New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-04

1he great intellectual movement which the authOl
Of this volume has undertaken TO describe is, IL
many Of It's aspects one of The most important Ill th
history Of human thought. Commencing with th'
Reformation in the sixteenth century, but remain
ing for more than hundred years in he state o
dormant germs, it sprang into vigorous life undo
the influence of Descsrtes and Spinoza, and since
the time of those philosophers has been perhaps th
most significant feature in the progress Of opinion
from the middle os the eighteenth century. 1h
essence Of Rationalsm, in its most comprehensive
1ense, is the application of the principle of FREE
inquiry to the doctrines of religion as embodied il
the traditional creeds formulas confessions o
faith and other theological symbols in the Christian
Church. According TO this view Of the subject, th
torn indicates method, rather than system,
process Of examination rather than collection o
results criticism of the ancient established
beliefs Of the Church, rather than the adoption o
anew creed, or the formation Of new sect. Tn,
name is applied to thinkers Of the widest diyersit!
Sf opinion, from the adhercnts TO supernatural
miraculous revelation in Christianity, Ike many O
The most eminent theolosans in Germany ant
France and most Of the so-called liberal divines II
England and the United States, to writer's Ike
Senler, Eichhorn. and Psulus, who explain the
miracles of the Old and New Testaments on natural
principles, or Strauss, Theodore Parker and Renan'
yho ind in them series Of beautiful aid significant
,nythcol fancics or Inventions intended TO express
shefeelings elaboration and love which were excited
in The minds Of a susceptible Oriental race by the
presence of the founder of Christianity. The term,
ty an easy transition, is also made to include The
class of thinkers, like Feuerbach, Conte and other
defenders Of virtual mateIiasm, who not only
deny the divine origin Of Christianity, but call IN
question the validity of the religious sentiment in
Gan.
The only point Of agreement among the thinkers
alluded TO is tho supremacy Of reason the rational
human faculties, as the ultimate test of truth.
Hence, the term Rationalist is Of convenient use
10 designate their generic character, although no
specific unity can be predca;ed Of their multiform
speculatons. In some of their writings, we find q
sgid logical defense Of what Ill Christian belcv-
sTs admit as vital principles Of religion, tender
Ind exquisite vein of piety, profound reverence
aud love for the person OF Jesus Christ, and un-
feigned belief in tho Scriptural facts recorded Of
Sis history. Others, on the contrary, are the
vehement antagonists Of whatever is precious and
venerable u the traditions Of The Church, criticiz-
ing with ruthless severity her most cherished
symbols, and zealousy defending tbs religion Of
nature aud reason, es Of superior value, Of more
truthful contents, and of more Legitimate authority,
tban the accredited ecclesiastical teachings Of
centuries. But they ell unite in believing that no
opinion is too sacred for examination, that doc
fgine cen claim immunity from criticism, and
that whatever creed or article OF faith cannot sus-
safn tho test of reason, is doomed to perish with
Sire progress Of humanity and the enlightenment Of
the race.
But, although destitute Of the usual elements Of
NIFTY which characterize a collective body of be-
heyers thinkers, the Rationelist movement ol
The process of free inquiry as applied 10 the doc
frnes of religion, has been fruitful il consequences
AZ the most pregnant import Its history involves
fhe development of theology, philosophy, politics
and even industry and social condition, for nearly
fyo centuries, among the most enlightened nations
al Chrstendom. In order to master its progress
ard significance, far wider range of study and
research is needed, and subtle power OF phi
losopbical reflection and discrimination, than are
spparent in the present crude and superficial VOL
rme. The writer is entitled to the credit Of excel
Ient intentions, he eyinccs sincere faith that his
work is of vast importance to the interests Of
religion, he has collected al extensive mass Of ma
serisls. and he writes in style of singular conf
Sence and fuency. IL the expression Of his own
opinions, be is sufficiently candid; if he is often
presumptuous and rash in his statements, he is TO
gTeat degree exempt from controversial bitterness
but his information is evidently imperfect mostly
derived from secondary sources, often incorrect ant
more often defective, and totally inadequate to tht
demands Of the subject In respect to the meta
physical acumea and insight which arc essential Il
she comprehension of the great sys,ens Of phiiosO
ply which he attempts to unfold his incapacity il
perhaps still more manifest. Some Of the leading
minds in the history OF the intellectual movement
Al question are passed over with few insppTecia
tive words; others are ignored altogether; while
,he instances are rare in which the tree position
system 10 recognized. and still rarer in which 1T
principles are analyzed or its influence described
with profoundess aud precision. Had the work ap
peared with less ambition. pretense It's inadequac!
would have been less conspicuous; as series o
popular literary sketches, though containing fire.
guent passages in questionable taste, it might have
teen read with certain degree Of satisfaction; but
FuifOtinB N"Dc oHlctOls VI iHVFVA4S-ltOi VI
whose roots date from Martin Luther, and whose
consequences are intcrwoyen with the deepest and
most vital interests Of the age, It's effect on the i'll
telligent reader 10 that Of psrpetrSl disappoint
MeDt.
The course Of the Ra.ionalist movement in Eu
rope is divided into two principal branches, the
critical and the philosophical. The former had fol
Ats object the investigation of the character Of the
Holy Scriptures their origin and composition thei,