Chapter X, A Final Examination, The Wisdom Traditions, Summary and Analysis

The question about religions might better be put as "What wisdom do they offer to the world?" In earlier times, it was assumed that religion offered answers to ultimate reality, but modern science has begun to cast doubt on that assumption. On the other hand, science has been unable to answer the questions of ultimate reality, either. Essentially, religion in any of its forms has offered wisdom in the realm of ethics. Charity, humility, veracity, and the obstacles to attaining them are ripe subjects for religion and not science. Religion offers a kind of vision as though looking at a tapestry that suggests things might be better than they seem. Religion's wisdom pictures an awesome immensity about the human self and its inestimable worth. Such ideas emerge...