Of Unity In Religion
by Francis Bacon
Complete explanation of the essay alongside the original text
Original
RELIGION being the chief band of human society, it is a happy thing, when itself is well contained within the true band of unity.
Meaning
Religion binds the members of a society contributing to the homogeneity of a community. The members feel as if they belong to a single group. Such convergence of thinking aids the unity of human beings.
Original
The quarrels, and divisions about religion, were evils unknown to the heathen. The reason was, because the religion of the heathen, consisted rather in rites and ceremonies, than in any constant belief.
Meaning
The people who were pagans with no well-defined faith or spiritual philosophy had no need to indulge in acrimony relating to religions and its tents. The pagans just performed some rites and weird ceremonies to satisfy their need for religiosity and spiritual solace.
Original
For you may imagine, what kind of faith theirs was, when the chief doctors, and fathers of their church, were the poets. But the true God hath this attribute, that he is a jealous God; and therefore, his worship and religion, will endure no mixture, nor partner.
Meaning
The pagans were bizarre in their perception of God, religion, and the ways to practice it. This is evident from the fact that the people who headed their places of worship were not acclaimed pundits of religion, but poets. Poets may have very creative minds and acumen to express their emotions in enchanting lines, but placing them on the pedestal of the head of a church is a grotesque proposition.
Original
We shall therefore speak a few words, concerning the unity of the church; what are the fruits thereof; what the bounds; and what the means.
Meaning
The prevalence of such aberrations among humans with regard to religious practices necessitates a delve into the benefits, limits, and core tenets of religion.
Original
The fruits of unity (next unto the well pleasing of God, which is all in all) are two: the one, towards those that are without the church, the other, towards those that are within.
Meaning
When people get united on the issue of religion, it pleases the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God. Unity brings down the barriers between those who repose faith in the church, and those who remain outside the reach of the church.
Original
For the former; it is certain, that heresies, and schisms, are of all others the greatest scandals; yea, more than corruption of manners. For as in the natural body, a wound, or solution of continuity, is worse than a corrupt humor; so in the spiritual. So that nothing, doth so much keep men out of the church, and drive men out of the church, as breach of unity.
Meaning
The people who are not under the sway of the church fall prey to hearsays, ill-founded beliefs, and similar besmirching influences that are scandalous in nature. These individuals unintentionally practice corrupt manners. The net effect is like the pain caused by a wound in the body, and having to live with a blighted and soiled spiritual sense. When the unity of religion is affected and reaches the breaking point, a good number of people are led astray to a world of ignorance, and depravity.
Original
And therefore, whensoever it cometh to that pass, that one saith, Ecce in deserto, another saith, Ecce in penetralibus; that is, when some men seek Christ, in the conventicles of heretics, and others, in an outward face of a church, that voice had need continually to sound in men’s ears, Nolite exire, – Go not out.
Meaning
As per the sayings in the two poems ‘Ecce in deserto’, and Ecce in penetralibus, when a person prays Christ secretly in the midst of those not having any faith in church, or standing before the church, the voice of Christ must ring continually in the worshipper’s ears. The devotee must not abandon his path.
Original
The doctor of the Gentiles (the propriety of whose vocation, drew him to have a special care of those without) saith, if an heathen come in, and hear you speak with several tongues, will he not say that you are mad?
Meaning
Suppose a person, pagan in nature, approaches a doctor of Christian faith and finds that the doctor holds varying opinions on religion, he would conclude that the doctor is of unsound mind.
Original
And certainly it is little better, when atheists, and profane persons, do hear of so many discordant, and contrary opinions in religion; it doth avert them from the church, and maketh them, to sit down in the chair of the scorners.
Meaning
The disunity in the church impacts its image and credibility among the general public. The hideous among them, who are uncivil, and dismissive about the existence of God, use the difference in opinion among the followers to mock the concept of Christianity and indulge in spiteful discourse.
Original
It is but a light thing, to be vouched in so serious a matter, but yet it expresseth well the deformity. There is a master of scoffing, that in his catalogue of books of a feigned library, sets down this title of a book, The Morris-Dance of Heretics. For indeed, every sect of them, hath a diverse posture, or cringe by themselves, which cannot but move derision in worldlings, and depraved politics, who are apt to contemn holy things.
Meaning
No doubt, the conduct of such non-believers can not be taken lightly. These immoral people indulge in acerbic arguments that easily descend into a rumpus. The so-called leader of this inane group sets up a library that has a copy of the book ‘The Morris Dance of Heretics’. As the name suggests, the core of these deviant humans is devoid of sound judgment and sagacity. They have no unanimity of views even with respect to the irrelevance of religion, and contradict one another vehemently. Their interaction is rancorous and very uncouth.
Original
As for the fruit towards those that are within; it is peace; which containeth infinite blessings. It establisheth faith; it kindleth charity; the outward peace of the church, distilleth into peace of conscience; and it turneth the labors of writing, and reading of controversies, into treaties of mortification and devotion.
Meaning
On the contrary, the believers who remain loyal to their church get to benefit from divine blessings. They enjoy peace, harmony, and prosperity in life. Their hearts are filled with benevolence and compassion. No matter how much they read about controversies and disagreements, they remain steadfast in their loyalty to their church. Their conscience guides them in the right path.
Original
Concerning the bounds of unity; the true placing of them, importeth exceedingly. There appear to be two extremes. For to certain zealants, all speech of pacification is odious. Is it peace, Jehu,? What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. Peace is not the matter, but following, and party.
Meaning
It is very important to define the extent and manner in which the church-goers ought to be united. There are some protagonists who have extreme views on enforcing discipline among the church goers. They feel, those who hold even a slightly different view about the divinity of church must be dealt with sternly. No compromise formula should be offered to them. The author cites the name of the Biblical warrior Jehu who dethroned the wicked king Ahab and ended his rule permanently. Ahab had deviated from the true Christian path by becoming an idolater. The orthodox followers of Church get inspiration from the way Jehu dealt with the deviant Ahad mercilessly.
Original
Contrariwise, certain Laodiceans, and lukewarm persons, think they may accommodate points of religion, by middle way, and taking part of both, and witty reconcilements; as if they would make an arbitrament between God and man.
Meaning
On the contrary, there are church-goers who adopt a softer, less-controversial approach with regard to allegiance to the faith. They try not to be abrasive to the other group, and want to prove their point through nuanced logic and civilized exchange of views.
Original
Both these extremes are to be avoided; which will be done, if the league of Christians, penned by our Savior himself, were in two cross clauses thereof, soundly and plainly expounded: He that is not with us, is against us; and again, He that is not against us, is with us; that is, if the points fundamental and of substance in religion, were truly discerned and distinguished, from points not merely of faith, but of opinion, order, or good intention. This is a thing may seem to many a matter trivial, and done already. But if it were done less partially, it would be embraced more generally.
Meaning
Francis Bacon feels that both the views with a gulf of difference separating them need to be avoided. The problem is either group adopts a black and white approach to one’s conviction that the church is supreme and infallible. The two groups instantly dismiss the other’s viewpoint, and treat them as hostile elements worthy of contempt. In such debates, the saner and benign aspects of Christianity are ignored in order to score a debating point, and portray the rival group in bad light. Bacon feels that toning down the rhetoric would be far more desirable than fuelling an acrimonious debate and widen the chasm within the religion.
Original
Of this I may give only this advice, according to my small model. Men ought to take heed, of rending God’s church, by two kinds of controversies. The one is, when the matter of the point controverted, is too small and light, not worth the heat and strife about it, kindled only by contradiction.
Meaning
Bacon feels that the difference in opinion that aggravates the rivalry between the two groups can at times be related to trivial issues. It’s better to avoid focusing on them. Blowing up such minor differences generates needless controversies, that can be quite bitter at the end.
Original
For, as it is noted, by one of the fathers, Christ’s coat indeed had no seam, but the church’s vesture was of divers colors; whereupon he saith, In veste varietas sit, scissura non sit; they be two things, unity and uniformity. The other is, when the matter of the point controverted, is great, but it is driven to an over-great subtilty, and obscurity; so that it becometh a thing rather ingenious, than substantial.
Meaning
Bacon mentions how certain religious leaders of the church plead for the institution to be all-embracing, with no barriers or divisions. People of diverse views should be accommodated in the church with a spirit of harmony and goodwill. In the same way, matters that are grave leading to wide gulf between rival groups, efforts should be made to moderate the divergence to take the sting out of the issue.
Original
A man that is of judgment and understanding, shall sometimes hear ignorant men differ, and know well within himself, that those which so differ, mean one thing, and yet they themselves would never agree. And if it come so to pass, in that distance of judgment, which is between man and man, shall we not think that God above, that knows the heart, doth not discern that frail men, in some of their contradictions, intend the same thing; and accepteth of both?
Meaning
A knowledgeable and enlightened person can easily see the futility of argumentation over matters related to church that ignorant persons often indulge in. After all, God above sees us, and understands us. He sees how ignorant individuals, despite knowing that God is all-pervasive and the sole Creator and Protector is present in all, including his feuding followers who differ over Him.
Original
The nature of such controversies is excellently expressed, by St. Paul, in the warning and precept, that he giveth concerning the same, Devita profanas vocum novitates, et oppositiones falsi nominis scientiae.
Meaning
The revered St. Paul duly warned the followers to steer clear of such odious discourse through his Devita profanas vocum novitates, et oppositiones falsi nominis scientiae.
Original
Men create oppositions, which are not; and put them into new terms, so fixed, as whereas the meaning ought to govern the term, the term in effect governeth the meaning.
Meaning
Many people have a propensity to create controversies for no good reason. They fashion the title in such a contentious way that others feel tempted to raise objection to them instead of focusing on the content.
Original
There be also two false peaces, or unities: the one, when the peace is grounded, but upon an implicit ignorance; for all colors will agree in the dark: the other, when it is pieced up, upon a direct admission of contraries, in fundamental points. For truth and falsehood, in such things, are like the iron and clay, in the toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image; they may cleave, but they will not incorporate.
Meaning
When peace is sought and achieved by the opponents, it can be done in two ways. First, one side can willfully stay ignorant of the arguments proffered by the opposing side, and assume that there is, therefore, no ground for discord. This is similar to the way different colors hide their hues in darkness. The other way is to highlight the differences and make them apparent to the general public. Yet, the warring factions can chose to gloss over the stark differences and try to show a façade of peace. Just as iron and clay can stick to each other, but no matter how long they remain like this, clay can not enter iron and vice versa. This is what happens when peace is attained by acknowledging and ignoring the stark differences between the opposing groups’ views.
Original
Concerning the means of procuring unity; men must beware, that in the procuring, or reuniting, of religious unity, they do not dissolve and deface the laws of charity, and of human society.
Meaning
While attempting to forge unity among disparate strands of faith, one must not lose sight of the universal values such as charity that have nurtured humanity from the beginning.
Original
There be two swords amongst Christians, the spiritual and temporal; and both have their due office and place, in the maintenance of religion.
Meaning
In order to safeguard their faith, Christians need to arm themselves with two different types of swords. One is the spiritual sword that gives the moral edge to one’s conviction. The other is the temporal sword which is a worldly object meant to physically defend oneself from assault.
Original
But we may not take up the third sword, which is Mahomet’s sword, or like unto it; that is, to propagate religion by wars, or by sanguinary persecutions to force consciences; except it be in cases of overt scandal, blasphemy, or intermixture of practice against the state; much less to nourish seditions; to authorize conspiracies and rebellions; to put the sword into the people’s hands; and the like; tending to the subversion of all government, which is the ordinance of God.
Meaning
There can be another type of sword known as Mahomet’s sword. It’s emblematic of violence, blood bath, coercion, subjugation and intimidation by naked use of force. This sword is a weapon of evil that militates against orderly existence of countries and their governments. The users of this abdominal weapon try to upend religious institutions, and administrations that are loyal to an established order.
Original
For this is but to dash the first table against the second; and so to consider men as Christians, as we forget that they are men. Lucretius the poet, when he beheld the act of Agamemnon, that could endure the sacrificing of his own daughter, exclaimed: Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum. What would he have said, if he had known of the massacre in France, or the powder treason of England? He would have been seven times more Epicure, and atheist, than he was.
Meaning
In the name of propagating religion, men often resort to evil deeds without realizing that they foster discord and friction within the followers’ groups.
Original
For as the temporal sword is to be drawn with great circumspection in cases of religion; so it is a thing monstrous to put it into the hands of the common people. Let that be left unto the Anabaptists, and other furies.
Meaning
Handing over the lethal sword to a common man is a fraught idea. A good deal of thought has to be devoted before deciding who will be entrusted to use the deadly sword.
Original
It was great blasphemy, when the devil said, I will ascend, and be like the highest; but it is greater blasphemy, to personate God, and bring him in saying, I will descend, and be like the prince of darkness; and what is it better, to make the cause of religion to descend, to the cruel and execrable actions of murthering princes, butchery of people, and subversion of states and governments?
Meaning
Those mortals who claim to have the aura of God around them do a very immoral and irreligious thing. It is still more an abhorrent idea to see a mortal to claim that he has descended from the heaven, and indulges in very dastardly actions. Such an impersonator indulges in the vilest of activities on earth.
Original
Surely this is to bring down the Holy Ghost, instead of the likeness of a dove, in the shape of a vulture or raven; and set, out of the bark of a Christian church, a flag of a bark of pirates, and assassins.
Meaning
If such a devious character indeed succeeds to hoodwink people that he has descended from heaven with all Godly attributes, the world will see immorality and hideousness of the worst kind. Churches will degenerate to be the centers of vice.
Original
Therefore it is most necessary, that the church, by doctrine and decree, princes by their sword, and all learnings, both Christian and moral, as by their Mercury rod, do damn and send to hell for ever, those facts and opinions tending to the support of the same; as hath been already in good part done.
Meaning
In order to ensure that such a calamity does not bedevil earth, the king, the churches, and the noble men must all pool their strength together to counter sternly the impersonators who claim divinity, but commit the most despicable acts.
Original
Surely in counsels concerning religion, that counsel of the apostle would be prefixed, Ira hominis non implet justitiam Dei. And it was a notable observation of a wise father, and no less ingenuously confessed; that those which held and persuaded pressure of consciences, were commonly interested therein., themselves, for their own ends.
Meaning
The noble men and women who act as the conscience-keepers to the human race must cling to their god-given qualities of good judgment and moral moorings.
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