the unseen world and other essays-第13节
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weller in ether is chiefly distinguished from the mundane mortal by his acute senses and his ability to subsist without food。 He can see as if through a telescope and microscope combined。 His intelligence is so great that in comparison an Aristotle would seem idiotic。 It should not be forgotten； too； that he possesses eighty…five per cent of soul to fifteen per cent of body； whereas in terrestrial man the two elements are mixed in equal proportions。 There is no sex among the ether…folk； their numbers being kept up by the influx of souls from the various planets。 〃Alimentation； that necessity which tyrannizes over men and animals； is not imposed upon the inhabitants of ether。 Their bodies must be repaired and sustained by the simple respiration of the fluid in which they are immersed； that is； of ether。〃 Most likely； continues our scientific author； the physiological functions of the ether…folk are confined to respiration； and that it is possible to breathe 〃without numerous organs is proved by the fact that in all of a whole class of animalsthe batrachiansthe mere bare skin constitutes the whole machinery of respiration〃 （p。 95）。 Allowing for the unfortunate slip of the pen by which 〃batrachians〃 are substituted for 〃fresh…water polyps；〃 how can we fail to admire the severity of the scientific method employed in reaching these interesting conclusions？
But the King of Serendib must die； nor will the relentless scythe of Time spare our Etherians； with all their exalted attributes。 They will die repeatedly； and after having through sundry periods of probation attained spiritual perfection； they will all pour into the sun。 Since it is the sun which originates life and feeling and thought upon the surface of our earth； 〃why may we not declare that the rays transmitted by the sun to the earth and the other planets are nothing more nor less than the emanations of these souls？〃 And now we may begin to form an adequate conception； of the rigorously scientific character of our author's method。 There have been many hypotheses by which to account for the supply of solar radiance。 One of the most ingenious and probable of these hypotheses is that of Helmholtz； according to which the solar radiance is due to the arrested motion of the sun's constituent particles toward their common centre of gravity。 But this is too fanciful to satisfy M。 Figuier。 The speculations of Helmholtz 〃have the disadvantage of resting on the idea of the sun's nebulosity；an hypothesis which would need to be more closely examined before serving as a basis for so important a deduction。〃 Accordingly； M。 Figuier propounds an explanation which possesses the signal advantage that there is nothing hypothetical in it。 〃In our opinion； the solar radiation is sustained by the continual influx of souls into the sun。〃 This； as the reader will perceive； is the well…known theory of Mayer； that the solar heat is due to a perennial bombardment of the sun by meteors； save that； in place of gross materialistic meteors； M。 Figuier puts ethereal souls。 The ether…folk are daily raining into the solar orb in untold millions； and to the unceasing concussion is due the radiation which maintains life in the planets； and thus the circle is complete。
In spite of their exalted position； the ether…folk do not disdain to mingle with the affairs of terrestrial mortals。 They give us counsel in dreams； and it is from this source； we presume； that our author has derived his rigid notions as to scientific method。 In evidence of this dream…theory we have the usual array of cases； 〃a celebrated journalist； M。 R；〃 〃M。 L； a lawyer；〃 etc。； etc。； as in most books of this kind。
M。 Figuier is not a Darwinian： the derivation of our bodies from the bodies of apes is a conception too grossly materialistic for him。 Our souls； however； he is quite willing to derive from the souls of lower animals。 Obviously we have pre…existed； how are we to account for Mozart's precocity save by supposing his pre…existence？ He brought with him the musical skill acquired in a previous life。 In general； the souls of musical children come from nightingales； while the souls of great architects have passed into them from beavers （p。 247）。 We do not remember these past existences； it is true； but when we become ether…folk； we shall be able to look back in recollection over the whole series。
Amid these sublime inquiries； M。 Figuier is sometimes notably oblivious of humbler truths； as might indeed be expected。 Thus he repeatedly alludes to Locke as the author of the doctrine of innate ideas （！！）；＇14＇ and he informs us that Kepler never quitted Protestant England （p。 336）； though we believe that the nearest Kepler ever came to living in England was the refusing of Sir Henry Wotton's request that he should move thither。
＇14＇ Pages 251； 252； 287。 So in the twenty…first century some avatar of M。 Figuier will perhaps describe the late professor Agassiz as the author of the Darwinian theory。
And lastly； we are treated to a real dialogue； with quite a dramatic mise en scene。 The author's imaginary friend； Theophilus； enters； 〃seats himself in a comfortable chair； places an ottoman under his feet； a book under his elbow to support it； and a cigarette of Turkish tobacco between his lips； and sets himself to the task of listening with a grave air of collectedness； relieved by a certain touch of suspicious severity； as becomes the arbiter in a literary and philosophic matter。〃 〃And so；〃 begins our author； 〃you wish to know； my dear Theophilus； WHERE I LOCATE GOD？ I locate him in the centre of the universe； or； in better phrase； at the central focus； which must exist somewhere； of all the stars that make the universe； and which； borne onward in a common movement； gravitate together around this focus。〃
Much more； of an equally scientific character； follows； but in fairness to the reader； who is already blaming us for wasting the precious moments over such sorry trash； we may as well conclude our sketch of this new line of speculation。
May； 1872。
III。 THE JESUS OF HISTORY。＇15＇
＇15＇ The Jesus of History。 Anonymous。 8vo。 pp。 426。 London： Williams & Norgate； 1869。
Vie de Jesus； par Ernest Renan。 Paris； 1867。 （Thirteenth edition； revised and partly rewritten。）
In republishing this and the following article on 〃The Christ of Dogma；〃 I am aware that they do but scanty justice to their very interesting subjects。 So much ground is covered that it would be impossible to treat it satisfactorily in a pair of review…articles； and in particular the views adopted with regard to the New Testament literature are rather indicated than justified。 These defects I hope to remedy in a future work on 〃Jesus of Nazareth； and the Founding of Christianity；〃 for which the present articles must be regarded as furnishing only a few introductory hints。 This work has been for several years on my mind； but as it may still be long before I can find the leisure needful for writing it out； it seemed best to republish these preliminary sketches which have been some time out of print。 The projected work； however； while covering all the points here treated； will have a much wider scope； dealing on the one hand with the natural genesis of the complex aggregate of beliefs and aspirations known as Christianity； and on the other hand with the metamorphoses which are being wrought in this aggregate by modern knowledge and modern theories of the world。
The views adopted in the present essay as to the date of the Synoptic Gospels may seem over…conservative to those who accept the ably…argued conclusions of 〃Supernatural Religion。〃 Quite possibly in a more detailed discussion these briefly…indicated data may require revision； but for the present it seems best to let the article stand as it was written。 The author of 〃Supernatural Religion〃 would no doubt admit that； even if the synoptic gospels had not assumed their present form before the end of the second century； nevertheless the body of tradition contained in them had been committed to writing very early in that century。 So much appears to be proved by the very variations of text upon which his argument relies。 And if this be granted； the value of the synoptics as HISTORICAL evidence is not materially altered。 With their value as testimony to so…called SUPERNATURAL events； the present essay is in no way concerned。
Of all the great founders of religions； Jesus is at once the best known and the least known to the modern scholar。 From the dogmatic point of view he is the best known； from the historic point of view he is the least known。 The Christ of dogma is in every lineament familiar to us from early childhood； but concerning the Jesus of history we possess but few facts resting upon trustworthy evidence； and in order to form a picture of him at once consistent； probable； and distinct in its outlines； it is necessary to enter upon a long and difficult investigation； in the course of which some of the most delicate apparatus of modern criticism is required。 This circumstance is sufficiently singular to require especial explanation。 The case of Sakyamuni； the founder of Buddhism； which may perhaps be cited as parallel； is in reality wholly different。 Not only did Sakyamuni live five centuries earlier
