Jack’s Reviews > The World As I See It > Status Update

The section on science and religion is the only place I've read what I feel and what he called cosmic religious feeling. A truly scientific person doesn't allow for the anthropomorphic concept of a god but it does drive you a sense of cosmic wonder when come to the order of the universe and the insignificance of man.

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear and punishment and hope of reward after death.

Money only appeals to selfishness and always tempts its owners irresistibly to abuse it. Can anyone imagine Moses, Jesus or Gandhi armed with the money-bags of Carnegie?

The individual, of left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly conceive.

I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the type of which we are conscious in ourselves. An individual who should survive his physical death is also beyond my comprehension, nor do I wish it otherwise; such notions are for the fears or absurd egoism of feeble souls.

The ideals which have lighted me on my way and time after time given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. The ordinary objects of human endeavor - property, outward success, luxury - have always seemed to me contemptible.