The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-06
The Use ofRoa ason in Religion.

thing that excludes The use OF reason
But nothing can be farther from The
truth. II the Christian religion die
not stand the test of reason then j
might well he ahandored by all think
ing men. But it does not now suC
never has shruck from the test OF the
most educated and learned miuds, On
the contrary it invites the learned tc
examine its evidences and the ground:
for truth to see whether they are
not 'ouuded 10 reason and in fact.
No reasonable person protesting
Christianity will shrink for
moment from submitting it
to the tests o. resson. Aud ifit ca n
be shown not to be founded on reas on
no one would rejoice more than those
corfiiDg to its promises for their sal-
walton. No one is doing his duty 10
himself or bis duty to religion, tha;
does not use what reason he may pos
sesa, be that more or less, in examining
the grounds on which Christ'aDity
rests its claims Tor acceptance. And il
it will not stand the tests of an enhght-
ened and searching reason, then II
ought to be abandoned. God never de'
signed that meL should lay aside their
reason when becoming Christians. II
religion ever came from God, it will, as
a matter OF coursc, be found TO accord
with the highest attachments o' reason.
And if it did not come from him then
we may fad discrepancies and absur-
dities and contradictions both with itseII
and with reason, which would WarrsUt
it's overthrow.
IfChrisliauity g from God then We
NAV expect that it will enlist many Of
the most honest and most enlightened
minds in its defense. l. rot. then we
will see the most honest and cu'i.hten-
ed minds arrayed against IT,
But bow has this been in the history
Of the past? Let the reader examine
rhis matter for bimself or il be
has rot the opportunity OF examining E
the subject for himself in the
light OF all the science and crlu-
cism Of the present day, let him examine
On which side o. this question the
maiori;v of the honest aud enlightened
minds o' the present day have arrayed
Themselves This will OF course be OF
some weight in determining whether
rel Q on Will stand the tests OF reason
Il religion is going to stand the lest o.
the ,urure it mus, do it in the same
.marner in which it has stood the test
OF the past, 10y bringing the most en-
ligh;enel and educated men to its dee
tense
And here It is important to keep
mind who arc the most enlightened and
.ducsted men Maniestly those who
have taken the greatest pains TO be
come acquainted with all sides Of the
subject. Who have studied both the
violence for and the arguments against
Christianity. NJ man can claim &c
i've an enlightened opinion who has
no, done tile II is to be feared thai
too raanv infdels have arrayed them
splvss against the 3 h'e and arrayed
science egainat, who have never studi.d
the Bible carefully, nor the evidence IN
it. favor Snpposing that religion ws'
entirely q matter OF faith and not OF ev'
idence or reason, they have never
given il their care'u thought q course
anv who have acted in this way are not
&, iudses Of the truth OF religion
90 the contrary some may
have rushed to the defense OF religion
and disparaged both reason and science
This is not less candid than the courst
OF the former Enlightened reasor
should always receive established iacn
on whichever eide OF the question they
he found. When men pursue thu
course religion has nothing TO fear
Whether the leading iufdel anthor'
ofthp present day have done this NAV
easily be judged rom the manner II
which they speak OF Bible facts and In
|
rerpret scripture teachings.
One thing should be carefully guard
ed against, and Il at i5 accepting for er
tablished iac;s 10 Pcience what, as yet
$ onlv theory. Scientific theories on,
become established facts when they sr'
generally accepted by men Of science
Until this is done 10 theory ought t
he received as an established tact, or b
allowed any considerable weight il
forming our religious views. This
the case with Darwinrsm. AS yet It
] bu, a theory, verv plausible 10 some bu
not 10 others But lev Of the men o
: Science yet accept It or accord any res
3 son to it. Proof 10 this may be seen !
e the fact that the R0ysl Soc ETY. OF Eel
4 lows for Scientific Inves;igsuon !
France refused TO admit Darwin to il
! membership, onlv few weeks since
on the ground that biz theories wer
! not cf scientifc nature. And It
{ well known that the great and learue
, Agaasiz entirely rejected DaTTin'sm {
= the theory OF evolution.
D So long a. these 'a'is -tsnd Celore u
lor can we consider Darwin,sn sn es
n ,.blishei science ? And h,w far al
n those rcr-ons acH0g reasonably WI
,:ve il all the weight Of estab,isae
!. science n forming their religious opln
t ,on.? Our reason srould orly recei'
that which ia undoubtedly proved to I
pr, true The man OF high and unprsjr
-. diced reason will never accept tbeor
.s 'or tact, nor abandon biz present bell
= because theory has been broach'
.s which il proved true will overthrow b
- Or, sent belief. Wha. religion asks 4
:, At the present day, : to have the lear
dog men Of scieace O. reason inve',
- gate it with the same candor and III
ti-ing patience exhibited 10 their otb
pursuits. 7, entreats Spencer and Hu.
ley anl Darwin 10 gye the pow
ol their rle-,a a-vmeu 10 I gearchl,