The Philosophical Approach to Religion

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My purpose has been to afford an outline of some of the fundamentals of the philosophical approach to religion for the general reader of theology, as well as for the students in my own College. That will be sufficient to explain the limitations of what I have written, in some degree at least, for I have desired to make the treatment sufficiently simple for the reader unversed in philosophy, whilst including the main problems of the subject. No one knows better than I do how such limitations afford material for the critical. I have left undone many things that should have been done, as well as done many things that should not have been done in an adequate, let alone an ideal, treatment of the subject. But if those who read will not expect more than my limits allow me to offer, realizing that simplification means omission of much that should be inserted, and an abbreviation of much else, as well as a certain false perspective in other ways, they will perhaps be kindly tolerant. Many statements that are disputable have necessarily been expressed summarily, without discussion, and thus may appear unfair to the side that does not accept them. Other subjects have been treated too briefly to envisage all the aspects of importance they possess. But this has been needful in order to keep the book within limits, and as there are a number of fuller and more adequate treatments of the subject available for all, it is to be hoped that those who want more will turn to them, for what I cannot offer, whilst those who want such an elementary treatment of the subject as this, will find here something towards their needs.

I should like to express my indebtedness to my son, Rev. J. W. Waterhouse, B.A., B.D., for reading the proofs, and making many valuable suggestions.