The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-21
MODERN RELIGIOUS UNBELIEF.
The Rev Chauncey GILES Describes Il, aud
Gives Ills Idea OF "a Cure

prevalent form hut by no mrnns the worst A
man cannot believe in n truth of which he has
no knowledge. liz cannot grasp what he can
not reach Il It not true that il hns always been
considered dangerous to subject tho various lo,-
trincs to rigid examination. and to test them
by wide observation and careful analysis
Have not the leading men in the Protestant
rs we'll ms the Romlsh Church deprecated the
value OF reason, and dscountenanced its FREQ
exercise in spiritual affairs Tho more men
have investigated and tried to understand tho
doctrines taught by the Church the more they
have doubted their truth. until the exercise OF
tho reasoning faculties has become synony-
nous with doubt and unbelief Skcpticsm ia
tho result OF intellectual activity. 1t is the fail
ure OF the mind to grasp and understand the
problems whose solution we seek. or to accept
us true that which is not in accord with what wa
know lnildelity is the unbellei OF the heart.
1t consists essentially in a moral repugnance
to spiritual truth and holiness of life. Tho
truth is rejected because ii Is troublesome: II
disturbs repose in sin: 1t demands the denial OF
self; 1t commands us to take up the cross and
follow tho Lord it calls upon us To wage unccas-
ing warfare against every evil affection and to
love our neighbpr ~ ourselves
Modern unbeliei H. especially characterized
by skrnticism. which Is tho legitimate aud
inevitable result OF all progress of the indi-
vidual or Of the race There have hecn two
causes specially instrpmenial in producing
modern skcptcism, and both ARE credtabe TO
human nature; both give promise OF a more
profound and practical belief in Christianity
FIRST. stronger and more honest love OF the
knowledge OF the laws and qualities ~ nature
nnd spirit; second. greater freedom OF thought
and acton. accompanied with more humane
SPIRIT and greater purity OF life
SsePtcism has increased with the increase OF
knoTle,isr' and freedom u tho exercise Of the
look about him he discovers that law order
and the incest adjustment Of means to ends
everywhere prevail. Tho further his knowledge
extends. and the moro accurate II becomes the
more clearly he sees this constant presence and
mmutabilty OF law. As this process goes on
His concern to know what Is increases and To
learn what is said diminishes. When he dis
covers that any doctrine or theory. however
widely II may have been accepted. contradlcis
established facts or well-knOwn laws or only
partly accounts for thcm. he begins to doubt his
truth. He cannot hel IT, As true knowledge
OF nature Increased. men became skepticnl
about the old notions and theories relative to
the universe. One after another has been dis
carded. until there Is hardly vestigo OF the old
beliefs remaining among Intelligent men. Tho
practice OF looking about US and iZlng
beliefs cannot be- arrested II must extend into
every domain ofhuman thought. The doctrines
that relate to the spirit az well us the body. to
Coo ~ we'll ~ man, Will be subjected to the
sharpest examination, and will stand or fall ac-
corning TO their ability to stand the test Of
enlightened reason.
The old doctrine in regard to tho Holy Scrip
lures was that they were literally true and in
splred and holy in every word. So long IA men
knew nothing about astronomy or geology
there was no scientific difficulty In the way q
bellei But when these sciences be ,ame known
human opinion underwent great change. and
Il was demonstrated TO every Intelligent mind
that some OF the statements IN the Bible could
not be literally true. Many minds were startled
that the world could not have been created ia
SIX days ot twenty-four hours. and many inef-
fectua efforts were made to disprove the con-
clusion or To shield the doctrine Of verbal inter.
nretatiOn from attack. These efforts were win.
The doubts extended to other parts OF the Bible.
aud the doctrine OF inspiration has been greatly
modified. Throw discredit upon one point Of "a
doctrine and you AWAKEN doubts about every
other point As the doctrines Of religion are
supposed to be drawn from the Bible ali creeds
have been Swallowed by doubt They are re-
garded more as human opinions than AS tho
the test Of their own AUTHORITY. Scripture Is
quoted against Scripture and this battle Of the
texts has weakened the force of the authority.
has brought the mind into perpleNity. and has
referred every question OF doubt to tho human
When the doctrine Of the Trinity is proposed
We are confronted with contradiction OF the
simplest conception Of the mind. and the very
elements OF NUMBER Three units OF Kind
are more than one. Three apples do not make
ono apple. nor can one apple be three. One
being whether divine or mortal cannot be
three beings. Tho mere statement OF such a
terry. il may be taught by the authority Of the
Church, and the mind may give formal assent
70 Il. But II Is not n mystery; II IL con-
tradlction and the enlightened mind rejects
and mercy are studied the more clearly IL is
seen that II is not justice. but injustice. 10 pun
lsh mo innocent Tor inc guilty. No court in the
world would follow the doctrine ot Vicnrlous
atoncment in administering punishment To
condemn the Innocent son OF murderer to
death and to let the guilty man 20 free. would
be- 'he greatest possible outrage on justice and
humanity. The doctrine hus undergone many
changes 10 meet the demands OF an intel igent
conception Of justice: and these changes Wust
continue until doctrine OF human sHlNa/ln Is
gained that will stand tho test Of reason and
humanity. The sense OF justice and the more
humane ceilings revolt against the old arhi-
trary and cruel doctrine concerning the punish
ment Of sin ia hell Of unmitgated and endless
torment. There IA no proportion between the
crime and the punishment.
The causes OF unbelief are not hostile to
Christianity so much MS TO false ideas Of Chris
tianity. Protestants and Catholics identify
their creeds with Christianity and hold that
Christianity must stand or fall with them They
think that every blow aimed at them Is aimed
against the kingdom OF Heaven. But they as
sumo too much Christianity is older than
the Divine order embodied in the Divine mn
ture. and hnited In mans and no change in
human opinion can affectit
In conclusion. MIR. Giles said: "Skepticism
tends to Improvement and II is one OF the most
promising signs OF the times that men are be-
ginning 10 examine their beliefs aud 70 subject
them 10 the closest scrutiny. Unbelet is not
confined TO the ignorant and immoral, or to a
few learned scientists. II has extended 70 the
bers OF any Church who fully accept the doc
trines it teaches. But nowadays this does not
luJuIo tuelI hlhHuluk IN lUe AunTcH. ln''lcI
was onro a bar TO fellowship, II Is 50 no longer.
There is widespread AMI growing indifier-
ence to doctrines. Tho sharp lines that onco
defined them are fading away; the doctrines
Themselves are losing their conference, They
are becoming weak watery dfiusa. and void OF
vital power. Unheliet is not confined 10 the lay
members Of the Church. On the contrary. II is
moro prevalent among the ministers than
among their locks. They avoid many topics
that were once their principal and most effective
themes. They try TO avoid difficulties 10y denl-
ing in vague generallties. by teaching morality
II they teach the old doctrines. II is with mild
ness. a timidity. that show there is no heart in
their teachings, Doubts cast their shadows
over every mind. and even tho lternturs of the
Church is imbued with doubt. Tho remedy for
Ignorance is knowledge; the remedy Tor skep-
ticisin is rational acquaintance with such sub
jects as are involved in doubt II II not a dis
ease that will cure itself. 1t will not do out by
being let alone II cannot be abolished by dis
puTaging tho importance Of true knowledge
upon the most momentOus questions touching
the welfare Of humanity. The remedy for inf
deity, the unhellet 81 the heart consists in
living according to the light that We have.
There il no way to Heaven save through Goth
semane and over Calvary"
SUNK BIZ THE NEWPORE
InvestiGAtin9 the Running Down OF the Black.
wells Island BOat Fidelity.