conomic and other scientific questions. That wherein they stand
apart from other organizations is the emotional element they introduce
into man's attitude toward the universe. According to this point of view
man regards himself not merely as a part of the world but as bound to
its author by ties of gratitude and affection. This sentiment may be
independent of all scientific theories, may be shared by the learned and
the unlearned; it is thus a great unifying force, and gives to life the
glow of enthusiasm with the repose of trust.

+1139+. The temptations to which churches are exposed are those that are
touched on above, and they may be briefly summed up here. There is the
tendency to an excessive elaboration of the externals of religion,
ritual, and dogma. Something of these is doubtless necessary in churches
as in all human organizations, but they may easily be carried so far as
to obscure the essential things. The history of all churches exhibits
this tendency. There are protests from time to time, revolts against
formalities and speculations, and then frequently in the new
organizations the old movement is resumed. For our own times a
distinction may perhaps be made: while there seems to be a steady
general increase of ritual, there is in many quarters a disposition to
minimize or curtail dogma.

+1140+. However this may be, a more important tendency in churches is
toward the claim to absolute authority in religious matters. This
tendency is universal in bodies that hold to the infallibility of
certain sacred books. It is obvious that absolute authority in an
organized body and individual freedom are mutually incompatible,[2087]
and that all that makes for freedom makes against the church influence
in this direction. Finally, when churches enter into administrative
alliance with the civil authorities, or assume civil and political
power, they to that extent abdicate their spiritual rights and abandon
their true function.

UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS

+1141+. So far only particular religions, belonging to particular
peoples or regions, have been considered. In recent years the question
has been much discussed whether any of these may be called universal. A
universal religion may be defined either as one that has been accepted
by all peoples, or as one whose doctrines are such that it may be so
accepted. The term is frequently used loosely to describe a religion
that has passed definitely beyond its birthplace and has b