| OCR Text |
Show Unitarianism in Utah meeting house and extent never take the trouble observe to to what ideas and beliefs control their actions. Charles W. Wendt says that he never observed a more striking illustration of the influence of the beliefs of a people on their life and conduct than in Switzerland. In the cantons he found similar conditions of race and government, of climate and material environment, but in their mental attitude toward nature and life they was they were so obviously different that did not appear to be the same people. The difference evident in the domestic, social, and political relations. The difference was patent which he averred in manners, due were to conceptions of the universe, and the morals, and outlook, diversity of creeds, sense of religious obliga tions. Religious thought sion of some makes a difference between peoples. In types of religion requiring the suppres of the noblest impulses, and the effect is seen the Orient there are apathetic, hopeless attitude toward life. In the Occident are types of religious belief that affirm life is good and altogether worth living, the result of which is an optimistic outlook and a radiant desire to realize the highest possibilities. in an there The followers of Mohammed because they conquest. who are possessed Contrast this scorns the use with cause a disorder and distress fanatical zeal for religious practice with that of the Christian of the sword for the extension of the spirit of love. Compare the bigot, who believes his creed and his church offer the only way of salvation, with the charitable mind that holds works for the salvation of all. makes a special theological plan, but In each of these cases thinking to no decided difference as to the action carried out. As every man, the world over, "thinketh in his heart," that he tends to become in personal and social conduct. 248 One of the very serious objections to most religious |
