Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-11-17
Ez - Is
The Religious Destiny Of the World
A Rrief Discourse,
BY ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS.

|
The friends Of progress should always
/ be able TO read that greatest Of all chapters
in Creation-Me condition Of the human
'oorfd. 1t concerns every body; because
the world is composed OF individuals. And
If those who stand upon the summit of the
hill are incapable of seeing the broad ex
tent of humanity that surrounds them, then
who shall 60 to the contemplation The
whole world, as a general thing, sees future
events through the eyes of very few per.
sons. Indeed, it is almost true to say that,
considered in the HISTORICAL sense, the en-.
tire bod of mankind has but Two eyes or
mediums through which 10 contemplate the
condition, ol thugs namely: Politics and
Religion.
On this occasion, let US look at the world
through the medium of Religion. My i'm.
pressions upon this subject may be brifn ny
written-l, therefore, solicit your clearesl
discernment 10 the following points: # is
we'll known to all the inhabitants Of Chris
tendon that the world is full Of seclarion
jargon and bitterness And lat very con
spicuously before The world are arrayed,
two bitter and uncompromising forces, viz:
| ProteStaniSm and Catholicism.
In order to bring these religious ins,ilu
tions distinctly before your minds. | will
describe their leading characteristics 7'.l >
| Catholscasm is S, stem OF Supernatural
ism. 1t claims t. be the 7"One, Holy,
Catholic, Apostolic Church"-based upon
supernatural authority, claiming unendng
iniallibiIily' II denies the right Of inditid.
nal Judgement upon re iigious subjects; but
| incuicales the ulrtueS, CHARITIES and hos
psta!atiss Of Christianity through The ngt n
cy Of popes, bishops, and priests, !" 10 profess
to have their authority direct from The SUI
perna.ural source " 54' 90" "
ProteStaniSm is also q system Of super
naturalism--l mean when considered us
whole. II claims to have discovered the
true import of the Sacred Scriptures Ii
is based upon supernatural foundation
but encourages the right Of private judge
ment upon all subjects pertaining TO religion
and conscience. 1t likewise inculcates The
ririues and charities Of SChristianity
through The medium oi.clergymeE, schools
and colleges. 5.s H. aes..,. .5=.,...
Now, am not impressed to consider the
minor points oil either Catholicism. or
PfotestanaSna, nor the different views which
one party or the other entertain CONCERN
ing the truest methods oil biblical lnterere-
talon. For there have already been TOO
many churches built, and 100 many salaries
paid, to have these small and insignificant
affairs discussed. But have 10 do only
with The foundation upon which these two
very popular institutions stand. 1t is essen-
lia 10 understand here, what is very gene.
rally overlooked, that both Of these ggan.
tic religious organizations are struggling TO
maintain an everlasting position upon The
same identical basis here is one loun-
dalion; and it is not large enough to sus-
tain two such stupendous and inharmonious
superstruclures. Hence, it inevitably fol
lows that one or the other, or both, must
fall (orev err leaving the ground TO be
occupied by one only. Now, the question
is, which of these religious institutions is
first destined to decay. l-.f .s-. s...=
Let US leave this question unanswered
for a few moments, and turn our thoughts
in another direction. ..
1t is we'll known by the clergy and peo-
pie generally of the present day, tha, there
is rapidly growing spirit of rationatastic
or philosophical Christianity There is
The Harmonlal Philosophy. 1t stands upon
the rerelations Of Nature and upon the
foundations OF the highest form OF Reason.
1t does not DENY the rartues, charities,
trmbs,or H6eralities of any known religion;
bu, simply rejects every thing which claims
to be intrinsically based upon The miracu
Ious or supernatural. i looks upon the
moraisms and precePts of Christianity as a
natural development or a we'll balanced
mind or more properly rs an unfolding
Of ruth in The general progress of mankind.
1t regards all the real miracles, prophetic
powers, &c, as explained upon philosophi
cal principles, and holds to the doctrine of
human progress, and r universal improve
ment in the constitution of things. @ ss
Now it will be perceived that the decla.
ratiops and positions Of this Philosophy are
clear, and positively antagonists TO both
Protestanism and Catholicism. Ii is essen
lal that YOU keep your minds now upon
this point. [ say the ralionalism Of this
forms of religious beliefs. Because, as |
before snid, the quarrel between Protestant
ism and Catholicism is sustained on the de-
sire which one party hos to. supplant and
transcend the other. For they stand upon
the same foundation. Supernatural re-.
ligion based upon and supported by miracles
equally supernatural. is the basis Of both
uperstruclures. There is no denying this
plain fac.. would not be understood 10