Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-14
religion and Reason.

Theology, neither in Its widest nor in
lis most limiteted aspects, has ever been
4 progressive science. Astronomy,
chemistry and geology have grown, from
year to year. by slow PROFESSIONS, into
separate aggregations of settled princi-
pies, acknowledged and employed by
men everywhere. Not so with theology.
Religious sects are as numerous rs the
DAYS of tue year, yet they all, in civilized
communities, base their forms of belief
and modes of worship, to greater or
less extent, upon the Holy Sculptures
Even those who profess to take the Bible
as tho sole foundation of their faith,
differ among themselves rs widely as
day from night. While one denomina-
ton finds in its pages ample evidences
Of eternal punishment for deeds done in
the boiy, another denomination finds
satisfactory testimony against the doc
trine Of n future bell. The Presbyter-
isns, and other sects hold that there is a
trinity Of equal persons in the Supreme
Being; the Unitarians and Universalists
hold that there is not. The Baptists
maintain flat immersion is tho Only
scriptu-al mode of baptism; the Episco-
palians insist that confirmation is a nee
essary Lart Of Christian life; the Roman
Catholics affirm that the bread and wine
in the eucharist are converted into the
BODY and blood Of Christ.
The world seems to be no nearer
than it was centuries ago to an agree
ment about the doctrines taught by the
Bible. Men whose lives have been Of
Llameless beauty. whose genius has been
cultivated 20 the highest aitainablo per
fiction, whose views regarding questions
Of science are Identical, conflict the mo-
ment they enter the domains of theology.
No intellect was clearer, no character
lurer than that Of Sir Thomas Moore,
vet be was implicated in the alleged i'm
posture Of the nun Of Kent, whom lie
believed to DO Inspired. Few men have
moro good sense than William Penn,
yet lie had religious scrup'es about wear
inr his hat. Some years ago a distin-
Cuished lawyer OF South Carolina paid
$500 to a New York fortune teller for
an amulet which he priced very highly
for its assumed virtues, and which Ia
wore suspended from his neck as pro
lection from Satanic influences. 1t Las
been but a few weeks since another law
yer, q gentlemen of intellect and stand
inc in s.. Louis, wrote lei.er express
ING the opinion that his daughter had
been miraculously cured Of an AGATE
disease BY the application Of the relic Of
some Roman Catholic saint.
The domain Of theology, in its widest
application, IS not the domain of thC
reasoning powers, else, in Ill the year;
gone, mankind would gradually, bu,
surely and visibly, have been approach.
ing q common ground where there would
be no dissent, rs in tbs case Of astrono
my, chemistry and geology. Instead O.
STAT, as time marches on, the p0.9ts o.
separation become more numerous
Sects, representing tie widest notions Of
right and wrong, or based upon the
most illogical assumptions, are accepted
by thousands, MANY of whom arc edu
Gated aud intelligent. as the opponents o.
their religious feelings, and As then
roads to home in the Celestial CITY
The Hiud1o mother. Who cast her babe
into the waters Of the Cilng,s rs au
offering TO the spirits of iis waters, felt
rs certain that sho dl Alright as the mis-
sionary who afteFward plunged into thc
stream 10 rescue tho child from q watery
grave. Each was Mortified at the pro
rae-li.-r. If rI,n nthnr