60 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING
the only religious creed that bids fair to appproximate uni versal acceptance is that which, with a minimum of abstract formula, makes central and regnant the principle of private interpretation.
4. As these principles governing the formation of mental systems are more clearly understood, the more apparent becomes the utter futility of many of the bitter contro versies which have disturbed the peace of the world. Many, indeed most, of them have been veritable logomachies. It is mainly, if not exclusively, in the sphere of the use meanings that they serve a good purpose. They are useful in bringing out all relevant facts and thus clearing up practical issues ; but even in matters of this sort their value is often neutralized by hopeless misunderstandings and the bad feelings which they engender. In matters of theoretical interest, particularly in the realms of science, philosophy and theology, there is hardly anything that can be said in their favour. When one considers the brood of evil passions which they have produced in the souls of men, giving license, yea, even sanction, to the most diabolical impulses of human nature ; when one tries to estimate the value of the precious lives sacrificed in the blind effort to settle by the sword or gibbet controversies which could not be settled by arguments because men were so differentiated in their mental life that they simply could not understand one another; and when one further reflects that, apart from the frightful tragedies which have been enacted, much of the best energy of the human spirit has run to waste in these futile struggles energy which, if properly directed, would have led humanity centuries further on the upward way, one must conclude that unseemly controversy, having its basis in ignorance and misunderstanding, has been, and yet is, one of the most serious evils which has afflicted our world. With very dif ferent mental systems and, therefore, different meanings for all their important words, men controvert with a passion which rises in intensity as the misunderstanding deepens. Each begins with the intention of convincing the other of a
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