Ethics and the Belief in a God

Excerpt from Ethics and the Belief in a God

We cannot have one idea of the Universe and its laws; it would not be possible for us to have one particular view as to the natures of earth, air, water and fire; we should not be authorized to have one special notion as to the meaning of force or energy; and at the same time have quite another and different idea of the power whence all this proceeds.

We cannot help having more or less vaguely or definitely, some picture or conception of the ultimate source of all reality. Our notions may be very confused; the outline may be so dim as to lead us to suppose that it does not exist in our minds at all. Possibly we assume that we are no longer thinking on the subject and are in a condition of what is called suspended judgment. But in spite of ourselves we do continue to shape the picture. Instinctively men say to themselves: After all, there must he some kind of a Power. At the same time it is quite true that the word "power" will have the most varied meaning. It may suggest to some of us the motion of the wind or the sound of a peal of thunder. Others will think of it as the Voice of Conscience.

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