| A huge locomotive has rushed on over the line | | | | all is bound and no freedom is possible, |
| and a small worm that was creeping upon one | | | | because there is no intelligence. This |
| of the rails saved its life by crawling out | | | | freedom that distinguishes us from mere |
| of the path of the locomotive. Yet this | | | | machines is what we are all striving for. To |
| little worm, so insignificant that it can be | | | | be more free is the goal of all our efforts, |
| crushed in a moment, is a living something, | | | | for only in perfect freedom can there be |
| while this locomotive,so huge,so immense,is | | | | perfection. This effort to attain freedom |
| only an engine, a machine. You say the one | | | | underlies all forms of worship,whether we |
| has life and the other is only dead matter | | | | know it or not. |
| and all its powers and strength and speed are | | | | |
| only those of a dead machine,a mechanical | | | | If we were to examine the various sorts of |
| contrivance. Yet the poor little worm which | | | | worship all over the world, we would see that |
| moved upon the rail and which the least touch | | | | the rudest of mankind are worshipping ghosts, |
| of the engine would have deprived of its life | | | | demons, and the spirits of their forefathers |
| is a majestic being compared to that huge | | | | -- serpent worship, worship of tribal |
| locomotive. | | | | gods,and worship of the departed ones. Why do |
| | | | they do this? Because they feel that in some |
| It is a small part of the Infinite | | | | unknown way these beings are greater,more |
| and,therefore, it is greater than this | | | | powerful than themselves, and limit their |
| powerful engine. Why should that be so? How | | | | freedom. They,therefore,seek to propitiate |
| do we know the living from the dead? The | | | | these beings in order to prevent them from |
| machine mechanically performs all the | | | | molesting them, in other words,to get more |
| movements its maker made it to perform, its | | | | freedom. They also seek to win favor from |
| movements are not those of life. How can we | | | | these superior beings, to get by gift of the |
| make the distinction between the living and | | | | gods what ought to be earned by personal |
| the dead,then? In the living there is | | | | effort. |
| freedom,there is intelligence; in the dead | | | | |