnostic，are，inthisview，turnedtotallyround。Iamleftsaying，\"Givemeanexplanation，first，ofthetoweringeccentricityofmanamongthebrutes；second，ofthevasthumantraditionofsomeancienthappiness；third，ofthepartialperpetuationofsuchpaganjoyinthecountriesoftheCatholicChurch。\"Oneexplanation，atanyrate，coversallthree：thetheorythattwicewasthenaturalorderinterruptedbysomeexplosionorrevelationsuchaspeoplenowcall\"psychic。\"OnceHeavencameupontheearthwithapowerorsealcalledtheimageofGod，wherebymantookcommandofNature；
andonceagain（wheninempireafterempiremenhadbeenfoundwanting）
Heavencametosavemankindintheawfulshapeofaman。
Thiswouldexplainwhythemassofmenalwayslookbackwards；
andwhytheonlycornerwheretheyinanysenselookforwardsisthelittlecontinentwhereChristhasHisChurch。IknowitwillbesaidthatJapanhasbecomeprogressive。Buthowcanthisbeananswerwheneveninsaying\"Japanhasbecomeprogressive，\"wereallyonlymean，\"JapanhasbecomeEuropean\"？ButIwishherenotsomuchtoinsistonmyownexplanationastoinsistonmyoriginalremark。
Iagreewiththeordinaryunbelievingmaninthestreetinbeingguidedbythreeorfouroddfactsallpointingtosomething；
onlywhenIcametolookatthefactsIalwaysfoundtheypointedtosomethingelse。
Ihavegivenanimaginarytriadofsuchordinaryanti-Christianarguments；ifthatbetoonarrowabasisIwillgiveonthespurofthemomentanother。ThesearethekindofthoughtswhichincombinationcreatetheimpressionthatChristianityissomethingweakanddiseased。First，forinstance，thatJesuswasagentlecreature，sheepishandunworldly，amereineffectualappealtotheworld；second，thatChristianityaroseandflourishedinthedarkagesofignorance，andthattothesetheChurchwoulddragusback；third，thatthepeoplestillstronglyreligiousor（ifyouwill）superstitious——suchpeopleastheIrish——areweak，unpractical，andbehindthetimes。
Ionlymentiontheseideastoaffirmthesamething：thatwhenI
lookedintothemindependentlyIfound，notthattheconclusionswereunphilosophical，butsimplythatthefactswerenotfacts。
InsteadoflookingatbooksandpicturesabouttheNewTestamentI
lookedattheNewTestament。ThereIfoundanaccount，notintheleastofapersonwithhishairpartedinthemiddleorhishandsclaspedinappeal，butofanextraordinarybeingwithlipsofthunderandactsofluriddecision，flingingdowntables，castingoutdevils，passingwiththewildsecrecyofthewindfrommountainisolationtoasortofdreadfuldemagogy；abeingwhooftenactedlikeanangrygod——
andalwayslikeagod。Christhadevenaliterarystyleofhisown，nottobefound，Ithink，elsewhere；itconsistsofanalmostfurioususeoftheAFORTIORI。His\"howmuchmore\"ispiledoneuponanotherlikecastleuponcastleintheclouds。ThedictionusedABOUTChristhasbeen，andperhapswisely，sweetandsubmissive。
ButthedictionusedbyChristisquitecuriouslygigantesque；
itisfullofcamelsleapingthroughneedlesandmountainshurledintothesea。Morallyitisequallyterrific；hecalledhimselfaswordofslaughter，andtoldmentobuyswordsiftheysoldtheircoatsforthem。Thatheusedotherevenwilderwordsonthesideofnon-resistancegreatlyincreasesthemystery；butitalso，ifanything，ratherincreasestheviolence。Wecannotevenexplainitbycallingsuchabeinginsane；forinsanityisusuallyalongoneconsistentchannel。Themaniacisgenerallyamonomaniac。HerewemustrememberthedifficultdefinitionofChristianityalreadygiven；
Christianityisasuperhumanparadoxwherebytwooppositepassionsmayblazebesideeachother。TheoneexplanationoftheGospellanguagethatdoesexplainit，isthatitisthesurveyofonewhofromsomesupernaturalheightbeholdssomemorestartlingsynthesis。
Itakeinorderthenextinstanceoffered：theideathatChristianitybelongstotheDarkAges。HereIdidnotsatisfymyselfwithreadingmoderngeneralisations；Ireadalittlehistory。
AndinhistoryIfoundthatChristianity，sofarfrombelongingtotheDarkAges，wastheonepathacrosstheDarkAgesthatwasnotdark。
Itwasashiningbridgeconnectingtwoshiningcivilizations。
Ifanyonesaysthatthefaitharoseinignoranceandsavagerytheanswerissimple：itdidn’t。ItaroseintheMediterraneancivilizationinthefullsummeroftheRomanEmpire。Theworldwasswarmingwithsceptics，andpantheismwasasplainasthesun，whenConstantinenailedthecrosstothemast。Itisperfectlytruethatafterwardstheshipsank；butitisfarmoreextraordinarythattheshipcameupagain：repaintedandglittering，withthecrossstillatthetop。Thisistheamazingthingthereligiondid：
itturnedasunkenshipintoasubmarine。Thearklivedundertheloadofwaters；afterbeingburiedunderthedebrisofdynastiesandclans，wearoseandrememberedRome。Ifourfaithhadbeenamerefadofthefadingempire，fadwouldhavefollowedfadinthetwilight，andifthecivilizationeverre-emerged（andmanysuchhaveneverre-emerged）itwouldhavebeenundersomenewbarbaricflag。
ButtheChristianChurchwasthelastlifeoftheoldsocietyandwasalsothefirstlifeofthenew。ShetookthepeoplewhowereforgettinghowtomakeanarchandshetaughtthemtoinventtheGothicarch。Inaword，themostabsurdthingthatcouldbesaidoftheChurchisthethingwehaveallheardsaidofit。HowcanwesaythattheChurchwishestobringusbackintotheDarkAges？
TheChurchwastheonlythingthateverbroughtusoutofthem。
IaddedinthissecondtrinityofobjectionsanidleinstancetakenfromthosewhofeelsuchpeopleastheIrishtobeweakenedormadestagnantbysuperstition。Ionlyaddeditbecausethisisapeculiarcaseofastatementoffactthatturnsouttobeastatementoffalsehood。ItisconstantlysaidoftheIrishthattheyareimpractical。ButifwerefrainforamomentfromlookingatwhatissaidaboutthemandlookatwhatisDONEaboutthem，weshallseethattheIrisharenotonlypractical，butquitepainfullysuccessful。Thepovertyoftheircountry，theminorityoftheirmembersaresimplytheconditionsunderwhichtheywereaskedtowork；butnoothergroupintheBritishEmpirehasdonesomuchwithsuchconditions。TheNationalistsweretheonlyminoritythateversucceededintwistingthewholeBritishParliamentsharplyoutofitspath。TheIrishpeasantsaretheonlypoormenintheseislandswhohaveforcedtheirmasterstodisgorge。Thesepeople，whomwecallpriest-ridden，aretheonlyBritonswhowillnotbesquire-ridden。AndwhenIcametolookattheactualIrishcharacter，thecasewasthesame。IrishmenarebestatthespeciallyHARDprofessions——thetradesofiron，thelawyer，andthesoldier。
Inallthesecases，therefore，Icamebacktothesameconclusion：
thescepticwasquiterighttogobythefacts，onlyhehadnotlookedatthefacts。Thescepticistoocredulous；hebelievesinnewspapersoreveninencyclopedias。Againthethreequestionsleftmewiththreeveryantagonisticquestions。TheaveragescepticwantedtoknowhowIexplainedthenamby-pambynoteintheGospel，theconnectionofthecreedwithmediaevaldarknessandthepoliticalimpracticabilityoftheCelticChristians。ButIwantedtoask，andtoaskwithanearnestnessamountingtourgency，\"Whatisthisincomparableenergywhichappearsfirstinonewalkingtheearthlikealivingjudgmentandthisenergywhichcandiewithadyingcivilizationandyetforceittoaresurrectionfromthedead；
thisenergywhichlastofallcaninflameabankruptpeasantrywithsofixedafaithinjusticethattheygetwhattheyask，whileothersgoemptyaway；sothatthemosthelplessislandoftheEmpirecanactuallyhelpitself？\"
Thereisananswer：itisananswertosaythattheenergyistrulyfromoutsidetheworld；thatitispsychic，oratleastoneoftheresultsofarealpsychicaldisturbance。ThehighestgratitudeandrespectareduetothegreathumancivilizationssuchastheoldEgyptianortheexistingChinese。NeverthelessitisnoinjusticeforthemtosaythatonlymodernEuropehasexhibitedincessantlyapowerofself-renewalrecurringoftenattheshortestintervalsanddescendingtothesmallestfactsofbuildingorcostume。
Allothersocietiesdiefinallyandwithdignity。Wediedaily。
Wearealwaysbeingbornagainwithalmostindecentobstetrics。
ItishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatthereisinhistoricChristendomasortofunnaturallife：itcouldbeexplainedasasupernaturallife。Itcouldbeexplainedasanawfulgalvaniclifeworkinginwhatwouldhavebeenacorpse。ForourcivilizationOUGHT
tohavedied，byallparallels，byallsociologicalprobability，intheRagnorakoftheendofRome。Thatistheweirdinspirationofourestate：youandIhavenobusinesstobehereatall。WeareallREVENANTS；alllivingChristiansaredeadpaganswalkingabout。
JustasEuropewasabouttobegatheredinsilencetoAssyriaandBabylon，somethingenteredintoitsbody。AndEuropehashadastrangelife——itisnottoomuchtosaythatithashadtheJUMPS——
eversince。
Ihavedealtatlengthwithsuchtypicaltriadsofdoubtinordertoconveythemaincontention——thatmyowncaseforChristianityisrational；butitisnotsimple。Itisanaccumulationofvariedfacts，liketheattitudeoftheordinaryagnostic。
Buttheordinaryagnostichasgothisfactsallwrong。
Heisanon-believerforamultitudeofreasons；buttheyareuntruereasons。HedoubtsbecausetheMiddleAgeswerebarbaric，buttheyweren’t；becauseDarwinismisdemonstrated，butitisn’t；
becausemiraclesdonothappen，buttheydo；becausemonkswerelazy，buttheywereveryindustrious；becausenunsareunhappy，buttheyareparticularlycheerful；becauseChristianartwassadandpale，butitwaspickedoutinpeculiarlybrightcoloursandgaywithgold；
becausemodernscienceismovingawayfromthesupernatural，butitisn’t，itismovingtowardsthesupernaturalwiththerapidityofarailwaytrain。
Butamongthesemillionfactsallflowingonewaythereis，ofcourse，onequestionsufficientlysolidandseparatetobetreatedbriefly，butbyitself；Imeantheobjectiveoccurrenceofthesupernatural。InanotherchapterIhaveindicatedthefallacyoftheordinarysuppositionthattheworldmustbeimpersonalbecauseitisorderly。Apersonisjustaslikelytodesireanorderlythingasadisorderlything。Butmyownpositiveconvictionthatpersonalcreationismoreconceivablethanmaterialfate，is，Iadmit，inasense，undiscussable。Iwillnotcallitafaithoranintuition，forthosewordsaremixedupwithmereemotion，itisstrictlyanintellectualconviction；butitisaPRIMARYintellectualconvictionlikethecertaintyofselfofthegoodofliving。
Anyonewholikes，therefore，maycallmybeliefinGodmerelymystical；
thephraseisnotworthfightingabout。Butmybeliefthatmiracleshavehappenedinhumanhistoryisnotamysticalbeliefatall；IbelieveinthemuponhumanevidencesasIdointhediscoveryofAmerica。
Uponthispointthereisasimplelogicalfactthatonlyrequirestobestatedandclearedup。Somehoworotheranextraordinaryideahasarisenthatthedisbelieversinmiraclesconsiderthemcoldlyandfairly，whilebelieversinmiraclesacceptthemonlyinconnectionwithsomedogma。Thefactisquitetheotherway。
Thebelieversinmiraclesacceptthem（rightlyorwrongly）becausetheyhaveevidenceforthem。Thedisbelieversinmiraclesdenythem（rightlyorwrongly）becausetheyhaveadoctrineagainstthem。
Theopen，obvious，democraticthingistobelieveanoldapple-womanwhenshebearstestimonytoamiracle，justasyoubelieveanoldapple-womanwhenshebearstestimonytoamurder。Theplain，popularcourseistotrustthepeasant’swordabouttheghostexactlyasfarasyoutrustthepeasant’swordaboutthelandlord。
Beingapeasanthewillprobablyhaveagreatdealofhealthyagnosticismaboutboth。StillyoucouldfilltheBritishMuseumwithevidenceutteredbythepeasant，andgiveninfavouroftheghost。
Ifitcomestohumantestimonythereisachokingcataractofhumantestimonyinfavourofthesupernatural。Ifyourejectit，youcanonlymeanoneoftwothings。Yourejectthepeasant’sstoryabouttheghosteitherbecausethemanisapeasantorbecausethestoryisaghoststory。Thatis，youeitherdenythemainprincipleofdemocracy，oryouaffirmthemainprincipleofmaterialism——
theabstractimpossibilityofmiracle。Youhaveaperfectrighttodoso；butinthatcaseyouarethedogmatist。ItisweChristianswhoacceptallactualevidence——itisyourationalistswhorefuseactualevidencebeingconstrainedtodosobyyourcreed。
ButIamnotconstrainedbyanycreedinthematter，andlookingimpartiallyintocertainmiraclesofmediaevalandmoderntimes，Ihavecometotheconclusionthattheyoccurred。Allargumentagainsttheseplainfactsisalwaysargumentinacircle。IfIsay，\"Mediaevaldocumentsattestcertainmiraclesasmuchastheyattestcertainbattles，\"theyanswer，\"Butmediaevalsweresuperstitious\"；
ifIwanttoknowinwhattheyweresuperstitious，theonlyultimateansweristhattheybelievedinthemiracles。IfIsay\"apeasantsawaghost，\"Iamtold，\"Butpeasantsaresocredulous。\"
IfIask，\"Whycredulous？\"theonlyansweris——thattheyseeghosts。
Icelandisimpossiblebecauseonlystupidsailorshaveseenit；
andthesailorsareonlystupidbecausetheysaytheyhaveseenIceland。
Itisonlyfairtoaddthatthereisanotherargumentthattheunbelievermayrationallyuseagainstmiracles，thoughhehimselfgenerallyforgetstouseit。
Hemaysaythattherehasbeeninmanymiraculousstoriesanotionofspiritualpreparationandacceptance：inshort，thatthemiraclecouldonlycometohimwhobelievedinit。
Itmaybeso，andifitissohowarewetotestit？Ifweareinquiringwhethercertainresultsfollowfaith，itisuselesstorepeatwearilythat（iftheyhappen）theydofollowfaith。
Iffaithisoneoftheconditions，thosewithoutfaithhaveamosthealthyrighttolaugh。Buttheyhavenorighttojudge。
Beingabelievermaybe，ifyoulike，asbadasbeingdrunk；
stillifwewereextractingpsychologicalfactsfromdrunkards，itwouldbeabsurdtobealwaystauntingthemwithhavingbeendrunk。
Supposewewereinvestigatingwhetherangrymenreallysawaredmistbeforetheireyes。Supposesixtyexcellenthouseholderssworethatwhenangrytheyhadseenthiscrimsoncloud：surelyitwouldbeabsurdtoanswer\"Oh，butyouadmityouwereangryatthetime。\"
Theymightreasonablyrejoin（inastentorianchorus），\"Howtheblazescouldwediscover，withoutbeingangry，whetherangrypeopleseered？\"
Sothesaintsandasceticsmightrationallyreply，\"Supposethatthequestioniswhetherbelieverscanseevisions——eventhen，ifyouareinterestedinvisionsitisnopointtoobjecttobelievers。\"
Youarestillarguinginacircle——inthatoldmadcirclewithwhichthisbookbegan。
Thequestionofwhethermiracleseveroccurisaquestionofcommonsenseandofordinaryhistoricalimagination：notofanyfinalphysicalexperiment。Onemayheresurelydismissthatquitebrainlesspieceofpedantrywhichtalksabouttheneedfor\"scientificconditions\"
inconnectionwithallegedspiritualphenomena。Ifweareaskingwhetheradeadsoulcancommunicatewithalivingitisludicroustoinsistthatitshallbeunderconditionsinwhichnotwolivingsoulsintheirsenseswouldseriouslycommunicatewitheachother。
Thefactthatghostspreferdarknessnomoredisprovestheexistenceofghoststhanthefactthatloverspreferdarknessdisprovestheexistenceoflove。Ifyouchoosetosay，\"IwillbelievethatMissBrowncalledherfianceaperiwinkleor，anyotherendearingterm，ifshewillrepeatthewordbeforeseventeenpsychologists，\"
thenIshallreply，\"Verywell，ifthoseareyourconditions，youwillnevergetthetruth，forshecertainlywillnotsayit。\"
Itisjustasunscientificasitisunphilosophicaltobesurprisedthatinanunsympatheticatmospherecertainextraordinarysympathiesdonotarise。ItisasifIsaidthatIcouldnottelliftherewasafogbecausetheairwasnotclearenough；orasifIinsistedonperfectsunlightinordertoseeasolareclipse。
Asacommon-senseconclusion，suchasthosetowhichwecomeaboutsexoraboutmidnight（wellknowingthatmanydetailsmustintheirownnaturebeconcealed）Iconcludethatmiraclesdohappen。
Iamforcedtoitbyaconspiracyoffacts：thefactthatthemenwhoencounterelvesorangelsarenotthemysticsandthemorbiddreamers，butfishermen，farmers，andallmenatoncecoarseandcautious；
thefactthatweallknowmenwhotestifytospiritualisticincidentsbutarenotspiritualists，thefactthatscienceitselfadmitssuchthingsmoreandmoreeveryday。SciencewillevenadmittheAscensionifyoucallitLevitation，andwillverylikelyadmittheResurrectionwhenithasthoughtofanotherwordforit。
IsuggesttheRegalvanisation。Butthestrongestofallisthedilemmaabovementioned，thatthesesupernaturalthingsareneverdeniedexceptonthebasiseitherofanti-democracyorofmaterialistdogmatism——Imaysaymaterialistmysticism。Thescepticalwaystakesoneofthetwopositions；eitheranordinarymanneednotbebelieved，oranextraordinaryeventmustnotbebelieved。
ForIhopewemaydismisstheargumentagainstwondersattemptedinthemererecapitulationoffrauds，ofswindlingmediumsortrickmiracles。Thatisnotanargumentatall，goodorbad。
AfalseghostdisprovestherealityofghostsexactlyasmuchasaforgedbanknotedisprovestheexistenceoftheBankofEngland——
ifanything，itprovesitsexistence。
Giventhisconvictionthatthespiritualphenomenadooccur（myevidenceforwhichiscomplexbutrational），wethencollidewithoneoftheworstmentalevilsoftheage。Thegreatestdisasterofthenineteenthcenturywasthis：thatmenbegantousetheword\"spiritual\"asthesameastheword\"good。\"
Theythoughtthattogrowinrefinementanduncorporealitywastogrowinvirtue。Whenscientificevolutionwasannounced，somefearedthatitwouldencouragemereanimality。Itdidworse：
itencouragedmerespirituality。Ittaughtmentothinkthatsolongastheywerepassingfromtheapetheyweregoingtotheangel。
Butyoucanpassfromtheapeandgotothedevil。Amanofgenius，verytypicalofthattimeofbewilderment，expresseditperfectly。
BenjaminDisraeliwasrightwhenhesaidhewasonthesideoftheangels。Hewasindeed；hewasonthesideofthefallenangels。
Hewasnotonthesideofanymereappetiteoranimalbrutality；
buthewasonthesideofalltheimperialismoftheprincesoftheabyss；hewasonthesideofarroganceandmystery，andcontemptofallobviousgood。Betweenthissunkenprideandthetoweringhumilitiesofheaventhereare，onemustsuppose，spiritsofshapesandsizes。Man，inencounteringthem，mustmakemuchthesamemistakesthathemakesinencounteringanyothervariedtypesinanyotherdistantcontinent。Itmustbehardatfirsttoknowwhoissupremeandwhoissubordinate。
Ifashadearosefromtheunderworld，andstaredatPiccadilly，thatshadewouldnotquiteunderstandtheideaofanordinaryclosedcarriage。Hewouldsupposethatthecoachmanontheboxwasatriumphantconqueror，draggingbehindhimakickingandimprisonedcaptive。So，ifweseespiritualfactsforthefirsttime，wemaymistakewhoisuppermost。Itisnotenoughtofindthegods；
theyareobvious；wemustfindGod，therealchiefofthegods。
Wemusthavealonghistoricexperienceinsupernaturalphenomena——
inordertodiscoverwhicharereallynatural。InthislightI
findthehistoryofChristianity，andevenofitsHebreworigins，quitepracticalandclear。ItdoesnottroublemetobetoldthattheHebrewgodwasoneamongmany。Iknowhewas，withoutanyresearchtotellmeso。JehovahandBaallookedequallyimportant，justasthesunandthemoonlookedthesamesize。Itisonlyslowlythatwelearnthatthesunisimmeasurablyourmaster，andthesmallmoononlyoursatellite。Believingthatthereisaworldofspirits，IshallwalkinitasIdointheworldofmen，lookingforthethingthatIlikeandthinkgood。
JustasIshouldseekinadesertforcleanwater，ortoilattheNorthPoletomakeacomfortablefire，soIshallsearchthelandofvoidandvisionuntilIfindsomethingfreshlikewater，andcomfortinglikefire；untilIfindsomeplaceineternity，whereIamliterallyathome。Andthereisonlyonesuchplacetobefound。
Ihavenowsaidenoughtoshow（toanyonetowhomsuchanexplanationisessential）thatIhaveintheordinaryarenaofapologetics，agroundofbelief。Inpurerecordsofexperiment（ifthesebetakendemocraticallywithoutcontemptorfavour）thereisevidencefirst，thatmiracleshappen，andsecondthatthenoblermiraclesbelongtoourtradition。ButIwillnotpretendthatthiscurtdiscussionismyrealreasonforacceptingChristianityinsteadoftakingthemoralgoodofChristianityasIshouldtakeitoutofConfucianism。
Ihaveanotherfarmoresolidandcentralgroundforsubmittingtoitasafaith，insteadofmerelypickinguphintsfromitasascheme。Andthatisthis：thattheChristianChurchinitspracticalrelationtomysoulisalivingteacher，notadeadone。
Itnotonlycertainlytaughtmeyesterday，butwillalmostcertainlyteachmeto-morrow。OnceIsawsuddenlythemeaningoftheshapeofthecross；somedayImayseesuddenlythemeaningoftheshapeofthemitre。OnefinemorningIsawwhywindowswerepointed；
somefinemorningImayseewhypriestswereshaven。Platohastoldyouatruth；butPlatoisdead。Shakespearehasstartledyouwithanimage；butShakespearewillnotstartleyouwithanymore。
Butimaginewhatitwouldbetolivewithsuchmenstillliving，toknowthatPlatomightbreakoutwithanoriginallectureto-morrow，orthatatanymomentShakespearemightshattereverythingwithasinglesong。ThemanwholivesincontactwithwhathebelievestobealivingChurchisamanalwaysexpectingtomeetPlatoandShakespeareto-morrowatbreakfast。Heisalwaysexpectingtoseesometruththathehasneverseenbefore。Thereisoneonlyotherparalleltothisposition；andthatistheparallelofthelifeinwhichweallbegan。Whenyourfathertoldyou，walkingaboutthegarden，thatbeesstungorthatrosessmeltsweet，youdidnottalkoftakingthebestoutofhisphilosophy。Whenthebeesstungyou，youdidnotcallitanentertainingcoincidence。
Whentherosesmeltsweetyoudidnotsay\"Myfatherisarude，barbaricsymbol，enshrining（perhapsunconsciously）thedeepdelicatetruthsthatflowerssmell。\"No：youbelievedyourfather，becauseyouhadfoundhimtobealivingfountainoffacts，athingthatreallyknewmorethanyou；athingthatwouldtellyoutruthto-morrow，aswellasto-day。Andifthiswastrueofyourfather，itwaseventruerofyourmother；atleastitwastrueofmine，towhomthisbookisdedicated。Now，whensocietyisinaratherfutilefussaboutthesubjectionofwomen，willnoonesayhowmucheverymanowestothetyrannyandprivilegeofwomen，tothefactthattheyaloneruleeducationuntileducationbecomesfutile：
foraboyisonlysenttobetaughtatschoolwhenitistoolatetoteachhimanything。Therealthinghasbeendonealready，andthankGoditisnearlyalwaysdonebywomen。Everymaniswomanised，merelybybeingborn。Theytalkofthemasculinewoman；
buteverymanisafeminisedman。AndifevermenwalktoWestminstertoprotestagainstthisfemaleprivilege，Ishallnotjointheirprocession。
ForIrememberwithcertaintythisfixedpsychologicalfact；
thattheverytimewhenIwasmostunderawoman’sauthority，Iwasmostfullofflameandadventure。Exactlybecausewhenmymothersaidthatantsbittheydidbite，andbecausesnowdidcomeinwinter（asshesaid）；thereforethewholeworldwastomeafairylandofwonderfulfulfilments，anditwaslikelivinginsomeHebraicage，whenprophecyafterprophecycametrue。Iwentoutasachildintothegarden，anditwasaterribleplacetome，preciselybecauseIhadacluetoit：ifIhadheldnoclueitwouldnothavebeenterrible，buttame。Amereunmeaningwildernessisnotevenimpressive。Butthegardenofchildhoodwasfascinating，exactlybecauseeverythinghadafixedmeaningwhichcouldbefoundoutinitsturn。InchbyinchImightdiscoverwhatwastheobjectoftheuglyshapecalledarake；orformsomeshadowyconjectureastowhymyparentskeptacat。
So，sinceIhaveacceptedChristendomasamotherandnotmerelyasachanceexample，IhavefoundEuropeandtheworldoncemorelikethelittlegardenwhereIstaredatthesymbolicshapesofcatandrake；Ilookateverythingwiththeoldelvishignoranceandexpectancy。Thisorthatriteordoctrinemaylookasuglyandextraordinaryasarake；butIhavefoundbyexperiencethatsuchthingsendsomehowingrassandflowers。Aclergymanmaybeapparentlyasuselessasacat，butheisalsoasfascinating，fortheremustbesomestrangereasonforhisexistence。Igiveoneinstanceoutofahundred；Ihavenotmyselfanyinstinctivekinshipwiththatenthusiasmforphysicalvirginity，whichhascertainlybeenanoteofhistoricChristianity。ButwhenIlooknotatmyselfbutattheworld，IperceivethatthisenthusiasmisnotonlyanoteofChristianity，butanoteofPaganism，anoteofhighhumannatureinmanyspheres。TheGreeksfeltvirginitywhentheycarvedArtemis，theRomanswhentheyrobedthevestals，theworstandwildestofthegreatElizabethanplaywrightsclungtotheliteralpurityofawomanastothecentralpillaroftheworld。
Aboveall，themodernworld（evenwhilemockingsexualinnocence）
hasflungitselfintoagenerousidolatryofsexualinnocence——
thegreatmodernworshipofchildren。Foranymanwholoveschildrenwillagreethattheirpeculiarbeautyishurtbyahintofphysicalsex。
Withallthishumanexperience，alliedwiththeChristianauthority，IsimplyconcludethatIamwrong，andthechurchright；orratherthatIamdefective，whilethechurchisuniversal。Ittakesallsortstomakeachurch；shedoesnotaskmetobecelibate。
ButthefactthatIhavenoappreciationofthecelibates，IacceptlikethefactthatIhavenoearformusic。Thebesthumanexperienceisagainstme，asitisonthesubjectofBach。
Celibacyisoneflowerinmyfather’sgarden，ofwhichIhavenotbeentoldthesweetorterriblename。ButImaybetolditanyday。
This，therefore，is，inconclusion，myreasonforacceptingthereligionandnotmerelythescatteredandseculartruthsoutofthereligion。Idoitbecausethethinghasnotmerelytoldthistruthorthattruth，buthasrevealeditselfasatruth-tellingthing。
Allotherphilosophiessaythethingsthatplainlyseemtobetrue；
onlythisphilosophyhasagainandagainsaidthethingthatdoesnotseemtobetrue，butistrue。Aloneofallcreedsitisconvincingwhereitisnotattractive；itturnsouttoberight，likemyfatherinthegarden。Theosophistsforinstancewillpreachanobviouslyattractiveidealikere-incarnation；butifwewaitforitslogicalresults，theyarespiritualsuperciliousnessandthecrueltyofcaste。Forifamanisabeggarbyhisownpre-natalsins，peoplewilltendtodespisethebeggar。ButChristianitypreachesanobviouslyunattractiveidea，suchasoriginalsin；butwhenwewaitforitsresults，theyarepathosandbrotherhood，andathunderoflaughterandpity；foronlywithoriginalsinwecanatoncepitythebeggaranddistrusttheking。Menofscienceofferushealth，anobviousbenefit；itisonlyafterwardsthatwediscoverthatbyhealth，theymeanbodilyslaveryandspiritualtedium。
Orthodoxymakesusjumpbythesuddenbrinkofhell；itisonlyafterwardsthatwerealisethatjumpingwasanathleticexercisehighlybeneficialtoourhealth。Itisonlyafterwardsthatwerealisethatthisdangeristherootofalldramaandromance。
Thestrongestargumentforthedivinegraceissimplyitsungraciousness。
TheunpopularpartsofChristianityturnoutwhenexaminedtobetheverypropsofthepeople。TheouterringofChristianityisarigidguardofethicalabnegationsandprofessionalpriests；
butinsidethatinhumanguardyouwillfindtheoldhumanlifedancinglikechildren，anddrinkingwinelikemen；forChristianityistheonlyframeforpaganfreedom。Butinthemodernphilosophythecaseisopposite；itisitsouterringthatisobviouslyartisticandemancipated；itsdespairiswithin。
Anditsdespairisthis，thatitdoesnotreallybelievethatthereisanymeaningintheuniverse；thereforeitcannothopetofindanyromance；itsromanceswillhavenoplots。Amancannotexpectanyadventuresinthelandofanarchy。Butamancanexpectanynumberofadventuresifhegoestravellinginthelandofauthority。Onecanfindnomeaningsinajungleofscepticism；
butthemanwillfindmoreandmoremeaningswhowalksthroughaforestofdoctrineanddesign。Hereeverythinghasastorytiedtoitstail，likethetoolsorpicturesinmyfather’shouse；
foritismyfather’shouse。IendwhereIbegan——attherightend。
Ihaveenteredatlastthegateofallgoodphilosophy。Ihavecomeintomysecondchildhood。
ButthislargerandmoreadventurousChristianuniversehasonefinalmarkdifficulttoexpress；yetasaconclusionofthewholematterIwillattempttoexpressit。Alltherealargumentaboutreligionturnsonthequestionofwhetheramanwhowasbornupsidedowncantellwhenhecomesrightwayup。TheprimaryparadoxofChristianityisthattheordinaryconditionofmanisnothissaneorsensiblecondition；thatthenormalitselfisanabnormality。
ThatistheinmostphilosophyoftheFall。InSirOliverLodge’sinterestingnewCatechism，thefirsttwoquestionswere：
\"Whatareyou？\"and\"What，then，isthemeaningoftheFallofMan？\"
Irememberamusingmyselfbywritingmyownanswerstothequestions；
butIsoonfoundthattheywereverybrokenandagnosticanswers。
Tothequestion，\"Whatareyou？\"Icouldonlyanswer，\"Godknows。\"
Andtothequestion，\"WhatismeantbytheFall？\"Icouldanswerwithcompletesincerity，\"ThatwhateverIam，Iamnotmyself。\"
Thisistheprimeparadoxofourreligion；somethingthatwehaveneverinanyfullsenseknown，isnotonlybetterthanourselves，butevenmorenaturaltousthanourselves。Andthereisreallynotestofthisexceptthemerelyexperimentalonewithwhichthesepagesbegan，thetestofthepaddedcellandtheopendoor。ItisonlysinceIhaveknownorthodoxythatIhaveknownmentalemancipation。
But，inconclusion，ithasonespecialapplicationtotheultimateideaofjoy。
ItissaidthatPaganismisareligionofjoyandChristianityofsorrow；itwouldbejustaseasytoprovethatPaganismispuresorrowandChristianitypurejoy。Suchconflictsmeannothingandleadnowhere。Everythinghumanmusthaveinitbothjoyandsorrow；
theonlymatterofinterestisthemannerinwhichthetwothingsarebalancedordivided。Andthereallyinterestingthingisthis，thatthepaganwas（inthemain）happierandhappierasheapproachedtheearth，butsadderandsadderasheapproachedtheheavens。
ThegaietyofthebestPaganism，asintheplayfulnessofCatullusorTheocritus，is，indeed，aneternalgaietynevertobeforgottenbyagratefulhumanity。Butitisallagaietyaboutthefactsoflife，notaboutitsorigin。Tothepaganthesmallthingsareassweetasthesmallbrooksbreakingoutofthemountain；butthebroadthingsareasbitterasthesea。Whenthepaganlooksattheverycoreofthecosmosheisstruckcold。Behindthegods，whoaremerelydespotic，sitthefates，whoaredeadly。Nay，thefatesareworsethandeadly；
theyaredead。AndwhenrationalistssaythattheancientworldwasmoreenlightenedthantheChristian，fromtheirpointofviewtheyareright。Forwhentheysay\"enlightened\"theymeandarkenedwithincurabledespair。ItisprofoundlytruethattheancientworldwasmoremodernthantheChristian。Thecommonbondisinthefactthatancientsandmodernshavebothbeenmiserableaboutexistence，abouteverything，whilemediaevalswerehappyaboutthatatleast。
Ifreelygrantthatthepagans，likethemoderns，wereonlymiserableabouteverything——theywerequitejollyabouteverythingelse。
IconcedethattheChristiansoftheMiddleAgeswereonlyatpeaceabouteverything——theywereatwarabouteverythingelse。
Butifthequestionturnontheprimarypivotofthecosmos，thentherewasmorecosmiccontentmentinthenarrowandbloodystreetsofFlorencethaninthetheatreofAthensortheopengardenofEpicurus。GiottolivedinagloomiertownthanEuripides，buthelivedinagayeruniverse。
Themassofmenhavebeenforcedtobegayaboutthelittlethings，butsadaboutthebigones。Nevertheless（Ioffermylastdogmadefiantly）itisnotnativetomantobeso。Manismorehimself，manismoremanlike，whenjoyisthefundamentalthinginhim，andgriefthesuperficial。Melancholyshouldbeaninnocentinterlude，atenderandfugitiveframeofmind；praiseshouldbethepermanentpulsationofthesoul。Pessimismisatbestanemotionalhalf-holiday；
joyistheuproariouslabourbywhichallthingslive。Yet，accordingtotheapparentestateofmanasseenbythepaganortheagnostic，thisprimaryneedofhumannaturecanneverbefulfilled。
Joyoughttobeexpansive；butfortheagnosticitmustbecontracted，itmustclingtoonecorneroftheworld。Griefoughttobeaconcentration；butfortheagnosticitsdesolationisspreadthroughanunthinkableeternity。ThisiswhatIcallbeingbornupsidedown。Thescepticmaytrulybesaidtobetopsy-turvy；
forhisfeetaredancingupwardsinidleecstasies，whilehisbrainisintheabyss。Tothemodernmantheheavensareactuallybelowtheearth。Theexplanationissimple；heisstandingonhishead；
whichisaveryweakpedestaltostandon。Butwhenhehasfoundhisfeetagainheknowsit。Christianitysatisfiessuddenlyandperfectlyman’sancestralinstinctforbeingtherightwayup；
satisfiesitsupremelyinthis；thatbyitscreedjoybecomessomethinggiganticandsadnesssomethingspecialandsmall。
Thevaultaboveusisnotdeafbecausetheuniverseisanidiot；
thesilenceisnottheheartlesssilenceofanendlessandaimlessworld。
Ratherthesilencearoundusisasmallandpitifulstillnesslikethepromptstillnessinasick-room。Weareperhapspermittedtragedyasasortofmercifulcomedy：becausethefranticenergyofdivinethingswouldknockusdownlikeadrunkenfarce。Wecantakeourowntearsmorelightlythanwecouldtakethetremendouslevitiesoftheangels。Sowesitperhapsinastarrychamberofsilence，whilethelaughteroftheheavensistooloudforustohear。
Joy，whichwasthesmallpublicityofthepagan，isthegiganticsecretoftheChristian。AndasIclosethischaoticvolumeIopenagainthestrangesmallbookfromwhichallChristianitycame；andI
amagainhauntedbyakindofconfirmation。ThetremendousfigurewhichfillstheGospelstowersinthisrespect，asineveryother，aboveallthethinkerswhoeverthoughtthemselvestall。Hispathoswasnatural，almostcasual。TheStoics，ancientandmodern，wereproudofconcealingtheirtears。HeneverconcealedHistears；
HeshowedthemplainlyonHisopenfaceatanydailysight，suchasthefarsightofHisnativecity。YetHeconcealedsomething。
Solemnsupermenandimperialdiplomatistsareproudofrestrainingtheiranger。HeneverrestrainedHisanger。HeflungfurnituredownthefrontstepsoftheTemple，andaskedmenhowtheyexpectedtoescapethedamnationofHell。YetHerestrainedsomething。
Isayitwithreverence；therewasinthatshatteringpersonalityathreadthatmustbecalledshyness。TherewassomethingthatHehidfromallmenwhenHewentupamountaintopray。TherewassomethingthatHecoveredconstantlybyabruptsilenceorimpetuousisolation。
TherewassomeonethingthatwastoogreatforGodtoshowuswhenHewalkeduponourearth；andIhavesometimesfanciedthatitwasHismirth。