
audiobook
PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.
PREFACE TO SIXTH EDITION
PHASES OF FAITH. - CHAPTER I. - MY YOUTHFUL CREED.
CHAPTER II. - STRIVINGS AFTER A MORE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY.
CHAPTER III. - CALVINISM ABANDONED.
CHAPTER IV. - THE RELIGION OF THE LETTER RENOUNCED.
CHAPTER V. - FAITH AT SECOND HAND FOUND TO BE VAIN.
CHAPTER VI. - HISTORY DISCOVERED TO BE NO PART OF RELIGION.
CHAPTER VII. - ON THE MORAL PERFECTION OF JESUS.
CHAPTER VIII. - ON BIGOTRY AND PROGRESS.
A thoughtful, introspective work that traces one man’s shifting relationship with faith, presented as a series of personal “phases.” Written in a candid, almost conversational style, it blends memoir with philosophical reflection, inviting listeners to follow a mind wrestling with doctrine, history, and the limits of belief. The author frames his story as both a defense of his own convictions and a broader challenge to the idea that fixed creeds can measure spiritual worth.
The narrative opens in childhood, recalling the first secret prayers whispered at eleven and the earnest attempts to fit a youthful creed taught by school and an evangelical mentor. By his mid‑teens, he confronts the tension between the comforting certainty of scripture and the unsettling questions about divine justice that begin to surface. These early experiences set the stage for a careful examination of how faith can both shape and be reshaped by learning and critical thought.
Through vivid recollections and measured argument, the book offers a window into the personal struggles that accompany any profound reassessment of one’s spiritual path, making it a compelling listen for anyone curious about the interplay of intellect and belief.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (526K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1805–1897
A restless Victorian thinker, he wrote across religion, ethics, language, and social reform, always pushing against easy answers. His life took him from Oxford scholarship and missionary travel to public advocacy for causes including vegetarianism.
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