The Van Buren press., 1876-03-21
The Future Of Christianity.

Dotn In splrlt ana iOrm, from the CnrlS'
tianity of primitive times; and that it is
undergoing change which will render it
still more different hereafter. As the hu-
man intellect can judge of things to come
only by referring to things which have al
ready happened, so can we predict the fu
ture of the Christian religion only by
looking back upon its past.
In general, 1t may be said that the pro
gress of Christianity has been from child
like simplicity toward complex intellectu-
ality. In this respect it has followed a
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 a
divine eacher and leader, obedience to
his precepts, and fraternal love toward
all of the snme faith The diversities of
character and education among its disci-
pies soon led, however to doctrinal dis.
putes and discussions, which spread and
ramified as the area OF its conquests ex-
tended, so that in a comparatively short
period the number Of its conflicting sects
became almost countless, and their pacu-
liarities, to modern inquirer, incompre
hensible. The natural evils of the human
heart, which no religion has as yet been
able totally to subdue, also had thoir share
in developing new differences, and the
absorption of the pagan element of the
Roman empire brought still unother infu
ence to bear on the growth ofthe church.
The result was that in less than four Gen.
k,,r, nf& Al& -. u.
system of theology had been built over
and around the creed of the first apos
ties, and the plain facts of the Gospel
were buried under whole libraries of po-
lemical dissertations. Ever since then,
too, human ingenuity has been busy in
still further refining and hsir splitting on
theological dogmas, until it has become
almost impossible to say, precisely, what
Christianity is and what it is not.
To some minds this condition OF thing,
is discouraging. They are ready to de-
clare that Christianity has failed, and that
its career is to he hereafter one of decays
ending in extinction. A more philosophi-
cnl view of the case reveals grounds for
expecting just the contrary results. If we
may forecast the future of Christianity by
progress of humanity under its auspices
in other departments Of mental activity
its prosperity is just beginning, and will
eventually attain a height hitherto un
known to us.
Take, for example, the natural sciences
They have all passed from state of pure
infantile simplicity of observation into q
complicated diversity of facts obtained,
and theories upon those facts. Astron
omy, chemistry, physics and geology
were at first mere descriptions Of natu
raj phenomena as phenomena out of
which grew up reasonings, and disputes,
and conflicting schools of opinion, caus-
ed, as we see now, by imperfect knowl-
edge. This chaos was al last, in each
case, reduced to order by the promulga-
tion of IL few easily comprehended prin.
ciples, which, while leaving room for diff
ference in regard to details, now unite
the whole scientific world On common
ground. There is no longer any qnes.
tioE as to the relations of the sun and
the planets, the composition of gases,
liquids, and solids, the laws of motion,
or the existence of animal and vegetable
life in prehistoric ages The tendency OF
modern science is toward the removal oil
every apparent discrepancy and conflict
in the domain of nature, and to demon
strato the reign of harmonious law
throughout the whole of it,
In politics II similar progress toward
scientific harmony has been effected
The governments of all civilized coun-
tries are based upon the samo principles,
and administer laws which agreeing in
spirit. are almost identical in form. In
ternatonal treaties express the reco2ni-
ton of common interest, which has
supplanted in the estimation of states
men the old fashioned jealousy Of rival
powers. Even war itself has been redu
ced to a system, and is waged according
to universally accepted rules. The ca
price of an individual no longer sways
the destinies of whole people, and SOW
eaeigns, despotc in name, are in fact
obedient to a public opinion which con-
trolls their actions. The world, from be
ing congeries Of claslling elements, is
becoming an organized unit.
A similar reform is going on in the
theory of morals. Mankind has arrived
pretty generally at the conclusion that,
independently of the condemnation of
religion, sin is a bad thing and deserving
of reprobation for its effects upon socie-
ty, if for no other reason. The great
principle that all conduct must be judg
ed by its influence for good or for evil,
and that every act is wicked which is in
its nature likely to do injury to ones fel-
low creatures, is no longer disputed
The endless discussions of the old casu.
lists upon questions of right and wrong,
and their nice balancing Of opposing ar
guments have been dismissed as useless
lumber. There is scarcely any case con
corning which, if the facts are undispu-
ted, two men of sound minds will differ
in judgment What will seem right to
one, will seem right to the other, and
what one. will condemn as wrong, both
will condemn unanimously.
This work of unification evidently can
not stop without overtaking Christianity.
Sooner or later it must elucidate the car.
dinal principles on which the whole sys-
TEN rests, and dis, play them SO clearly to
the world that they cannot be denied or
even doubted. When this is done. sub
ordinate details will take their proper
place, and leave Christianity in its essence
. bn lot Af all ea,Io frka,, Il