The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-16
Science and Religion.
From the Pittsburgh Telegraph

From the Pittsburgh 1elegfapn-l
Secular newspapers are not much Civ
en- to discussing theological matters.
but events of marked significance in
this line attract the attention of the
Journalist as we'll as of the divine. Spec
ulations and questions touching upon
mans moral being, relations and de-
stinv, have recently been up-heaved to
the surface which can no more escape
the notice of newspapers than great po-
litical connections or the shock of jar
ring hosts in armed conflict. Iti fact
of portentous import that death strug-
gle is now going on which does not in
volve the fate of this dogma or that
dogma, this creed or that creed, this
church or that church, but which tests
the foundations all religions, embracing
every dogma, creed or church. The
foundations of religious belief itseif Of
every hue, phase or type are involved
in this intense and exciting inquiry
There was a time when to dispute the
NAOShlC AGIOdhb Va hhC. NeE"tAOsy hhS
prophecies, or the divinity of Christ
was considered very grave and serious
concern, but even these are of light mo-
ment compared with the present aspect
of the worlds controversy, a controversy
in dead reality waged over the very ex-
istence of God and the existence of
soul as distinguished from matter. In
tellectual Itheism now aims to sweep re-
ligious belief out of the human head
and heart. There Is no God. There
is no soul. There is only endless sue
cession of material forms. The scienti-
fic men do not formulate these ideas;
they do not go out of the course of their
investigations to spread them, but they
convey them just as widely and as
forcIbly as if they made it their special
business to do so. All over the globe,
highly educated classes are not merely
getting to regard the Bible as purely
human compilation and production, but
are settling down to the conviction that
religion of every kind is only n consta-
bulary element, good for police purpo-es,
but otherwise simply fantastical and ab-
surd. Practical atheism has reached a
magnitude that is hardly suspected by
Indifferent observers We shall after a
while learn more of it by the certain re-
suits that flow from it. In this connec-
ton we are tempted to incorporate a
very striking little poem recently pub
lished in Fraser's Magazine.
THE CREED OF THE FUTURE.
/" don't believe in either God or Man.
| Conscious AutOmata, we nothing can,
Save as atoms feel tyrannic chance;
All is heredity and circumstance.
Conscience, e. FTeelciH, iH,-absurd! And if you ask
How on these terms fulfill life's daily task?
What motives? And what conduct?-look at
me,
One more respectable you'll scarcely see.
| AS faInily-man, friend, citizen, professor,
Be you, or public judgment, my assessor"
" Good, my dear sir.-but we must wait,
doubt,
To notice how your grandchildren turn out,
Born in the doctrine, reared upon the plan,
OF total disbelief in God and Man,
| Let this experiment be fairly made,
Nor Science mourn, by her high priests be-
oh, let her teach them, from heir tenderest
/
The Truth, the whole Truth nothing but the
! Truth
Material Atoms, and Mechanic Force;
| And send the boys and girls rejoicing on thei
cOurse!'
The scientific men would reply to this
"Our business is simply to ascertain the
truth; we do no: object to your religions
we make no war on them; if they exer
else salutary police restraints continue
them for those wao stand in need o
such influences; we find no warrant fol
their Divine origin in any of our re
searches, all is matter and still matter.
Here, then, we have a conflict which i
Infinitely more important than th'
Darwinian suggestion about the ancestry
of man. Darwin night be right o.
wrong without impairing the grant
foundations of religion. The wonder
of the Creator would be as much exem
plified in leading life from low to an
gelic stages as by creating man by al
instant fat The challenge is not to an.
single article of belief. The cultivated
mind is being led to dethrone God alto
gether. Mere skepticism is to this stat
of mind as distilled water to hydrocyani
acid. This burns up and utterly de
YOURS all the hope and solace and glor.
out of the world. Mark we'll the pro
gress of this baleful philosophy. l. ha
much evil work yet 10 do.
|