tianity has always acted consistently in accordance with the
principles of one of the fathers of the Church, Tertullian, who says:
'_Desire of knowledge is no longer necessary since Jesus Christ, nor is
investigation necessary since the Gospel._' If the civilization of the
European and especially of Christian Nations has notwithstanding made
such enormous progress in the course of centuries, an unprejudiced
consideration of history can only tell us that this has taken place not
by means of Christianity, but in spite of it. And this is a sufficient
indication to what an extent this civilization must still be capable
of development when once it shall be completely freed from the narrow
bounds of old superstitious and religious embarrassments!"

"We must therefore endeavor to form convictions which are not to stand
once and for all, as philosophers and theologians usually do, but such
as may change and become improved with the advance of knowledge. Whoever
does not recognize this and gives himself up once for all to a belief
which he regards as final truth, whether it be of a theological or
philosophical kind, is of course incapable of accepting a conviction
supported upon scientific grounds. Unfortunately our whole education is
founded upon an early systematic curbing and fettering of the intellect
in the direction of dogmatic (philosophical or theological) doctrines of
faith, and only a comparatively small number of strong minds succeed
in after years in freeing themselves by their own powers from these
fetters, whilst the majority remain captive in the accustomed bonds and
form their judgment in accordance with the celebrated saying of Bishop
Berkeley: 'Few men think; but all will have opinions.'"--Buchner, "Man
in the Past, Present, and Future."

Appendix U.

"And here it may be remarked, once for all, that no man who has
subscribed to creeds and formulas, whether in theology or philosophy,
can be an unbiased investigator of the truth or an unprejudiced judge
of the opinions of others. His sworn preconceptions warping his
discernment, adherence to his sect or party engenders intolerance to the
honest convictions of other inquirer? Beliefs we may and must have,
but a belief to be changed with new and advancing knowledge impedes no
progress, while a creed subscribed to as _ultimate truth, and sworn
to be defended_, not only puts a bar to further research, but as a
consequence throws the odium of distrust on all t