One of the least understood things in christian philosophy is the problem of evil; and one of the things least adequately dealt with in the christian ethics the problem of force, or severity, as contrasted with mercy and mildness. Consequently Geburah, the fifth sephirah, which has for aditional titles Din (Justice)and Pachad (fear), is one of the least understood of all the sephiroth, and is therefore one of the most important. Geburah holds the central position on the pillar of severity; it therefore represents the katabolic, or downbreaking aspect of force. Katabolism, be it remembered is that aspect of metabolism, or the life process, which is concerned with the release of force in activity. It has been said that good is that which is constructive, which builds up, and evil is that which is destructive, which breaks down. How false this philosophy is we see when we try to classify, according to this principle, a cancer and a disinfectant. Geburah is the celestial surgeon , he is the night in shining armour, the dragon slayer; beutiful as a bride groom in his streangth to the maiden in distress, though no doudt the dragon would have prefered a little more love. Too much charity is the handiwork of a fool; too much patience is the hall mark of a coward. How badly do we need the spartan values of Geburah in this age of sentimentality and neuroses. How many break-downs would be saved if this celestial surgion were permited to make the clean cut that has a chance to heal, and so avoid the deadly compromise and irresolution that is like an open wound and so goes septic.

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