d philosophical positions discard religion
as a department of human life. When it is held that man knows nothing
and can know nothing but phenomena, or when, if something is assumed
behind phenomena, it is regarded as too vague to enter into personal
relations with men, religion as a force in life becomes impossible. In
these cases the two conceptions must stand side by side as enemies till
one or the other is proved, to the satisfaction of men, to be untenable.
Meanwhile it appears that one result of scientific investigations has
been to delimitate religion by making it clear that, while it belongs as
an influence to all life, it cannot include scientific theories as a
part of its content--a result that cannot be otherwise than favorable to
its development.

THE ETHICAL ELEMENT

+1161+. Conduct has always been associated with religion. Supernatural
Powers have been regarded as members of the tribe or other society,
divine headmen part of whose function it is to see that the existing
customs are observed, these customs being ethical as well as ritual.
Even in such low tribes as the Fuegians and the Australians the anger of
some Power is supposed to follow violation of law. Instructions to
initiates often include moral relations.[2106] The connection of morals
with religion in the more advanced peoples is close. In this regard a
distinction is to be made between the creation and the adoption and
treatment of ethical ideals.

+1162+. Ethical codes are never created by religion but are always
adopted by it from current usages and ideas.[2107] Rules respecting the
protection of life, property, and the family are found everywhere--they
arise out of natural social relations, even the simplest, and grow in
definiteness and refinement with the advance of society, so that things
at one period lawful, and accepted by religious authorities, are at a
later period prohibited.[2108] Kindness to one's fellows is common in
the lowest tribes, and in higher civilizations is formulated as a golden
rule (Confucius, Book of Tobit, New Testament, and virtually the
Egyptian Ptahhotep, the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, Buddha).
Truthfulness, fidelity, and justice have been generally recognized as
things to be approved--roughly defined and aimed at in rude communities,
more exactly defined and more clearly held up as ideals in higher
communities. All these virtues are taken up more or less definitely into
religious codes.

+1163+. Less