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64
T. G. Kalghat gi
in the reasonableness of God's
science, but as supreme act of faith work. 46
Through the vaticinations of intellect and conscience, Dr. Martineau comes nearer the cross-roads suggesting belief in future life without specifically accepting the doctrine of rebirth. He is shy of accepting the beliefs of continuity and rebirth as he has been careful not to appeal to the widespread hope and belief of a future life, which has prevailed in the world; for it is hardly warrantable to argue from the mere prevalence of a belief to its truth, unless it can be classed with the primary assumptions that are the conditions of all inference - a position which cannot be claimed by the doctrine now under consideration.47
However the conditions of a responsible existence involves two stages(i) a probationary turn and (ii) a retributory sequel : but it may be said, there is no need to separate these and assign them to different lives : both may be provided for within the present experience of the agent's own personality. 48 And it is maintained that retributive aspect of future life has an educative influence for persons in the earlier and cruder stages of moral culture. To them it represents, under hedonistic symbols, a spiritual consummation which will fulfil the promises by transcending them. The hopes and fears of future retribution are needed to play upon the conscience only in its rudimentary period. 49 Dr. Martineau concludes “From this survey of the great lines of human experience two inferences seem to force themselves upon us: (1) that everywhere, - in our conscience, in our physical nature, in the sentiments of associated men - there are indelible marks of a morally constituted world, moving towards righteous ends: (2)
That nowhere within us or out of us, do we find the fulfilment of this idea, but only the incipient and often baffled tentatives for realizing it by partial approximation. This is what we should expect to see, from the first station of an unfinished system, and it irresistibly suggests a justifying and perfect sequel. The vaticinations of our moral nature are thus in harmony with those of intellectual and spiritual; distinctly reporting to us, that we stand in Divine relations which indefinitely transcend the limits of our earthly years.50.
Dr. Martineau and other Western philosophers like Phleader, stop at the crossroad to immortality and are shy to accept the logical implications of retribution and the progress of the individual to intellectual and moral
46. Fiske, Destiny of man as quoted by Martineau. 47. Dr. Martineau, Study of Religion, p. 359 48. Ibid., p. 361. 49. Ibid., p. 362. 50. Ibid. p. 362.
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