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History Corner
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Bertrand Russell On Christian Love
Bertrand Russell, A History of Western
Philosophy
(New York: Simon and Schuster; 1945), p. 579.
‘If you follow Christ’s teaching,
you will say [of persecutors] “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.”
I have known Quakers who could
have said this sincerely and profoundly, and who I admired because they could.
But before giving admiration one
must be very sure that the misfortune is felt as deeply as it should be.
One
cannot accept the attitude of some among the Stoics, who said, “What does it
matter to me if my family suffer?
I can
still be virtuous.” The Christian principle, “Love your enemies,” is good, but
the Stoic principle, “Be indifferent to your friends,” is bad.
And the Christian principle
does not inculcate calm, but an ardent love even towards the worst of men.
There is
nothing to be said against it except that it is too difficult for most of us to
practise sincerely.’
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