Dismiss scientism. Unamuno, Life 5.17
It
is not rational to become angry when other people believe what you do
not. Despair might perhaps be rational; it is certainly closer than
hope, and both are best not imposed on others against their will.
El
racionalista se conduce racionalmente, esto es, está en su papel
mientras se limita a negar que la razón satisfaga a nuestra hambre
vital de inmortalidad; pero pronto, poseído de la rabia de no poder
creer, cae en la irritación del odium
anti-theologicum, y
dice con los fariseos: «Estos vulgares que no saben la ley, son
malditos». Hay mucho de verdad en aquellas palabras de Soloviev:
«Presiento la proximidad de tiempos en que los cristianos se
reunan de nuevo en las catacumbas porque se persiga la fe, acaso de
una manera menos brutal que en la época de Nerón, pero con un rigor
no menos refinado, por la mentira, la burla y todas las hipocresías».
El
odio anti-teológico, la rabia cientificista—no digo
científica—contra la fe en otra vida, es evidente. Tomad no a los
más serenos investigadores científicos, los que saben dudar, sino a
los fanáticos del racionalismo, y ved con qué grosera brutalidad
hablan de la fe. A Vogt le parecía probable que los apóstoles
ofreciesen en la estructura del cráneo marcados caracteres simianos;
de las groserías de Haeckel, este supremo incomprensivo, no hay que
hablar; tampoco de las de Büchner; Virchow mismo no se ve libre de
ellas. Y otros lo hacen más sutilmente. Hay gentes que parece como
si no se limitasen a no creer que haya otra vida, o mejor dicho, a
creer que no la hay, sino que les molesta y duele que otros crean en
ella, o hasta que quieran que la haya. Y esta posición es
despreciable así como es digna de respeto la de aquel que,
empeñándose en creer que la hay, porque la necesita, no logra
creerlo. Pero de este nobilísimo, y el más profundo, y el más
humano, y el más fecundo estado de ánimo, el de la desesperación,
hablaremos más adelante.
The
rationalist conducts himself rationally. As long as he restricts
himself to denying that reason satisfies our vital hunger for
immortality, he remains true to his role. But soon, possessed by mad
incapability of belief, he falls into the state of irritation that
hates theology, and then he hurls abuse with the Pharisees: “These
common fools who do not know the law are cursed.” There is much
truth in the words of Soloviev (†):
“I foresee a day when Christians meet again in catacombs because of
persecution, perhaps less brutal than in Nero's day, but certainly no
less refined, partaking in lies, mockery, and all sorts of
hypocrisy.”
Hatred
for theology, the mad fetish for science that I would not confuse
with the genuine article, is evidently opposed to faith in another
life. Take the fanatical devotees of reason, not the sober
investigators whose science knows how to doubt, and see the crass
brutality with which they speak of faith. Vogt thought it likely that
the apostles had skulls distinctly ape-like. No need to repeat the
rude taunts of Haeckel, that eminent idiot, or those of Büchner.
Even Virchow was not entirely above such behavior (‡).
Others are subtler. There are some whose disbelief in another life is
not satisfied as long as others do believe in one, or even merely
express a desire for it. This bullying position is unworthy of our
respect, which is much better given to the fellow who tries to
believe in another life, because he needs to, and does not succeed.
Of such desperation, the most profound and human and fertile state of
our minds, we shall say more anon.
---
(†)
Vladimir Sergeyevich Soloviev (1853-1900) was born in Moscow, into a
family of writers. He left the Orthodox faith in his youth, but time
and study taught him to find value in religious philosophy, as well
as secular, and his writings represent an eclectic personal
philosophy that incorporates elements from Eastern and Western
Christianity, Buddhism, and Western secular philosophy. In Soloviev's
view, the telos of life on earth arrives when all humanity lives by
Christian ideals with
ethical coherence sufficient to incorporate
us
into one family, or
society (cобор).
Soloviev attempted to
prepare the way for this by crafting his philosophy to include and
reconcile all others
(cоборноcть).
He befriended Dostoyevksy, and some see him as a live model for Ivan
and Alyosha Karamazov.
(‡)
A parade of prominent German atheists! Carl Vogt (1817-1895) and
Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) were scientists, whose enthusiasm for
biology in the vein of Charles Darwin led them to some unfortunate
ethical and political ideas (broadly summarizable as Social
Darwinism). Vogt was also an active politician. Ludwig Büchner
(1824-1899) and Rudolph Virchow (1821-1902) were physicians. Büchner
believed that the world was evolving into a kinder place, renouncing
war for debate, and Virchow was remarkable for his ability to doubt
contemporary science (including Darwinism and the germ theory of
Pasteur) while still contributing significantly to it. He opposed
Social Darwinism, too.