Psychology and Preaching

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1918. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV THE MODERN MIND Is there a modern mind? The question must be answered in the affirmative; though it is not easy to define precisely the meaning of the phrase. Of course, there is no modern as contrasted with an ancient or primitive mind, if by the phrase one means the appearance of any new mental powers or functions. But there is no doubt that the typical modern man has points of view and modes of thought markedly different from those of men living under more primitive conditions. Normally he reacts in a different way to almost every situation which calls forth in him any conscious response. To describe and explain as accurately and adequately as space will permit these different mental attitudes and tendencies is the purpose of this chapter. But at the outset we must call attention to the fact that we have among us persons who represent almost every degree of approximation to the modern attitude of mind. Many occupy yet almost the original, primitive point of view; and few minds, perhaps, have been wholly weaned away from the primitive attitude, because the conditions which have brought about so important a readjustment of the mental focus have arisen in comparatively recent times. Those conditions are the profound changes which have taken place in every aspect of the environment in which men live. Broadly speaking there are two general factors of the environment in which men live -- the natural and the human. By the natural is meant the conditions and forces of nature unmodified and uncontrolled by man. The human phase of the environment has three elements: first, the human beings composing the group with which one stands related; second, human institutions -- those relatively fixed systems of relations in which men are organized; third, natural ob...