[I]f we look at man’s whole mental life as it exists, on the life of men that lies in them apart from their learning and science, and that they inwardly and privately allow, we have to confess that the part of it of which rationalism can give an account is relatively superficial. It is the part that has prestige for it can challenge you for proofs, and chop logic, and put you down with words. But it will fail to convince or convert you all the same, if your intuitions are opposed to its conclusions.
Intuitions come from a deeper level of our nature than where rationalism resides. This is our subconscious life, impulses, faith, needs, divination which forms the reality our consciousness recognizes as truer than any logic chopping rationalistic talk, however clever, that contradicts it. The truth is that in the metaphysical and religious sphere, articulate reasons make sense only when our inarticulate feelings of reality coincide with our subconscious intuition.
William James, The Varieties Of Religious Experience (1902)(edited by PAT).
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Great post! Thanks a million…
I chanced upon your web site via a comment from another legal blogpost and I am happy I did. Great stuff you’ve got here.
Hello can I reference some of the material here in this entry if I reference you with a link back to your site?
yes
I’m impressed. Not often do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining. Your posts are excellent; you have a knack for choosing topics that few people are talking intelligently about.
Good post, especially during Holiday Season which is a time for spiritual reflection.