第13部分(第4/7 頁)

st　also　attain　a　conscious　realisation　of　this　his　Spirit　and　essential　nature；　and　of　his　original

identity　with　it。　For　we　said　that　morality　is　the　identity　of　the　subjective　or　personal　with　the

universal　will。　Now　the　mind　must　give　itself　an　express　consciousness　of　this；　and　the　focus　of

this　knowledge　is　Religion。　Art　and　Science　are　only　various　aspects　and　forms　of　the　same

substantial　being。　In　considering　Religion；　the　chief　point　of　enquiry　is　whether　it　recognises　the

True　…　the　Idea　…　only　in　its　separate；　abstract　form；　or　in　its　true　unity；　in　separation　…　God　being

represented　in　an　abstract　form　as　the　Highest　Being；　Lord　of　Heaven　and　Earth；　living　in　a　remote

region　far　from　human　actualities；　…　or　in　its　unity；　…　God；　as　Unity　of　the　Universal　and　Individual；

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　people's

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