November 16

Faith answers the questions that reason is incapable of answering, but which it cannot but ask itself.

1

Christ is the greatest person of the ages. He taught the absolute religion, love to God and man. That God has yet greater men in store I doubt not; to say this is not to detract from the majestic character of Christ, but to affirm the omnipotence of God. When they come, the old contest will be renewed, the living prophet stoned; the dead one worshipped.

Be that as it may, there are duties Christ teaches us far different from those most commonly taught. Had he conformed to what was told him of men; had he counseled only with flesh and blood; he had been nothing but a poor Jew—the world had lost that richest treasure of religious life, the glad tidings of the one religion, absolute and true.

What if he had said, as others, “None can be greater than Moses, none so great?” He had been a dwarf; the spirit of God had faded from his soul! But he conferred with God, not men; took counsel of his hopes, not his fears. Working for men, with men, by men, trusting in God, and pure as truth, he was not scared at the little din of church or state, and trembled not, though Pilate and Herod were made friends only to crucify him that was a born King of the world. Methinks I hear that lofty spirit say to you or me, poor brother, fear not, nor despair. The goodness actual in me is possible for all. God is near thee now as then to me; rich as ever in truth, as able to create, as willing to inspire.

— Parker

2

Death, silence, the abyss—terrible mysteries for a being that strives towards immortality, towards the good, towards perfection. Where will I be tomorrow, after some time, when I will no longer be breathing? Where will be the people I love? Where are we moving towards? What are we? Eternal mysteries forever stand before us in their inexorable solemnity. Mysteries on every side. Faith is the only star in this darkness of the unknown…

Well, what of it? If only the world were the creation of the good and the consciousness of our duty not deceive us. To make others happy and to do good—that is our law, our anchor of salvation, our beacon, the meaning of our life. Even if all religions should perish and only this one were to remain, we would have an ideal—and life would be worth living.

— Amiel

3

There is only one true religion, although there can be many different faiths.

— Kant

4

Only faith gives birth to those firm, powerful convictions, that energy and that unity which alone can heal society.

— Giuseppe Mazzini

5

We have one, only one infallible guide, the Universal Spirit, which permeates each and every one of us as one whole, investing each of us with a striving towards that which must be, the very Spirit which in a tree orders it to grow towards the sun or in a plant orders it to sprout and bloom, it is within us too, and it orders us to strive towards God, and in this striving to grow ever more united with each other.

While a human being is alive, he has faith. The closer his faith is to the truth, the happier his life is; the further away it is from the truth, the unhappier he is.

But a human being cannot live without faith, he either dies a natural death or kills himself.