Problems of faith, a third series of lectures to young men, delivered at the Presbyterian college, London, [ed.] by J.O. Dykes |
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absurd action adduced animal organisms animal spirits antecedent anthropomorphic aqueous humour argument ascribe atheism automatic Belfast believe blind force body brain cause Christ Christendom Christian Church conation conceptions consciousness contrivances Council of Trent Darwin deny Descartes Divine doctrine elements error evidence exhibited existence external facts faculties faith frog functions Holy human mind Huxley's hypothesis idea ignorance infidelity intellectual intelligence knowledge language lecture logical Lord's Supper machines marvellous materialistic matter ment mental molecular change moral morphism motion movements muscles Natural Selection nature nerves observe perfect phenomena philosophy phrase physical physiologist position prayer priesthood priests Professor Huxley Professor Tyndall proper purely question reason recognise regard relation religion religious René Descartes revealed sacerdotal sacramental scientific sense simply soul stition super Supernatural superstition surely Teleology theology theory things thought tion true truth Ulster Hall unbelief universe whole words
Popular passages
Page 83 - ... the passage from the current to the needle, if not demonstrable, is thinkable, and that we entertain no doubt as to the final mechanical solution of the problem ; but the passage from the physics of the brain to the corresponding facts of consciousness is unthinkable. Granted that a definite thought, and a definite molecular action in the brain occur simultaneously ; we do not possess the intellectual organ, nor apparently any rudiment of the organ, which would enable us to pass by a process...
Page 226 - But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee ; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Page 225 - ... Because I am not the hand, I am not the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Page 225 - For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body...
Page 217 - To arrive, however, at a just conclusion regarding the formation of the eye, with all its marvellous yet not absolutely perfect characters, it is indispensable that the reason should conquer the imagination...
Page 84 - The chasm between the two classes of phenomena would still remain intellectually impassable. Let the consciousness of love, for example, be associated with a right-handed spiral motion of the molecules of the brain, and the consciousness of hate with a left-handed spiral motion. We should then know when we love that the motion is in one direction, and when we hate that the motion is in the other ; but the "WHY?
Page 76 - As to the opinion of those who think that the soul receives its passions in the heart, it is...
Page 218 - ... with a nerve sensitive to light beneath, and then suppose every part of this layer to be continually changing slowly in density, so as to separate into layers of different densities and thicknesses, placed at different distances from each other, and with the surfaces of each layer slowly changing in form. Further we must suppose that there is a power always intently watching each slight accidental alteration in the transparent layers; and carefully selecting each alteration which, under varied...
Page 83 - Associated with this wonderful mechanism of the animal body we have phenomena no less certain than those of physics, but between which and the mechanism we discern no necessary connection. A man, for example, can say, I feel, I think, I love ; but how does consciousness infuse itself into the problem?
Page 56 - ... towards divine mysteries. But rather, that by our mind thoroughly cleansed and purged from fancy and vanities, and yet subject and perfectly given up to the divine oracles, there may be given unto faith the things that are faith's.