deceiving children even for the briefest interval of time, and men
would begin to understand Christ's teaching. But this
understanding will be the end of the churches and all their
influence. And therefore the churches will not for an instant
relax their zeal in the business of hypnotizing grown-up people
and deceiving children. This, then, is the work of the churches:
to instill a false interpretation of Christ's teaching into men,
and to prevent a true interpretation of it for the majority of so-
called believers.




CHAPTER IV.

CHRISTIANITY MISUNDERSTOOD BY MEN OF SCIENCE.

Attitude of Men of Science to Religions in General--What Religion
is, and What is its Significance for the Life of Humanity--
Three Conceptions of Life--Christian Religion the Expression of
the Divine Conception of Life--Misinterpretation of
Christianity by Men of Science, who Study it in its External
Manifestations Due to their Criticising it from Standpoint of
Social Conception of Life--Opinion, Resulting from this
Misinterpretation, that Christ's Moral Teaching is Exaggerated
and Cannot be put into Practice--Expression of Divine
Conception of Life in the Gospel--False Ideas of Men of Science
on Christianity Proceed from their Conviction that they have an
Infallible Method of Criticism--From which come Two
Misconceptions in Regard to Christian Doctrine--First