FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 8

FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF

«0 TUI EDITOR or THE PRESS. Sir, —In reading between the lines of C. Coleridge Farr’s letter, I gather that he has reached the stage, as all earnest men of science do. of beginning to wonder if he knows anything. When once this stage is reached and admitted, the investigator is on the road to acquiring real knowledge—something to benefit humanity instead of self. Many scientific men to-day, stand in awe at the marvels demonstrated by the disintegration of the atom, and the phenomena demonstrated by the investigation of the cosmic rays. These rays bring them to a vague realisation that this “first cause” from which all manifestation of matter comes, may be related to the religious conception of “the God in whom we live and breathe and have our being.” A great contribution to science was given by Kekule when he discovered the solution to the problem of the ring compounds of hydrocarbons. He was on the verge of despair when, one night, dozing before an open lire, he got the clue. He suddenly saw, in his mind’s eye, a picture of the atoms gambolling and twisting before his eyes in a snake-like motion. With a start, he’ realised that he had a clue to the benzene problem. What I marvel at is the fact tnat attention was not directed to the manner in which he got the clue, for I see here indisputable evidence that it was a piece of pure symbolism from the subconscious mind. As I have explained in previous letters, the language of the subconscious mind is that of symbolism. It must be noted that Kekule was intellectually lazy at the t } me —the conscious mind was in abeyance—he was dozing. What we have to consider is from whence comes the knowledge for the storehouse of the subconscious minor It can only come from a superconscious mind. The following is an extract from one of the latest books—- “ The Progress of Science.” It describes the work done by such geniuses as Niels Bohr. Heisenberg and Dirac. In to the latter, it says. The third Master Mind in these conferences is Dirac. He speaks little and then as a sphinx. His comments often contain an uncompromising dry

humour, for there is quiet when he wishes to speak and an oracular remark may come, followed by a puzzled silence among intellectually intimidated hearers, for Dirac speaks as though he were in communication with another world where the principles of physics are clearer than tliey are in this.” —Yours, etc., M. G. DAVIES. January 19, 1938.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PBBES Sir,—At a time when men are gradually casting off fear and perhaps have not yet put on reverence (as I think Carlyle put it), it seems good to have a letter like that of C. Cipleridge Farr (whom incidentally once in my youthful days I heard described as “a doctor of earthquakes.” To attack our hoary and revered landmarks of belief seems like cutting the ground from under our feet. All that some of us, busy, unlearned in book learning, can do is to go quietly on, sure with the same confidence as one of old, saying: “If this be not of God, it will come to nought.”—Yours, etc., F. T. MILES. January 19, 1938. ra THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—l thank Professor Farr for his letter. I would that all clergy were trained in science and art, so that they could find truth in Nature. “Happy the man in studying Nature’s laws through known effects can trace the secret cause” (Virgil). By the study of the laws of life, we find that life controls every cell of all bodies—not only of man but in every phase of life. One thing we can plainly see is that the intelligent mind is the one which quickly adjusts itself to all conditions. which are forever changing. Hans Driesch says: “It is here, and here only, that there may some day be solved what might be called the problem of all problems—the question of immortality, and modern biology and psychology may claim to have opened a door.” And with another great thinker we know that the very law that moulds the tear sets the stars in motion in their courses. Plato says: “All things come out of Egypt and the Messianic Prince of Peace we find when studying the religion or philosophy of Egypt 10,000 years ago was a god of Egypt and of astrological or astronomical origin. This doctrine did not originate us uterine, or come in the human way. But it is the same story as is expressed now in human terminology.” It is 'interesting to know that the Egyptian belief was that of Homo born of Virgo. So we can plainly see that Christian credulity is quite capable of still assuming that this Jesus who manifested during 10,000 years in the astronomical mythology and who was accreting the typical character of the unique person all that time is but

the foreshadow “cast backwards” by the historical figure in whom they believe as the one reality of all realities. Reading between the lines, the multitude was taught by myth or parable and the wise men had true understanding. And to finish, I will repeat Professor Farr’s words: “But one thing . . . which has been impressed upon me during my life by everything that I have, learned is that this world and what is behind it are vastly more wonderful . . . than people have thought them to be 50 or 5000 years ago.”—Yours, etc., T ,. . _ LEONIS. Islington, January 19, 1938.