03.00. Christianity and Progress

The Assurance of Immortality by Harry Emerson Fosdick
The Macmillan Company

1916 All rights reserved COPYRIGHT, 1913, Bv THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1913 Reprinted April, 1914; July, 1915; April, December,

1916.

Nortnoofc J. 8. Gushing Co. Berwick & Smith Co.

Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. WITH AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY

CONTENTS 1. The Significance of Immortality .
2. The Possibility of Immortality .
3. The Assurance of Immortality .

" If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may with draw at will. But it feels like a real fight. 11

WILLIAM JAMES.

PREFACE IN publishing this essay upon immortal ity, it is useless, and in most cases impossible, for me to indicate in detail my indebtedness for the lines of thought which here are inter woven. The general considerations which support faith in everlasting life have been canvassed so often that extensive originality in arguing for immortality is out of the question. Whatever freshness of thought this essay may possess will be found in the fact that the problem of life after death is viewed from the standpoint of the twentieth century and is discussed in terms of the special difficulties and the prevailing atti tudes which exist to-day. Old arguments must take new direction from the banks of the generation s thought between which they flow. In particular I have had in mind the man, conscientious about his daily work, with whom the words honor and friendship, fidelity and courage, weigh heavily, but who, occasionally lifting his thought to the problem of life everlasting, speedily turns away, saying : What difference does it make ? At least I can do my present task well, and if there be any world beyond the grave, I will face it, when it comes." This prevalent attitude is often maintained in admirable spirit and is accompanied by an honorable and useful life. But there are considera tions which such an attitude leaves out of account, and to these the attention of this essay is specially directed. The reader will find the understanding of the argument easier if he keeps in mind the general outline of the thought. In the first chapter, I try simply to point out the real and present importance of the problem which we are considering ; in the second chapter, I try to show the inconclusive nature of the arguments commonly urged against a future life ; and in the third chapter, I try to pre sent the positive reasons for a modern man s assurance that death does not end all.

HARRY EMERSON FOSDICK. August 6, 1913,