be the leader. Does
democracy yet accord with such a religion? Or is it still too timid,
negative, thin and uninstructed? America, for example, has a soul; but
it is a soul which needs discipline, instruction, contemplation. The
religion of human possibilities needs prophets who will grip men's
souls with their description of a society in which righteousness,
wisdom and beauty will reign together. It is hard to say what thought
such a society calls up before us. Yet does it not mean that, more
than now and increasingly, selfish luxury will be scorned, property
subordinated to welfare, economic fear lessened to the utmost,
knowledge unenviously exalted, and art called {216} into service?
Loyalty to such an ideal will surely constitute the heart of the
humanist's religion.

The ideals of a religion can never be easy. The prophets were stern
critics and hard taskmasters; Jesus knew that his true followers would
find their way no primrose path; the Mediaeval saints were hard on
themselves and their disciples. We can generalize this history for the
future.

And yet a larger measure of joy and human satisfaction will play around
religion in the future than has been the case in the past. Because of
its supernaturalisms and distortions, religious demands have often been
morbid and full of unnecessary friction. Religion has sought to thwart
and repress human nature rather than to guide and express. But a
religion of human loyalty can be kindly as well as exigent,
mirth-loving as well as stern.

As never before, spiritual values sing to us from life. They sing to
us of the patient love of the parent for the child, of the conquest of
nature by trained intellect, of the quiet labor of the skilled workman,
of the steady loyalties of every-day life, of the willing cooperation
of citizens, of the sweetness of music, of plans for greater social
justice, and of a world made free from war. Spiritual values are
everywhere around us inviting our service. He who asks where they are
is like a man who asks for water when a spring is bubbling beneath his
feet. And yet we have been so blinded by the old ascetic
supernaturalisms that we are slow to realize that these simple human
things are nobly spiritual. So long as there are things worth while,
there will be spiritual values. Is not this positive enough? Need he
who has an inalienable treasure fear robbery?

{217}

To put the situation bluntly, religion must be separ