seemtohavereachedacountrydevastatedbywarorpestilence。Itisreallysufferingonlyfromthefamily。WillanyonepretendthatEnglandhasnotthebestofthisstrikingdifference?Yetitissuchsenselessandunnaturalconventionsasthisthatmakeussoimpatientofwhatwecallfamilyfeeling。Evenapartfromitsinsufferablepretensions，thefamilyneedsheartydiscrediting；forthereishardlyanyvulnerablepartofitthatcouldnotbeamputatedwithadvantage。
ArtTeachingByartteachingIhastentosaythatIdonotmeangivingchildrenlessonsinfreehanddrawingandperspective。Iamsimplycallingattentiontothefactthatfineartistheonlyteacherexcepttorture。Ihavealreadypointedoutthatnobody，exceptunderthreatoftorture，canreadaschoolbook。Thereasonisthataschoolbookisnotaworkofart。Similarly，youcannotlistentoalessonorasermonunlesstheteacherorthepreacherisanartist。YoucannotreadtheBibleifyouhavenosenseofliteraryart。ThereasonwhythecontinentalEuropeanis，totheEnglishmanorAmerican，sosurprisinglyignorantoftheBible，isthattheauthorizedEnglishversionisagreatworkofliteraryart，andthecontinentalversionsarecomparativelyartless。
Toreadadullbook；tolistentoatediousplayorprosysermonorlecture；tostareatuninterestingpicturesoruglybuildings:nothing，shortofdisease，ismoredreadfulthanthis。Theviolencedonetooursoulsbyitleavesinjuriesandproducessubtlemaladieswhichhaveneverbeenproperlystudiedbypsycho-pathologists。Yetwearesoinuredtoitinschool，wherepracticallyalltheteachersareborestryingtodotheworkofartists，andallthebooksartless，thatweacquireatrulyfrightfulpowerofenduringboredom。Weevenacquirethenotionthatfineartislasciviousanddestructivetothecharacter。Inchurch，intheHouseofCommons，atpublicmeetings，wesitsolemnlylisteningtoboresandtwaddlersbecausefromthetimewecouldwalkorspeakwehavebeensnubbed，scolded，bullied，beatenandimprisoned
wheneverwedaredtoresentbeingboredortwaddledat，ortoexpressournaturalimpatienceandderisionofboresandtwaddlers。Andwhenamanariseswithasoulofsufficientnativestrengthtobreakthebondsofthisinculcatedreverenceandtoexposeandderideandtweakthenosesofourhumbugsandpanjandrums，likeVoltaireorDickens，weareshockedandscandalized，evenwhenwecannothelplaughing。Worse，wedreadandpersecutethosewhocanseeanddeclarethetruth，becausetheirsincerityandinsightreflectsonourdelusionandblindness。WearealllikeNellGwynne\'sfootman，whodefendedNell\'sreputationwithhisfists，notbecausehebelievedhertobewhathecalledanhonestwoman，butbecauseheobjectedtobescornedasthefootmanofonewhowasnobetterthansheshouldbe。
Thiswretchedpowerofallowingourselvestobeboredmayseemtogivethefineartsachancesometimes。PeoplewillsitthroughaperformanceofBeethoven\'sninthsymphonyorofWagner\'sRingjustastheywillsitthroughadullsermonorafrontbenchpoliticiansayingnothingfortwohourswhilsthisunfortunatecountryisperishingthroughthedelayofitsbusinessinParliament。Buttheirenduranceisverybadfortheninthsymphony，becausetheyneverhisswhenitismurdered。IhaveheardanItalianconductor(nolongerliving)takethe_adagio_ofthatsymphonyatalively_allegretto_，slowingdownforthewarmermajorsectionsintothespeedandmanneroftheheroine\'sdeathsonginaVerdiopera；andthelisteners，farfromrelievingmyexcruciationbyrisingwithyellsoffuryandhurlingtheirprogramsandoperaglassesatthemiscreant，behavedjustastheydowhenRichterconductsit。Themassofimposturethatthrivesonthiscombinationofignorancewithdespairingenduranceisincalculable。Givenapublictrainedfromchildhoodtostandanythingtedious，andsosaturatedwithschooldisciplinethatevenwiththedoorsopenandnoschoolmasterstostopthemtheywillsittherehelplesslyuntiltheendoftheconcertoroperagivesthemleavetogohome；andyouwillhaveingreatcapitalshundredsofthousandsofpoundsspenteverynightintheseasononprofessedlyartisticentertainmentswhichhavenoothereffectonfineartthantoexacerbatethehatredinwhichitisalreadysecretlyheldinEngland。
Fortunately，thereareartsthatcannotbecutofffromthepeoplebybadperformances。Wecanreadbooksforourselves；andwecanplayagooddealoffinemusicforourselveswiththehelpofapianola。
Nothingstandsbetweenusandtheactualhandworkofthegreatmastersofpaintingexceptdistance；andmodernphotographicmethodsofreproductionareinsomecasesquiteandinmanynearlyaseffectiveinconveyingtheartist\'smessageasamoderneditionofShakespear\'splaysisinconveyingthemessagethatfirstexistedinhishandwriting。Thereproductionofgreatfeatsofmusicalexecutionisalreadyontheway:thephonograph，forallitswheezingandsnarlingandbraying，issteadilyimprovinginitsmanners；andwhatwiththisimprovementontheonehand，andontheotherthatblessedselectivefacultywhichenablesustoignoreagooddealofdisagreeablenoiseifthereisathreadofmusicinthemiddleofit(fewcriticsofthephonographseemtobeconsciousoftheveryconsiderablemechanicalnoisesetupbychoirsandorchestras)wehaveatlastreachedapointatwhich，forexample，apersonlivinginanEnglishvillagewherethechurchmusicistheonlymusic，andthatmusicismadebyafewwell-intentionedladieswiththehelpofaharmonium，canhearmassesbyPalestrinaverypassablyexecuted，andcantherebybeledtothediscoverythatJacksoninFandHymnsAncientandModernarenotperhapsthelastwordofbeautyandproprietyinthepraiseofGod。
Inshort，thereisavastbodyofartnowwithinthereachofeverybody。Thedifficultyisthatthisart，whichalonecaneducateusingraceofbodyandsoul，andwhichalonecanmakethehistoryofthepastliveforusorthehopeofthefutureshineforus，whichalonecangivedelicacyandnobilitytoourcrudelusts，whichistheappointedvehicleofinspirationandthemethodofthecommunionofsaints，isactuallybrandedassinfulamongusbecause，whereveritarises，thereisresistancetotyranny，breakingoffetters，andthebreathoffreedom。Theattempttosuppressartisnotwhollysuccessful:wemightaswelltrytosuppressoxygen。Butitiscarriedfarenoughtoinflictonhugenumbersofpeopleamostinjuriousartstarvation，andtocorruptagreatdealoftheartthatistolerated。YouwillfindinEnglandplentyofrichfamilieswithlittlemoreculturethantheirdogsandhorses。Andyouwillfindpoorfamilies，cutoffbypovertyandtownlifefromthecontemplationofthebeautyoftheearth，withitsdressesofleaves，itsscarvesofcloud，anditscontoursofhillandvalley，whowouldpositivelybehappierashogs，solittlehavetheycultivatedtheirhumanitybytheonlyeffectiveinstrumentofculture:art。Thedearthisartificiallymaintainedevenwhentherearethemeansofsatisfyingit。Storybooksareforbidden，picturepostcardsareforbidden，theatresareforbidden，operasareforbidden，circusesareforbidden，sweetmeatsareforbidden，prettycolorsareforbidden，allexactlyasviceisforbidden。
TheCreatorisexplicitlyprayedto，andimplicitlyconvictedofindecencyeveryday。Anassociationofviceandsinwitheverythingthatisdelightfulandofgoodnesswitheverythingthatiswretchedanddetestableissetup。Allthemostperilous(andglorious)appetitesandpropensitiesareatonceinflamedbystarvationanduneducatedbyart。Allthewholesomeconditionswhichartimposesonappetitearewaived:insteadofcultivatedmenandwomenrestrainedbyathousanddelicacies，repelledbyugliness，chilledbyvulgarity，horrifiedbycoarseness，deeplyandsweetlymovedbythegracesthatarthasrevealedtothemandnursedinthem，wegetindiscrimmaterapacityinpursuitofpleasureandaparadeofthegrosseststimulationsincateringforit。Wehaveacontinualclamorforgoodness，beauty，virtue，andsanctity，withsuchanappallinginabilitytorecognizeitorloveitwhenitarrivesthatitismoredangeroustobeagreatprophetorpoetthantopromotetwentycompaniesforswindlingsimplefolkoutoftheirsavings。Donotforamomentsupposethatuncultivatedpeoplearemerelyindifferenttohighandnoblequalities。Theyhatethemmalignantly。
Atbest，suchqualitiesarelikerareandbeautifulbirds:whentheyappearthewholecountrytakesdownitsguns；butthebirdsreceivethestatuarytributeofhavingtheircorpsesstuffed。
Anditreallyallcomesfromthehabitofpreventingchildrenfrombeingtroublesome。Youaresocarefulofyourboy\'smorals，knowinghowtroublesometheymaybe，thatyoukeephimawayfromtheVenusofMiloonlytofindhiminthearmsofthescullerymaidorsomeonemuchworse。YoudecidethattheHermesofPraxitelesandWagner\'sTristanarenotsuitedforyounggirls；andyourdaughtermarriessomebodyappallinglyunlikeeitherHermesorTristansolelytoescapefromyourparentalprotection。Youhavenotstifledasinglepassionnoravertedasingledanger:youhavedepravedthepassionsbystarvingthem，andbrokendownallthedefenceswhichsoeffectivelyprotectchildrenbroughtupinfreedom。Youhavemenwhoimaginethemselvestobeministersofreligionopenlydeclaringthatwhentheypassthroughthestreetstheyhavetokeepoutinthewheeledtraffictoavoidthetemptationsofthepavement。Youhavethemorganizinghuntsofthewomenwhotemptthem——poorcreatureswhomnoartistwouldtouchwithoutashudder——andwildlyclamoringformoreclothestodisguiseandconcealthebody，andfortheabolitionofpictures，statues，theatres，andprettycolors。
Andincredibleasitseems，theseunhappylunaticsareleftatlarge，unrebuked，evenadmiredandrevered，whilstartistshavetostrugglefortoleration。Tothemanundrapedhumanbodyisthemostmonstrous，themostblighting，themostobscene，themostunbearablespectacleintheuniverse。Toanartistitis，atitsbest，themostadmirablespectacleinnature，and，atitsaverage，anobjectofindifference。IfeveryragofclothingmiraculouslydroppedfromtheinhabitantsofLondonatnoontomorrow(sayasapreliminarytotheGreatJudgment)，theartisticpeoplewouldnotturnahair；buttheartlesspeoplewouldgomadandcallonthemountainstohidethem。Isubmitthatthisindicatesathoroughlyhealthystateonthepartoftheartists，andathoroughlymorbidoneonthepartoftheartless。Andthehealthystateisattainableinacoldcountrylikeoursonlybyfamiliaritywiththeundrapedfigureacquiredthroughpictures，statues，andtheatricalrepresentationsinwhichanillusionofnaturalclotheslessnessisproducedandmadepoetic。
Inshort，weallgrowupstupidandmadtojusttheextenttowhichwehavenotbeenartisticallyeducated；andthefactthatthistaintofstupidityandmadnesshastobetoleratedbecauseitisgeneral，andisevenboastedofascharacteristicallyEnglish，makesthesituationalltheworse。Itisbecomingexceedinglygraveatpresent，becausethelastrayofartisbeingcutofffromourschoolsbythediscontinuanceofreligiouseducation。
TheImpossibilityofSecularEducationNowchildrenmustbetaughtsomesortofreligion。Seculareducationisanimpossibility。Seculareducationcomestothis:thattheonlyreasonforceasingtodoevilandlearningtodowellisthatifyoudonotyouwillbecaned。Thisisworsethanbeingtaughtinachurchschoolthatifyoubecomeadissenteryouwillgotohell；forhellispresentedastheinstrumentofsomethingeternal，divine，andinevitable:youcannotevadeitthemomenttheschoolmaster\'sbackisturned。Whatconfusesthisissueandleadsevenhighlyintelligentreligiouspersonstoadvocateseculareducationasameansofrescuingchildrenfromthestrifeofrivalproselytizersisthefailuretodistinguishbetweenthechild\'spersonalsubjectiveneedforareligionanditsrighttoanimpartiallycommunicatedhistoricalobjectiveknowledgeofallthecreedsandChurches。Justasachild，nomatterwhatitsraceandcolormaybe，shouldknowthatthereareblackmenandbrownmenandyellowmen，and，nomatterwhatitspoliticalconvictionsmaybe，thatthereareMonarchistsandRepublicansandPositivists，SocialistsandUnsocialists，soitshouldknowthatthereareChristiansandMahometansandBuddhistsandShintoistsandsoforth，andthattheyareontheaveragejustashonestandwell-behavedasitsownfather。Forexample，itshouldnotbetoldthatAllahisafalsegodsetupbytheTurksandArabs，
whowillallbedamnedfortakingthatliberty；butitshouldbetoldthatmanyEnglishpeoplethinkso，andthatmanyTurksandArabsthinktheconverseaboutEnglishpeople。ItshouldbetaughtthatAllahissimplythenamebywhichGodisknowntoTurksandArabs，whoarejustaseligibleforsalvationasanyChristian。Further，thatthepracticalreasonwhyaTurkishchildshouldprayinamosqueandanEnglishchildinachurchisthatasworshipisorganizedinTurkeyinmosquesinthenameofMahometandinEnglandinchurchesinthenameofChrist，aTurkishchildjoiningtheChurchofEnglandoranEnglishchildfollowingMahometwillfindthatithasnoplaceforitsworshipandnoorganizationofitsreligionwithinitsreach。Anyotherteachingofthehistoryandpresentfactsofreligionisfalseteaching，andispoliticallyextremelydangerousinanempireinwhichahugemajorityofthefellowsubjectsofthegoverningislanddonotprofessthereligionofthatisland。
Butthisobjectivity，thoughintellectuallyhonest，tellsthechildonlywhatotherpeoplebelieve。Whatitshoulditselfbelieveisquiteanothermatter。ThesortofRationalismwhichsaystoachild\"Youmustsuspendyourjudgmentuntilyouareoldenoughtochooseyourreligion\"isRationalismgonemad。Thechildmusthaveaconscienceandacodeofhonor(whichistheessenceofreligion)evenifitbeonlyaprovisionalone，toberevisedatitsconfirmation。
Forconfirmationismeanttosignalizeaspiritualcomingofage，andmaybearepudiation。Reallyactivesoulshavemanyconfirmationsandrepudiationsastheirlifedeepensandtheirknowledgewidens。Butwhatistoguidethechildbeforeitsfirstconfirmation?Notmereorders，becauseordersmusthaveasanctionofsomesortorwhyshouldthechildobeythem?If，asaSecularist，yourefusetoteachanysanction，youmustsay\"Youwillbepunishedifyoudisobey。\"\"Yes，\"
saysthechildtoitself，\"ifIamfoundout；butwaituntilyourbackisturnedandIwilldoasIlike，andlieaboutit。\"Therecanbenoobjectivepunishmentforsuccessfulfraud；andasnoespionagecancoverthewholerangeofachild\'sconduct，theupshotisthatthechildbecomesaliarandschemerwithanatrophiedconscience。Andagoodmanyoftheordersgiventoitarenotobeyedafterall。ThustheSecularistwhoisnotafoolisforcedtoappealtothechild\'svitalimpulsetowardsperfection，tothedivinespark；andnoresolutionnottocallthisimpulseanimpulseofloyaltytotheFellowshipoftheHolyGhost，orobediencetotheWillofGod，oranyotherstandardtheologicalterm，canalterthefactthattheSecularisthassteppedoutsideSecularismandiseducatingthechildreligiously，evenifheinsistsonrepudiatingthatpiousadverbandsubstitutingthewordmetaphysically。
NaturalSelectionasaReligionWemustmakeupourmindstoitthereforethatwhatevermeasureswemaybeforcedtotaketopreventtherecruitingsergeantsoftheChurches，freeorestablished，fromobtaininganexclusiverightofentrytoschools，weshallnotbeabletoexcludereligionfromthem。
Themosthorribleofallreligions:thatwhichteachesustoregardourselvesasthehelplesspreyofaseriesofsenselessaccidentscalledNaturalSelection，isallowedandevenwelcomedinso-calledsecularschoolsbecauseitis，inasense，thenegationofallreligion；butforschoolpurposesareligionisabeliefwhichaffectsconduct；andnobeliefaffectsconductmoreradicallyandoftensodisastrouslyasthebeliefthattheuniverseisaproductofNaturalSelection。Whatismore，thetheoryofNaturalSelectioncannotbekeptoutofschools，becausemanyofthenaturalfactsthatpresentthemostplausibleappearanceofdesigncanbeaccountedforbyNaturalSelection；anditwouldbesoabsurdtokeepachildindelusiveignoranceofsopotentafactorinevolutionastokeepitinignoranceofradiationorcapillaryattraction。EvenifyoumakeareligionofNaturalSelection，andteachthechildtoregarditselfastheirresponsible
preyofitscircumstancesandappetites(oritsheredityasyouwillperhapscallthem)，youwillnonethelessfindthatitsappetitesarestimulatedbyyourencouragementanddauntedbyyourdiscouragement；thatoneofitsappetitesisanappetiteforperfection；thatifyoudiscouragethisappetiteandencouragethecruderacquisitiveappetitesthechildwillstealandlieandbeanuisancetoyou；andthatifyouencourageitsappetiteforperfectionandteachittoattachapeculiarsacrednesstoitandplaceitbeforetheotherappetites，itwillbeamuchnicerchildandyouwillhaveamucheasierjob，atwhichpointyouwill，inspiteofyourpseudoscientificjargon，findyourselfbackintheold-fashionedreligiousteachingasdeepasDr。Wattsandinfactfathomsdeeper。
MoralInstructionLeaguesAndnowthevoicesofourMoralInstructionLeagueswillbelifted，askingwhetherthereisanyreasonwhytheappetiteforperfectionshouldnotbecultivatedinrationallyscientifictermsinsteadofbeingassociatedwiththestoryofJonahandthegreatfishandthethousandothertalesthatgrowuproundreligions。Yes:therearemanyreasons；andoneofthemisthatchildrenalllikethestoryofJonahandthewhale(theyinsistonitsbeingawhaleinspiteofdemonstrationsbyBiblesmasherswithoutanysenseofhumorthatJonahwouldnothavefittedintoawhale\'sgullet——asifthestorywouldbecredibleofawhalewithanenlargedthroat)andthatnochildonearthcanstandmoralinstructionbooksorcatechismsoranyotherstatementofthecaseforreligioninabstractterms。Theobjectofamoralinstructionbookisnottoberational，scientific，exact，proofagainstcontroversy，norevencredible:itsobjectistomakechildrengood；andifitmakesthemsickinsteaditsplaceisthewaste-paperbasket。
TakeforanillustrationthestoryofElishaandthebears。Totheauthorsofthemoralinstructionbooksitisinthelastdegreereprehensible。Itisobviouslynottrueasarecordoffact；andthepictureitgivesusofthetemperofGod(whichiswhatinterestsanadultreader)isshockingandblasphemous。Butitisacapitalstoryforachild。Itinterestsachildbecauseitisaboutbears；anditleavesthechildwithanimpressionthatchildrenwhopokefunatoldgentlemenandmakeruderemarksaboutbaldheadsarenotnicechildren，whichisahighlydesirableimpression，andjustasmuchasachildiscapableofreceivingfromthestory。WhenastoryisaboutGodandachild，childrentakeGodforgrantedandcriticizethechild。Adultsdotheopposite，andaretherebyledtotalkgreatnonsenseaboutthebadeffectof
Biblestoriesoninfants。
Butletnoonethinkthatachildoranyoneelsecanlearnreligionfromateacherorabookorbyanyacademicprocesswhatever。ItisonlybyanunfetteredaccesstothewholebodyofFineArt:thatis，tothewholebodyofinspiredrevelation，thatwecanbuildupthatconceptionofdivinitytowhichallvirtueisanaspiration。Andtohopetofindthisbodyofartpurifiedfromallthatisobsoleteordangerousorfierceorlusty，ortopickandchoosewhatwillbegoodforanyparticularchild，muchlessforallchildren，istheshallowestofvanities。Suchschoolmasterlyselectionisneitherpossiblenordesirable。Ignoranceofevilisnotvirtuebutimbecility:admiringitislikegivingaprizeforhonestytoamanwhohasnotstolenyourwatchbecausehedidnotknowyouhadone。
Virtuechoosesgoodfromevil；andwithoutknowledgetherecanbenochoice。Andeventhisisadangeroussimplificationofwhatactuallyoccurs。Wearenotchoosing:wearegrowing。Wereyoutocutallofwhatyoucalltheeviloutofachild，itwoulddropdead。Ifyoutrytostretchittofullhumanstaturewhenitistenyearsold，youwillsimplypullitintotwopiecesandbehanged。Andwhenyoutrytodothismorally，whichiswhatparentsandschoolmastersaredoingeveryday，yououghttobehanged；andsomeday，whenwetakeasensibleviewofthematter，youwillbe；andserveyouright。Thechilddoesnotstandbetweenagoodandabadangel:whatithastodealwithisamiddlingangelwho，innormalhealthycases，wantstobeagoodangelasfastasitcanwithoutkillingitselfintheprocess，whichisadangerousone。
Thereforethereisnoquestionofprovidingthechildwithacarefullyregulatedaccesstogoodart。Thereisnogoodart，anymorethanthereisgoodanythingelseintheabsolutesense。Artthatistoogoodforthechildwilleitherteachitnothingordriveitmad，astheBiblehasdrivenmanypeoplemadwhomighthavekepttheirsanityhadtheybeenallowedtoreadmuchlowerformsofliterature。Thepracticalmoralisthatwemustreadwhateverstories，seewhateverpictures，hearwhateversongsandsymphonies，gotowhateverplayswelike。Weshallnotlikethosewhichhavenothingtosaytous；andthougheveryonehasarighttobiasourchoice，noonehasarighttodepriveusofitbykeepingusfromanyworkofartoranyworkofartfromus。
ImaynowsaywithoutdangerofbeingmisunderstoodthatthepopularEnglishcompromisecalledCowperTempleism(unsectarianBibleeducation)isnotsosillyasitlooks。ItistruethattheBibleinculcateshalfadozenreligions:someofthembarbarous；somecynicalandpessimistic；someamoristicandromantic；somescepticalandchallenging；somekindly，simple，andintuitional；somesophisticalandintellectual；nonesuitedtothecharacterandconditionsofwesterncivilizationunlessitbetheChristianitywhichwasfinallysuppressedbytheCrucifixion，andhasneverbeenputintopracticebyanyStatebeforeorsince。ButtheBiblecontainstheancientliteratureofaveryremarkableOrientalrace；andtheimpositionofthisliterature，onwhateverfalsepretences，onourchildrenleftthemmoreliteratethaniftheyknewnoliteratureatall，whichwasthepracticalalternative。AndasourAuthorizedVersionisagreatworkofartaswell，toknowitwasbetterthanknowingnoart，whichalsowasthepracticalalternative。Itisatleastnotaschoolbook；anditisnotabadstorybook，horribleassomeofthestoriesare。ThereforeasbetweentheBibleandtheblankrepresentedbyseculareducation，thechoiceiswiththeBible。
TheBibleButtheBibleisnotsufficient。TherealBibleofmodernEuropeisthewholebodyofgreatliteratureinwhichtheinspirationandrevelationofHebrewScripturehasbeencontinuedtothepresentday。
Nietzsche\'sThusSpakeZoroasterislesscomfortingtotheillandunhappythanthePsalms；butitismuchtruer，subtler，andmoreedifying。ThepleasurewegetfromtherhetoricofthebookofJobanditstragicpictureofabewilderedsoulcannotdisguisetheignobleirrelevanceoftheretortofGodwithwhichitcloses，orsupplytheneedofsuchmodernrevelationsasShelley\'sPrometheusorTheNiblung\'sRingofRichardWagner。ThereisnothingintheBiblegreaterininspirationthanBeethoven\'sninthsymphony；andthepowerofmodernmusictoconveythatinspirationtoamodernmanisfargreaterthanthatofElizabethanEnglish，whichis，exceptforpeoplesteepedintheBiblefromchildhoodlikeSirWalterScottandRuskin，adeadlanguage。