The older Puritans had trampled down all fleshly impulses…
““The older Puritans had trampled down all fleshly impulses; these newer Puritans trampled no less self-righteously upon the spiritual cravings. But in the increasingly spiritistic inclination of physics itself, Behaviorism and Fundamentalism had found a meeting place. Since the ultimate stuff of the physical universe was now said to be multitudinous and arbitrary “quanta” of the activity “spirits”, how easy was it for the materialistic and the spiritistic to agree? At heart, indeed, they were never very far apart in mood, though opposed in doctrine. The real cleavage was between the truly spiritual view on the one hand, and the spiritistic and materialistic on the other. Thus the most materialistic of Christian sects and the most doctrinaire of scientific sects were not long in finding a formula to express their unity, their denial of all those finer capacities which had emerged to be the spirit of man.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts historical Puritan repression with modern scientific materialism, noting both share a similar mood despite doctrinal opposition, and highlights a split between truly spiritual views and hybrid spirit‑materialist perspectives.
In simple terms: Old and new strict systems seem similar but differ in spiritual vs material focus.
Key Takeaway
Recognize underlying commonalities despite doctrinal differences.
Themes
philosophy
religion
science
history
dualism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- theological discussion
- scientific conferences
- personal reflection
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
materialism
spiritualism
doctrine
mood
unity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do shared moods influence collaboration across doctrine?
- What risks arise when spiritual and materialistic views merge?
A Different Perspective
Both sides may overlook nuanced differences in practice.