oduct of the universe, that in him too are revealed
its divine life and action." "The more every one approximates the
universe, the more he communicates himself to others, the more perfect
unity will they all form; no one has a consciousness for himself
alone, every one has, at the same time, that of the other; they are no
longer only men, but mankind; rising above themselves and triumphing
over themselves, they are on the road to true immortality and
eternity." In the feeling of piety man recognizes that his desire to
be a unique personality is in harmony with the action of the universe;
hence that he can, ought, and must make the development of his
uniqueness the goal, the strongest motive, and the highest good,
and that he can surely realize what he is striving for, because the
universe which created and determined him created him for that.

_FRIEDRICH SCHLEIERMACHER_

* * * * *

ON THE SOCIAL ELEMENT IN RELIGION (1799) [1]

TRANSLATED BY GEORGE RIPLEY

Those among you who are accustomed to regard religion as a disease
of the human mind, cherish also the habitual conviction that it is an
evil more easily borne, even though not to be cured, so long as it is
only insulated individuals here and there who are infected with
it; but that the common danger is raised to the highest degree,
and everything put at stake, as soon as a too close connection is
permitted between many patients of this character. In the former
case it is possible by a judicious treatment, as it were by an
antiphlegistic regimen, and by a healthy spiritual atmosphere, to ward
off the violence of the paroxysms; and if not entirely to conquer the
exciting cause of the disease, to attenuate it to such a degree that
it shall be almost innocuous. But in the latter case we must despair
of every other means of cure, except that which may proceed from some
internal beneficent operation of Nature. For the evil is attended with
more alarming symptoms, and is more fatal in its effects, when the too
great proximity of other infected persons feeds and aggravates it in
every individual; the whole mass of vital air is then quickly poisoned
by a few; the most vigorous frames are smitten with the contagion;
all the channels in which the functions of life should go on are
destroyed; all the juices of the system are decomposed; and, seized
with a similar feverous delirium, the sound spiritual life and
productions of whole age