Part 10 (1/2)
”Perhaps her faith, Wilbour----”
”Perhaps. But with the intelligent, faith, which is emotional, usually follows belief; and belief comes only from reasoning. I think that Ruhannah is destined to travel the way of all intelligence when she is ready to think for herself.”
”I am ready now,” said the girl. ”I have faith in our Lord Jesus, and in my father and mother.”
Her father looked at her:
”It is good building material. Some day, G.o.d willing, you shall build a very lofty temple with it. But the foundation of the temple must first be certain. Intelligence ultimately requires reasons for belief.
You will have to seek them for yourself, Ruhannah. Then, on them build your shrine of faith; and nothing shall shake it down.”
”I don't understand.”
”And I cannot explain. Only this; as you grow older, all around you in the world you will become aware of people, countless millions and millions of people, asking themselves--ready with the slightest encouragement, or without it, to ask you the question which is the most vital of all questions to them. And whatever way it is answered always they ask for evidence. You, too, will one day ask for evidence.
All the world asks for it. But few recognise it as evidence when it is offered.”
He closed his book and dropped a heavy hand upon it.
”Amid the myriad pursuits and interests and trades and professions of the human race, amid their mult.i.tudinous aspirations, perplexities, doubts, pa.s.sions, endeavours, deep within every intelligent man remains one dominant desire, one persistent question to be answered if possible.”
”What desire, father?”
”The universal desire for another chance--for immortality. Man's never-ending demand for evidence of an immortality which shall terminate for him the most tremendous of all uncertainties, which shall solve for him the most vital of all questions: What is to become of him after physical death? Is he to live again? Is he to see once more those whom he loved the best?”
Ruhannah sat thinking in the red stove light, cross-legged, her slim ankles clasped in either hand.
”But our souls are immortal,” she said at last.
”Yes.”
”Our Lord Jesus has said it.”
”Yes.”
”Then why should anybody not believe it?”
”Try to believe it always. Particularly after your mother and I are no longer here, try to believe it.... You are unusually intelligent; and if some day your intelligence discovers that it requires evidence for belief seek for that evidence. It is obtainable. Try to recognise it when you encounter it.... Only, in any event, remember this: never alter your early faith, never destroy your childhood's belief until evidence to prove the contrary convinces you.”
”No.... There is no such evidence, is there, father?”
”I know of none.”
”Then,” said the girl calmly, ”I shall take Christ's evidence that I shall live again if I do no evil.... Father?”
”Yes.”
”Is there any evidence that Adoniram has no soul?”
”I know of none.”