第一小说网

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第13部分（第4页）

manifestations　of　the　Divine　Nature。　The　form　of　Religion；　therefore；　decides　that　of　the　State　and

its　constitution。　The　latter　actually　originated　in　the　particular　religion　adopted　by　the　nation；　so

that；　in　fact；　the　Athenian　or　the　Roman　State　was　possible　only　in　connection　with　the　specific

form　of　Heathenism　existing　among　the　respective　peoples；　just　as　a　Catholic　State　has　a　spirit　and

constitution　different　from　that　of　a　Protestant　one。

§　54

If　that　outcry　…　that　urging　and　striving　for　the　implantation　of　Religion　in　the　munity　…　were　an

utterance　of　anguish　and　a　call　for　help；　as　it　often　seems　to　be；　expressing　the　danger　of　religion

having　vanished；　or　being　about　to　vanish　entirely　from　the　State；　…　that　would　be　fearful　indeed　…

worse　in　fact　than　this　outcry　supposes；　for　it　implies　the　belief　in　a　resource　against　the　evil；　viz。；

the　implantation　and　inculcation　of　religion；　whereas　religion　is　by　no　means　a　thing　to　be　so

produced；　its　self…production　（and　there　can　be　no　other）　lies　much　deeper。

§　55

Another　and　opposite　folly　which　we　meet　with　in　our　time　is　that　of　pretending　to　invent　and　carry

out　political　constitutions　independently　of　religion。　The　Catholic　confession；　although　sharing　the

Christian　name　with　the　Protestant；　does　not　concede　to　the　State　an　inherent　Justice　and

Morality；　…　a　concession　which　in　the　Protestant　principle　is　fundamental。　This　tearing　away　of　the

political　morality　of　the　Constitution　from　its　natural　connection；　is　necessary　to　the　genius　of　that

religion；　inasmuch　as　it　does　not　recognise　Justice　and　Morality　as　independent　and　substantial。

But　thus　excluded　from　intrinsic　worth；　…　torn　away　from　their　last　refuge　…　the　sanctuary　of

conscience　…　the　calm　retreat　where　religion　has　its　abode；　…　the　principles　and　institutions　of

political　legislation　are　destitute　of　a　real　centre；　to　the　same　decree　as　they　are　pelled　to

remain　abstract　and　indefinite。

§　56

Summing　up　what　has　been　said　of　the　State；　we　find　that　we　have　been　led　to　call　its　vital

principle；　as　actuating　the　individuals　who　pose　it；　…　Morality。　The　State；　its　laws；　its

arrangements；　constitute　the　rights　of　its　members；　its　natural　features；　its　mountains；　air；　and

waters；　are　their　country；　their　fatherland；　their　outward　material　property；　the　history　of　this

State；　their　deeds；　what　their　ances