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thus assigned to Religion supposes the State already to exist； and that subsequently； in order to
maintain it； Religion must be brought into it … buckets and bushels as it were … and impressed upon
people's hearts。 It is quite true that men must be trained to religion； but not as to something whose
existence has yet to begin。 For in affirming that the State is based on Religion … that it has its roots
in it … we virtually assert that the former has proceeded from the latter； and that this derivation is
going on now and will always continue； i。e。； the principles of the State must be regarded as valid in
and for themselves； which can only be in so far as they are recognised as determinate
manifestations of the Divine Nature。 The form of Religion； therefore； decides that of the State and
its constitution。 The latter actually originated in the particular religion adopted by the nation； so
that； in fact； the Athenian or the Roman State was possible only in connection with the specific
form of Heathenism existing among the respective peoples； just as a Catholic State has a spirit and
constitution different from that of a Protestant one。
§ 54
If that outcry … that urging and striving for the implantation of Religion in the munity … were an
utterance of anguish and a call for help； as it often seems to be； expressing the danger of religion
having vanished； or being about to vanish entirely from the State； … that would be fearful indeed …
worse in fact than this outcry supposes； for it implies the belief in a resource against the evil； viz。；
the implantation and inculcation of religion； whereas religion is by no means a thing to be so
produced； its self…production （and there can be no other） lies much deeper。
§ 55
Another and opposite folly which we meet with in our time is that of pretending to invent and carry
out political constitutions independently of religion。 The Catholic confession； although sharing the
Christian name with the Protestant； does not concede to the State an inherent Justice and
Morality； … a concession which in the Protestant principle is fundamental。 This tearing away of the
political morality of the Constitution from its natural connection； is necessary to the genius of that
religion； inasmuch as it does not recognise Justice and Morality as independent and substantial。
But thus excluded from intrinsic worth； … torn away from their last refuge … the sanctuary of
conscience … the calm retreat where religion has its abode； … the principles and institutions of
political legislation are destitute of a real centre； to the same decree as they are pelled to
remain abstract and indefinite。
§ 56
Summing up what has been said of the State； we find that we have been led to call its vital
principle； as actuating the individuals who pose it； … Morality。 The State； its laws； its
arrangements； constitute the rights of its members； its natural features； its mountains； air； and
waters； are their country； their fatherland； their outward material property； the history of this
State； their deeds； what their ancestors have produced； belongs to them and lives in their
memory。 All is their possession； just as they are possessed by it； for it constitutes their existence；
their being。
§ 57
Their imagination is occupied with the ideas thus presented； while the adoption of these laws； and
of a fatherland so conditioned is the expression of their will。 It is this matured totality which thus
constitutes one Being； the spirit of one People。 To it the individual members belong； each unit is
the Son of his Nation； and at the same time … in as far as the State to which he belongs is
undergoing development … the Son of his Age。 None remains behind it； still less advances beyond
it。 This spiritual Being （the Spirit of his Time） is his； he is a representative of it； it is that in which he
originated； and in which he lives。 Among the Athenians the word Athens had a double import；
suggesting primarily； a plex of Political institutions； but no less； in the second place； that
Goddess who represented the Spirit of the People and its unity。 This Spirit of a People is a
determinate and particular Spirit； and is； as just stated； further modified by the degree of its
historical development。 This Spirit； then； constitutes the basis and substance of those other forms
of a nation's consciousness； which have been noticed。 For Spirit in its self…consciousness must
bee a object of contemplation to itself； and objectivity involves； in the first instance； the rise of
differences which make up a total of distinct spheres of objective spirit； in the same way as the
Soul exists only as the plex of its faculties； which in their form of concentration in a simple
unity produce that Soul。 It is thus One Individuality which； presented in its essence as God； is
honoured and enjoyed in Religion； which is exhibited as an object of sensuous contemplation in
Art； and is apprehended as an intellectual conception in Philosophy。 In virtue of the original
identity of their essence； purport； and object； these various forms are inseparably united with the
Spirit of the State。 Only in connection with this particular religion can this particular political
constitution exist； just as in such or such a State； such or such a Philosophy or order of Art。
§ 58
The remark next in order is； that each particular National genius is to be treated as only One
Individual in the process of Universal History。 For that history is the exhibition of the divine；
absolute development of Spirit in its highest forms； … that gradation by which it attains its truth and
consciousness of itself。 The forms which these grades of progress assume are the characteristic
〃National Spirits〃 of History； the peculiar tenor of their moral life； of their Government； their Art；
Religion； and Science。 To realise these grades is the boundless impulse of the World…Spirit … the
goal of its irresistible urging； for this division into organic members； and the full development of
each； is its Idea。 … Universal History is exclusively occupied with showing how Spirit es to a
recognition and adoption of the Truth： the dawn of knowledge appears； it begins to discover
salient principles； and at last it arrives at full consciousness。
§ 59
Having； therefore； learned the abstract characteristics of the nature of Spirit； the means which it
uses to realise its Idea； and the shape assumed by it in its plete realisation in phenomenal
existence … namely； the State … nothing further remains for this introductory section to contemplate
but 。。。
III。 Philosophic History
iii。 The course of the World's History
§ 60
The mutations which history presents have been long characterised in the general； as an advance
to something better； more perfect。 The changes that take place in Nature — how infinitely manifold
soever they may be — exhibit only a perpetually self…repeating