New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-05-26
Religion in Association.


We feel constrained to interrupt the course OF
our practical explanations for two three articles
in order to give some idea of our views upon Re-
gon. great many persons, who have heard Of
our principles imagine very enormously, that In
fidelity or lrrcligion is connected with them, and
that in the end we shall come out and attack Re-
ligion. We must do away with this false i'm
preston. Our Doctrines are also cOniounded with
those of Owen and Fanny Wright, to which they
have no resemblance, but from which they as
distinct As day from night. The best proof of This
is, that both those persons have violently attacked
the principles of Fourier.
If we had space to enter into a philosophical
examination of the subject, we could show clearly
that conplc,c and radical difference exists be-
tween their social views and the Social System
which we advocate. They who assert that our
Social Principles are the same "a those OF Owen,
express a hap-hazsrd opinion, based upon lgno-
lance and they utter what is false. If they re-
| spcct Truth, let them refrain from outrasing il.
| There are great many ardent minded men in
Society engaged in the work of Reform who arr
intent only combating, on tearing down OF de-
nyng. We may offend them in saying what
shall, but We wish to offend no Glass, we re-
quest them to examine fully our Doctrine, and not
be governed by the prejudces of the moment.
There is nothing i'll opinion condemnable
a, that shallow inhdcltv, that superficial doubling
| criticism, which denies without ever affirming,
which disbelievcs because it cannot comprehend,
and which, without having reflected sufficiently on
the subject be able to separate Sectarianism
from Religious Unity, and the abuses of Fanaticism
from true Religion, sweeps away at one brush be-
lief in all those mighty problcms,-such as the SUI
pervision of wise Providence, the Immortality
of the Soul, the Unity of Man with God and the
Universe which the Human Race have so long
chung and with s.ch an abiding force. There arc
great many strong feeling Minds which,-sickened
at the duplicity, hypocrisy and sectaran conflicts
which exist in Society, bet not seeing the cause. OF
division and strile,-proscribc and denonce en-
,irelv the Religious Sentiment and Religion, which
j. the external manifestation of that Sentiment.
They should study until they acquire that nielli-
gen, impartality which would lead them to sepa-
rate the abuses which are so often committed IN
the name of Religion from Religion itself, and see
that Social Order can be established upon the
Earth. in which, with the aid of thorough, uni
versal Education and the Social Elevation OF the
whole Family of Man, the Religious Sentiment
can expand and bloom in all its purity; and Truth
and Unity with their Harmony and Tolerance, re-
place Hypocrisy and Exclusiveness with their
Antipa,hies, Denuncis,ions and spirit of Discord
and Prescription.
We believe the Religious Sentiment TO be the
deepest, most universal Sentiment in Man. 1t Is
the attes,ation of the Tie which exists between
him and God the proof that he is link in the
mighty chain of Creation. that he has an indie
pendent function to perform in the Universe, and
is cooperator with God in some way in NAM
tanning the Harmony and Order OF the Whole. A.
Friendship leads Man 10 commune with his fellow
Man. so the Religious Sentiment leads him to COM
mune with God and hi. universal Harmonies, and
to feel that the whole Universe is his home and
no, alone the speck Of earth that he Is now i'r
brief space of time, inhabting
We believe in the Immortality OF the Soul. or
i. one of the leading features and an essential part
of our Doctrine: we are ashamed 10 have to state
tia, we believe in it, when it is in fact one OF the
main principles on which our system Is based but
AS a great many preludiccd or misIniormed per
sons suppose the contrary, we must state our be-
lief explicitly In all his works Fourier has de-
voted a considerable space to this great question
he has proved it scientifically, which serves as an
auxiliary confirmation Of the revealed proofs which
Religion furnishes u.s. He brings seven orders OF
scientific proofs to demonstrate it, which he doe,
fully and beyond all possibility OF denial They
are very valuable they will convince those per-
sons who, from opposition to Religion, reject the
grcs, dogma of Immortality. When we have
finished our descriptions of the Practical Organ
| ization of Association, shall enter into some
| explanations of me Immortality OF the Soul and
| other questions of high order. As we may not
| nave space to do so for some time, II has been
| decided by the FOURIER ASSOCIATION TO give Il
Series of Lectures a, their Hall for some Sunday
evenings to come on the subject of the Religious
Foundation of Association and its relation to
| Christianity.
we believe that the various sects into which
Christianity is divided, contain each more or less
e ;,s universal Truth, but not all of 1t. Chris
tani,y il, in conviction, superior to any one OF
them isoatcdly. They are tragmen'a expressions
| Of the grea, Whole, which must be united. We
believe ,ba, Mankind are destined TO Unity OF
| Religious Belief; but SO long As the Mass are
poor and ignorant,-and as consequence moran!
aud intellectually degradcd,-a rude ianatislsm'
.ow order Of Religious Belief, and the bindes'
Sectsriani.m will find access among Them I'M
IS the reason why such sects as the Nor mons
Shakers and others start up and find numerous
llhcrents, and why the divine Doctrine OF Chr's
is split up into a hundred fragments. which are II