第一小说网

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第13部分（第3页）

the　Individual　itself　assuming　the　aspect　of　positive　and　real　existence　in　the　idea　of　the　Incarnation。

Religion　is　the　sphere　in　which　a　nation　gives　itself　the　definition　of　that　which　it　regards　as　the

True。　A　definition　contains　everything　that　belongs　to　the　essence　of　an　object；　reducing　its　nature

to　its　simple　characteristic　predicate；　as　a　mirror　for　every　predicate；　…　the　generic　soul　Pervading

all　its　details。　The　conception　of　God；　therefore；　constitutes　the　general　basis　of　a　peoples

character。

§　52

In　this　aspect；　religion　stands　in　the　closest　connection　with　the　political　principle。　Freedom　can

exist　only　where　Individuality　is　recognised　as　having　its　positive　and　real　existence　in　the　Divine

Being。　The　connection　may　be　further　explained　thus：　…　Secular　existence；　as　merely　temporal　…

occupied　with　particular　interests　…　is　consequently　only　relative　and　unauthorised；　and　receives　its

validity　only　in　as　far　as　the　universal　soul　that　pervades　it　…　its　principle　…　receives　absolute　validity；

which　it　cannot　have　unless　it　is　recognised　as　the　definite　manifestation；　the　phenomenal　existence

of　the　Divine　Essence。　On　this　account　it　is　that　the　State　rests　on　Religion。　We　hear　this　often

repeated　in　our　times；　though　for　the　most　part　nothing　further　is　meant　than　that　individual　subjects

as　God…fearing　men　would　be　more　disposed　and　ready　to　perform　their　duty；　since　obedience　to

King　and　Law　so　naturally　follows　in　the　train　of　reverence　for　God。　This　reverence；　indeed；　since

it　exalts　the　general　over　the　special；　may　even　turn　upon　the　latter；　…　bee　fanatical；　…　and　work

with　incendiary　and　destructive　violence　against　the　State；　its　institutions；　and　arrangements。

Religious　feeling；　therefore；　it　is　thought；　should　be　sober　…　kept　in　a　certain　degree　of　coolness；　…

that　it　may　not　storm　against　and　bear　down　that　which　should　be　defended　and　preserved　by　it。

The　possibility　of　such　a　catastrophe　is　at　least　latent　in　it。

§　53

While；　however；　the　correct　sentiment　is　adopted；　that　the　State　is　based　on　Religion；　the　position

thus　assigned　to　Religion　supposes　the　State　already　to　exist；　and　that　subsequently；　in　order　to

maintain　it；　Religion　must　be　brought　into　it　…　buckets　and　bushels　as　it　were　…　and　impressed　upon

peoples　hearts。　It　is　quite　true　that　men　must　be　trained　to　religion；　but　not　as　to　something　whose

existence　has　yet　to　begin。　For　in　affirming　that　the　State　is　based　on　Religion　…　that　it　has　its　roots

in　it　…　we　virtually　assert　that　the　former　has　proceeded　from　the　latter；　and　that　this　derivation　is

going　on　now　and　will　always　continue；　i。e。；　the　principles　of　the　State　must　be　regarded　as　valid　in

and　for　themselves；　which　can　only　be　in　so　far　as　they　are　recognised　as　determinate