modern religion says, "This is the God it has always been in your

nature to apprehend."



11. GOD AND THE LOVE AND STATUS OF WOMEN

Now that we are discussing the general question of individual



conduct, it will be convenient to take up again and restate in that

relationship, propositions already made very plainly in the second



and third chapters. Here there are several excellent reasons for a

certain amount of deliberaterepetition. . . .



All the mystical relations of chastity, virginity, and the like with

religion, those questions of physicalstatus that play so large a



part in most contemporary religions, have disappeared from modern

faith. Let us be as clear as possible upon this. God is concerned



by the health and fitness and vigour of his servants; we owe him our

best and utmost; but he has no special concern and no special



preferences or commandments regardingsexual things.

Christ, it is manifest, was of the modern faith in these matters, he



welcomed the Magdalen, neither would he condemn the woman taken in

adultery. Manifestly corruption and disease were not to stand



between him and those who sought God in him. But the Christianity

of the creeds, in this as in so many respects, does not rise to the



level of its founder, and it is as necessary to repeat to-day as

though the name of Christ had not been ascendant for nineteen



centuries, that sex is a secondary thing to religion, and sexual

status of no account in the presence of God. It follows quite



logically that God does not discriminate between man and woman in

any essential things. We leave our individuality behind us when we



come into the presence of God. Sex is not disavowed but forgotten.

Just as one's last meal is forgotten--which also is a difference



between the religious moment of modern faith and certain Christian

sacraments. You are a believer and God is at hand to you; heed not



your state; reach out to him and he is there. In the moment of

religion you are human; it matters not what else you are, male or



female, clean or unclean, Hebrew or Gentile, bond or free. It is

AFTER the moment of religion that we become concerned about our



state and the manner in which we use ourselves.

We have to follow our reason as our sole guide in our individual



treatment of all such things as food and health and sex. God is the

king of the whole world, he is the owner of our souls and bodies and



all things. He is not particularly concerned about any aspect,

because he is concerned about every aspect. We have to make the



best use of ourselves for his kingdom; that is our rule of life.

That rule means neither painful nor frantic abstinences nor any



forced way of living. Purity, cleanliness, health, none of these

things are for themselves, they are for use; none are magic, all are



means. The sword must be sharp and clean. That does not mean that

we are perpetually to sharpen and clean it--which would weaken and



waste the blade. The sword must neither be drawn constantly nor

always rusting in its sheath. Those who have had the wits and soul



to come to God, will have the wits and soul to find out and know

what is waste, what is vanity, what is the happiness that begets



strength of body and spirit, what is error, where vice begins, and

to avoid and repent and recoil from all those things that degrade.

• priest [pri:st] n.教士；牧师；神父 (初中英语单词)


• minister [´ministə] n.部长；大臣 v.伺候 (初中英语单词)


• utmost [´ʌtməust] a.最大的 n.极端 (初中英语单词)


• silently [´sailəntli] ad.寂静地；沉默地 (初中英语单词)


• standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)


• opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)


• old-fashioned [´əuld´feʃənd] a.老式的；过时的 (初中英语单词)


• intelligence [in´telidʒəns] n.智力；消息 (初中英语单词)


• moreover [mɔ:´rəuvə] ad.再者，此外，而且 (初中英语单词)


• weakness [´wi:knis] n.虚弱；弱点，缺点 (初中英语单词)


• extreme [ik´stri:m] a.尽头的 n.极端 (初中英语单词)


• argument [´ɑ:gjumənt] n.辩论；争论；论证 (初中英语单词)


• absolute [´æbsəlu:t] a.绝对的 n.绝对 (初中英语单词)


• probable [´prɔbəbəl] a.大概的n.很可能的事 (初中英语单词)


• debate [di´beit] n.&v.讨论，辩论 (初中英语单词)


• absolutely [´æbsəlu:tli] ad.绝对地；确实 (初中英语单词)


• unable [ʌn´eibəl] a.不能的；无能为力的 (初中英语单词)


• conviction [kən´vikʃən] n.定罪；确信，信服 (初中英语单词)


• therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)


• betray [bi´trei] vt.背叛；辜负；暴露 (初中英语单词)


• confess [kən´fes] vt.供认；坦白；承认 (初中英语单词)


• enthusiasm [in´θju:ziæzəm] n.热心；狂热；爱好 (初中英语单词)


• goodness [´gudnis] n.优良；美德；精华 (初中英语单词)


• altogether [,ɔ:ltə´geðə] ad.完全；总而言之 (初中英语单词)


• remote [ri´məut] a.遥远的；偏僻的 (初中英语单词)


• wicked [´wikid] a.邪恶的；不道德的 (初中英语单词)


• prosperity [prɔ´speriti] n.繁荣；成功；幸运 (初中英语单词)


• persuasion [pə´sweiʒən] n.说服(力)；劝说；见解 (初中英语单词)


• belief [bi´li:f] n.相信；信仰，信条 (初中英语单词)


• stupid [´stju:pid] a.愚蠢的；糊涂的 (初中英语单词)


• privilege [´privilidʒ] n.特权 vt.给….特权 (初中英语单词)


• measure [´meʒə] n.量度；范围 vt.测量 (初中英语单词)


• essential [i´senʃəl] a.必需的 n.要素，要点 (初中英语单词)


• consideration [kən,sidə´reiʃən] n.考虑；原因；体谅 (初中英语单词)


• spiritual [´spiritʃuəl] a.精神(上)的；神圣的 (初中英语单词)


• perceive [pə´si:v] vt.察觉；看出；领悟 (初中英语单词)


• attach [ə´tætʃ] v.附；使隶属；使依恋 (初中英语单词)


• reality [ri´æliti] n.现实(性)；真实；逼真 (初中英语单词)


• mental [´mentl] a.精神的；心理的 (初中英语单词)


• anxious [´æŋkʃəs] a.担忧的；渴望的 (初中英语单词)


• injury [´indʒəri] n.伤害；毁坏；侮辱 (初中英语单词)


• definite [´definit] a.确定的，明确的 (初中英语单词)


• emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)


• sympathy [´simpəθi] n.同情，怜悯 (初中英语单词)


• agreement [ə´gri:mənt] n.同意；一致；协议 (初中英语单词)


• convert [kən´və:t, ´kɔnvə:t] v.转变 n.改变信仰者 (初中英语单词)


• dismay [dis´mei] n.惊慌 vt.使惊慌 (初中英语单词)


• release [ri´li:s] vt&n.释放；放松；赦免 (初中英语单词)


• reflection [ri´flekʃən] n.反射；映象；想法 (初中英语单词)


• coldly [´kəuldli] ad.冷淡地 (初中英语单词)


• cooperation [kəu,ɔpə´reiʃən] n.合作；协作 (初中英语单词)


• temple [´tempəl] n.庙宇；寺院；太阳穴 (初中英语单词)


• contact [´kɔntækt] n.接触；联系 v.联络 (初中英语单词)


• convey [kən´vei] vt.运送；传达；转让 (初中英语单词)


• survive [sə´vaiv] vt.幸存；残存 (初中英语单词)


• emotional [i´məuʃənəl] a.易动感情的；情感的 (初中英语单词)


• worship [´wə:ʃip] n.&v.崇拜；敬仰 (初中英语单词)


• convenient [kən´vi:niənt] a.方便的 (初中英语单词)


• plainly [´pleinli] ad.平坦地；简单地 (初中英语单词)


• amount [ə´maunt] n.总数；数量 v.合计 (初中英语单词)


• physical [´fizikəl] a.物质的；有形的 (初中英语单词)


• condemn [kən´dem] vt.谴责；定罪，判处 (初中英语单词)


• christ [kraist] n.基督 int.天啊! (初中英语单词)


• secondary [´sekəndəri, -deri] a.第二的；次要的 (初中英语单词)


• account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)


• aspect [´æspekt] n.面貌；神色；方向 (初中英语单词)


• purity [´pjuəriti] n.纯净；贞洁 (初中英语单词)


• constantly [´kɔnstəntli] ad.经常地；不断地 (初中英语单词)


• vanity [´væniti] n.虚荣；自负；空虚 (初中英语单词)


• proposition [,prɔpə´ziʃən] n.提议；主张；陈述 (高中英语单词)


• reject [ri´dʒekt] vt.拒绝；抵制；否决 (高中英语单词)


• salvation [sæl´veiʃən] n.救助；拯救 (高中英语单词)


• realist [´riəlist] n.现实主义者 (高中英语单词)


• christianity [,kristi´æniti] n.基督教；基督精神 (高中英语单词)


• comprehension [,kɔmpri´henʃən] n.理解；领悟 (高中英语单词)


• apparently [ə´pærəntli] ad.显然，表面上地 (高中英语单词)


• pickpocket [´pik,pɔkit] n.扒手 (高中英语单词)


• concerned [kən´sə:nd] a.有关的；担心的 (高中英语单词)


• intellectual [,inti´lektʃuəl] n.知识分子 (高中英语单词)


• temperament [´tempərəmənt] n.气质；性格 (高中英语单词)


• damned [dæmd] a.该死的 ad.非常，极 (高中英语单词)


• collapse [kə´læps] vi.&n.崩溃；病倒；衰败 (高中英语单词)


• formula [´fɔ:mjulə] n.公式；配方；原则 (高中英语单词)


• interpretation [in,tə:pri´teiʃən] n.解释；翻译；表演 (高中英语单词)


• manifest [´mænifest] a.明显的 v.表明 (高中英语单词)


• ecstasy [´ekstəsi] n.狂喜；出神，入迷 (高中英语单词)


• apprehension [,æpri´henʃən] n.理解；忧虑；逮捕 (高中英语单词)


• hopeless [´həupləs] a.无望的，无可救药的 (高中英语单词)


• critical [´kritikəl] a.批评的；关键性的 (高中英语单词)


• regardless [ri´gɑ:dləs] a.不留心的；不关心的 (高中英语单词)


• appeal [ə´pi:l] vi.&n.请求；呼吁；上诉 (高中英语单词)


• deliberate [di´libəreit] a.慎重的；故意的 (高中英语单词)


• repetition [,repi´tiʃən] n.重复；背诵；复制品 (高中英语单词)


• contemporary [kən´tempərəri] a.&n.同时代的(人) (高中英语单词)


• vigour [´vigə] (=vigor) n.活力；精力 (高中英语单词)


• regarding [ri´gɑ:diŋ] prep.关于 (高中英语单词)


• founder [´faundə] n.奠基者 v.陷落 (高中英语单词)


• painful [´peinfəl] a.痛(苦)的；费力的 (高中英语单词)


• frantic [´fræntik] a.发狂的；急忙的 (高中英语单词)


• sharpen [´ʃɑ:pən] v.削尖，(使)锐利 (高中英语单词)


• weaken [´wi:kən] v.(使)弱化；衰弱；稀薄 (高中英语单词)


• repent [ri´pent] v.后悔；悔改；悔悟 (高中英语单词)


• theology [θi´ɔlədʒi] n.神学 (英语四级单词)


• almighty [ɔ:l´maiti] a.万能的；全能的 (英语四级单词)


• unwilling [ʌn´wiliŋ] a.不愿意的；不情愿的 (英语四级单词)


• essentially [i´senʃəli] ad.本质上，基本上 (英语四级单词)


• hopelessly [´həuplisli] ad.无希望地，绝望地 (英语四级单词)


• incapable [in´keipəbəl] a.无能力的；不能的 (英语四级单词)


• texture [´tekstʃə] n.(织物等的)质地 (英语四级单词)


• persecution [,pə:si´kju:ʃən] n.迫害；残害；困扰 (英语四级单词)


• passionately [´pæʃənitli] ad.多情地；热烈地 (英语四级单词)


• partial [´pɑ:ʃəl] a.部分的；偏袒的 (英语四级单词)


• divinity [di´viniti] n.神性，神；神学 (英语四级单词)


• status [´steitəs] n.身份；情形；状况 (英语四级单词)


• corruption [kə´rʌpʃən] n.腐化；贪污；贿赂 (英语四级单词)


• believer [bi´li:və] n.信徒 (英语四级单词)


• cleanliness [´kli:nlinis] n.清洁 (英语四级单词)


• sheath [ʃi:θ] n.鞘，壳，套 (英语四级单词)


• degrade [di´greid] v.降低；(使)堕落 (英语四级单词)


• inherent [in´hiərənt] a.固有的，天生的 (英语六级单词)


• insistence [in´sistəns] n.坚持；坚决主张 (英语六级单词)


• downright [´daunrait] a.直率的 ad.彻底 (英语六级单词)


• inaccessible [,inæk´sesəbəl] a.达不到的，难接近的 (英语六级单词)


• malignant [mə´lignənt] a.恶意的；有害的 (英语六级单词)


• helplessly [´helplisli] ad.无能为力地 (英语六级单词)


• consistently [kən´sistəntli] ad.一致地；始终如一地 (英语六级单词)


• albeit [ɔ:l´bi:it] conj.即使；纵使；虽然 (英语六级单词)


• reluctance [ri´lʌktəns] n.不愿；勉强 (英语六级单词)


• incurable [in´kjuərəbəl] a.不能治疗的 (英语六级单词)


• enduring [in´djuəriŋ] a.持久的 (英语六级单词)


• identity [ai´dentiti] n.身份；同一性；一致 (英语六级单词)


• compulsion [kəm´pʌlʃ(ə)n] n.强制；强迫 (英语六级单词)


• emancipation [i,mænsi´peiʃən] n.解放，翻身 (英语六级单词)


• fitness [fitnis] n.适合；健康 (英语六级单词)


• sexual [´sekʃuəl] a.性(欲)的 (英语六级单词)


• manifestly [´mænifestli] ad.明显的 (英语六级单词)


• individuality [,individʒu´æləti] n.个性；特征 (英语六级单词)


• unclean [ʌn´kli:n] a.不清洁的；讨厌的 (英语六级单词)


• recoil [ri´kɔil] vi.&n.退缩；弹回 (英语六级单词)