And so it is in things divine. It is far better — yea, the only normal way for the disciple (learner) to blunder along slowly rather than to have imposed on him more than he can assimilate. It is far, far, better for the pupil to hold erroneous ideas for a while, if maintaining a teachable attitude, than for him to receive and memorize formulas that to him is incomprehensible. The imposition of doctrinal forms above what has been assimilated has made out of thousands of believers harsh sectarian contenders of credal correctness, and has brought the inner spiritual life into a state of stagnation. This condition is the ideal breeding ground of dissension and strife — and there is plenty of it.
Let us remember that even the most vital, the most fundamental, the most imperatively important divine truths can be made into "petrified dogmatism." Then let us give each saint a chance to develop and grow normally. It is not hothouse plants we want, but natural, normal and spiritual believers. Real life always makes its own forms, it needs no artificial pressure.
E. A. Larsen
