A good many admirers of Professor Otto's Idea of the
Holy—on the whole the most influential book upon religious fundamentals which has appeared in England since the War— will probably suffer a severe disappointment when they examine his Naturalism and Religion (Williams & Norgate, 6s.). Nothing on dust cover or title page prepares us for the inconspicuous announcement within : " First published 1907 "—or for the entirely out-of-date preface, rather timidly introducing to English readers as a thinker " well known on the Continent " a name which is now familiar to all who take the slightest interest in theology. The book has a present interest, as showing the lines along which the great prophet of the Numinous has developed ; and the definite trend towards supernaturalism in its noblest sense, which has been present in his mind from the first. Here he already appears as the defender of the non-rational in religion, an exponent of the mysterious and unsearchable element in our experience. The contrast between religion and naturalism remains a living issue for theology ; and indeed it is probable that the decisive battles of the future will be fought on this field. It is evidence of Professor Otto's spiritual insight that he already discerned this, at a time when the whole trend of apologetic was towards the rationalizing of faith: But the biological situation is now very different from that which he analysed so ably at the beginning of the century ; and many of his arguments have consequently lost their point. We can hardly suppose that he would have desired the reissue in its present form and without explanation of a work which broke fresh ground when first published, but is now to a considerable extent out of date.
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