The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20
The Future of Christianity.

II is admitted on all hands that Chris
tianity has by no means perfectly fulfilled
its mission on earth; that it differs now.
both in spirit ana in form, from the Chris
tianity of primitive times; and that II is
undergoing change which will render it
still more different hereafter. As the hui
man intellect can judge Of things TO come
only by referring TO those which have
already happened so we can predict the
future of the Christian religion only by
looking back upon its past.
In general, II may be said that the pro-
gress of Christianity has been from child
like simplicity toward complex intellectu-
atty. In this respect IL has followed n
universal natural law, governing the
growth of all scientific, political, moral
and religious ideas. 1t began with nothing
more than the acceptance Of CHRIST as II
divine teacher and leader, obedience to
his precepts, and fraternal love toward
all of the same faith. The diversities of
character and education among its d,sci-
pies soon led, however, to doctrinal dis
putes and discussions, which spread and
ramified rs the area OF its couquests ex-
tended, so that IN IA comparatively short
period the number of its conflicting scots
became almost countless, aud their pecu-
liaI1ties, to n modern inquirer, lncompre-
| hensible. The natural evils of the human
| heart, which no religion has as yet been
| able totally to subdue, also had their share
| In developing new differences, and the
| absorption OF the pagan element of the
Roman empire brought still another influ-
| enco to bear on the growth Of the
| Church. The result was that in less than
| four centuries after the Crucifixion, an
elaborate system of theology had been
built over and around the creed Of the
first apostles and the plain facts OF the
Gospel history were buried under whole
| libraries of polemical dissertations. Ever
since then, too, human ingenuity has been
busy in still further refining and hair
| splitting on theological dogrnas, until il
has become impossible TO say, precisely
what Christianity is and what IL is not.
To some minds this condition Of things
is discouraging. They are ready to de.
clare that Christianity has failed and thai
its career is TO be hereafter one of decay
ending in extinction. A more philosoph
cal view Of the case reveals grounds foI
expecting just the contrary result II We
may forecast the future OF Christianity 10y
the progress of humanity under its au
! spices in other departments of mental ac
tivity, its Cc."."erity is just beginning, auo
will eventually alta" height heretofore
, unknown TO it.
Take for example, the natural sciences
They have all passed from state Of pure
infantile simplicity of observation int. {
complicated diversity OF facts obtained
! and theories upon those facts. Astronomy
chemistry physics, and geology were a
first mere descriptions of natural phenom
ena as phenomena out of which grew III
reasonings, and disputes, and conflicting
schools of opinion, caused, ms we see now
by imperfect knowledge. This chaos wa
at last, in each case, reduced to order by
the FORMULATION of few easily compre
hended principles, which, while leaving
room for difference in regard to details
now unite the whole scientific world OF
common ground. There is no longer an
question as 10 the relations OF the sun an,
the planets, the composition of gases
liquids and solids the laws OF motion. o
the existence Of animal and vegetable lif
in prehistoric ages Tho tendency of mod
ern science is toward the removal of ever,
apparent discrepancy and conflict in tn
domain OF nature, and TO demonstrate
the reign of harmonious law Throughout
the whole of it.
In politics similar progress towart
scientific harmony has been Effected Tn
governments of all civilized countries ar
based upon the sameprinciples, and admin
ister laws which, agreeing in spirit
} are almost identical in form. Interna
tional treaties express the recognition @
l a common interest, which has supplante
I In the estimation Of Statement tho old
5 fashioned jealousy of rival powers Eve
=, war itself has been reduced to . system