Page:The Spirit of Russia by T G Masaryk, volume 2.pdf/547

Rh general that since Shakespeare the greatest imaginative writers and artists have been Protestants, have been that is to say far more distinctively Protestant than the great imaginative writers and artists among the Catholics have been Catholic. What I wish to convey is that such an artist as Michelangelo created rather in a secular and humanist than in a Catholic sense.

Passing now to the domain of morality, it would seem expedient that first of all this much disputed problem should be succinctly stated. I, at least, do not contend that Protestant peoples are in all respects more moral than Catholic; but I should formulate the outcome of my observations and studies by saying that the morality of Protestantism is higher than the morality of Catholicism, and this not merely in so far as a higher culture is requisite for a higher morality, but because Protestant morality and religion are per se of a loftier character. To put the matter more precisely, Protestantism is the endeavour to secure loftier religion and morality. The use of the term "endeavour" gives expression to my reserves, for the great and long-lasting epoch of transition from the middle ages is not peculiar to Catholicism. Protestantism, too, exhibits much that is inchoate and much that is defective.

In the sense and scope thus defined, the intimate relationship between Protestantism and democracy can be historically and philosophically established and elucidated. But it is as well to point out in set terms that when I speak of Protestantism I am not thinking solely of the orthodox system of the confessions and the reformers. Protestantism developed from within in contrast to stationary Catholicism, and we can watch this development in its ecclesiastical schisms and in the evolution of theology to become philosophy. The philosophic ideals of humanitarianism and naturalness (natural religion, natural morals, natural law, natural reason, and state of nature in general (cf. §§ 42 and 43), developed in the sense of the reformation and were a continuance of its trend. Upon this basis were established the democratic ideals of liberty, equality, and