Page:Religion of a Sceptic (IA religionofscepti00powy).djvu/27

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THE RELIGION OF A SCEPTIC

It may be true, or it may not be true, that the "logoi" of Jesus interpret the mystery of the universe with more surety than any other human oracles.

It may be true, or it may not be true, that the particular kind of love advocated and manifested by Jesus represents some psychic force that can actually work miracles.

The ancient religious customs I am now considering do not in the least depend upon the doctrines of Jesus.

They depend upon nothing outside themselves. What they are they are; milestones, made of the stuff whereof all flesh is made, holding the attention of the wayfarer to-day as they held the attention of the wayfarer of yesterday; binding together all the days of all the years of our life; storing up in a language heavy with memories, the burden of that which was and is and is to come!

It is only permitted to a few among the sons of men to realize the strange deep secret of Jesus. It is only permitted to a few to understand the mystery of the love of the saints.

But it is permitted to all to stand at gaze, for a passing moment, before these weather-worn monoliths of the journey we all have to make. It is permitted to all to use the dogma of the Virgin Birth, the sacrament of Infant Baptism,

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