The New York herald., 1878-03-03
LITERATURE.

We havo not In long time read book which has
given US moro pleasure than this fresh publication,
"rhe Natural History OF Atheism,' by John Stuart
Blackie (Scrbner, Armstrong Coz. II treats OF q
subject IN which every ono is interested and upon
which every one wishes the JUDGMENT Of the best
thinkers. Mr. Biackie. SO lar his theology
cerned, Is OF the now school, He crticscs tho popu
lar religion In no measured terms-and his acquaint-
ance with tho methods ol strong and vivid writing is
quito large-ior Its cowardice and narrowness asserting
that II It wers broader willing receive tho
inevitable results Of science fewor physicists would
DO driven into hopeless matoralsm HIS style is do
cdedly dogmatc. in a few instances slightly objec-
sionabio on this accoun but he language Of
man who nus thoroughly Investigated hrs subject
and arrived at very decided conclusions. The chap
ters OH Buddhism and on "Tho Atheism OF Reaction"
nro especially interesting and instructive. In the
latter chapter no lays II down law
that "every social state begots Its contrary"
and thcn proceeds 10 show why Tyndall
and Huxley, Mr. Atkinson and Miss Mart,neau,
occupy the positions which have made thcm con.
spicuous. The popularity received idea OF original SIN
is very Detective he says and has gven
complications. He quotes CoIoridgc, who says,
"Orsinal sin Is not doctrine, but fact" and then
adds, in his vivid word painting, $50 tar WE'LL But
now in comes our cataphract theologic doctor, with
MS most oI uogmatic cxaggcrations, and thupders
out his dogma OF inherited guilt, at which, straight
way, an honest thinkers whole moral nature brises
up In rebellion. Moral merit and demert are in tho
very nature OF things personal; TO imagine their
transieronce Is to destroy thoir dchnit,on"
Again. the popular idoA OF future punishmcus is
equally detective and dscouraang 1t Is interesting
to know what is thought this subject by some OF
tho leading scholars OF the DAY. In this NATTER
as In Cthors, tho Professor speaks In no uu-
certain tones He says "Now, II there was not
o great deal OF dogmatic obstinacy and u con.
siderable vein Of cowardiee In the ecclesiastical
mind, this stumblngolock might oasily be removed.
II docs not require any very profound scholarship to
know that the word aonios which translate ever
lasting, does not sgniy eternity absolutely and me-
taphysicaly, but only popularity, As whom say that
a man Is an eternal iovl meaning only that he 10 a
very great fool"
1t Is easy to from this extract that Mr. Blacke
10 not OF that number who believe In geographical
locality fora prison house, In material flames
mode Of punishment. yet in tho endless duration
of torture. Ho believes that this aud kindred doc
trines largely the result Of tho dogmatzing ton.
tency OF the Church, true their core bat practically
misleading when carried too far -
We have road tho hook through with great care,
and. may add with great profit 1t Is not Of that
OF that electric sort which now startles and now
stimulates tho reader II Is printed In sear, largo
type and Ia crcdit to the frm which issues It, 1t
will doubtless have largo salo among American
roadcrA