The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-09
rtslLo,ornrIx RELIGION


The tendency OF the age seems TO
be towards pliiosophic rather than
historical religion. There can be no
dispute as TO the evident fact that an
infinite. all-wise cause and effect con-
trols creation. and that this grand
agency directs human conscience.
while mans recognition of such
power has produced both philos-
ophy and. religion, and draws
them together. III religions seem
to agree as to some kind of a future
state. in which sin j. punished and
virtue rewarded. Most faiths set it
down that punishment in the future
is resorted TO as a means Of progress
sion towards a more perfect and ex-
halted state, and this doctrine is adj
hered TO by very large per centage
even, of those who adhere to Chris
tianity. That division exists up
on 20 important a feature
in great and prevailing
creed tends in .. measure to affect
belief, aud hence it is that even in
Christian countries, where the word
has been heard for near twenty CEN
turtles, this idea of religion, based
upon pure philosophy, grows with
rapidity. In philosophy, it is con-
tended. exists the everlasting princi-
pies of doctrinal creeds, while re-
Lyon, it is said, represents the ideal
or practical side of faith. The Jews
believe in the same God as the
Christians and the Mohamedans the
same principles set down for moral
action exist in one and in the others,
while the forms alone disagree. The
jews and the Christians and the
Mahomedans unite in philosophiC
faith, while they disagree alone in
historical points and practical meth
DDS So it is even with the many
isms that have sprung up in the
Christian church; all agree as 10
moral or philosOphic ws,while they
sadly disagree as TO the plans
to be pursued in proving themselves
true adherents. Naturally, there
fore, there arises skepticism as to
faith, and thus ii is that all ethniC
religion is temporary, destined. as
far as form is concerned, to disap-
pear. The philosOphic doctrines
that live. Interchangeable and ever.
lasting, take no form, are independ-
ent of historical facts. belong to nc
faith, and adhere TO the undvine
soul of man, derived from God. The
value placed upon professions oil
faith rather than upon moral obliga.
tions lends much to the philosophiC
phase superceding faith. The most
heartless villain may live life oil
lawlessncss and shame: he may steal
and rob and murder, and when stat.
ute law oveItakes him. and The Dig
nifty and honor of The state il ap-
peased upon the scaffold, these forms
step in, and had AXE declared his
adhesion TO them when upon The
very brink of eternity, he would
have been declared entitled to the
same reward in eternity as is given tC
the purest aud noblest Christian
Profession of belief in historical
points and in forms secures the ia.
vorable passport TO eternity, while
moral excellence, unaided by them
fails TO secureit. These things should
not'be so, and-until they are correct
ed there must fail to be that har-
mony between reason and faith that
should exist. The Jewish faith ad.
heres closely 10 moral philosophy
teaching that to reach personal, and
hence spiritual holiness, il is neces.
sary to lead n moral existence. Ben
Asai said: Every good action
draws another after it, for the re.
ward of virtue is virtue itself" Such
doctrine is repeated in the holy
Christian faith, but it is a sad refec.
ton that many so-called Christian:
consider the forms alone as neces.
sary and allow virtue to gounheeded
Christian excellence is based toe
much upon a church membership
that practices forms and pays dues
and unless there should be violent
revolution in favor of strict
virtue as a measure for divine
reward the churches must lose much
moro of their power over reasoning
people. The welfare of nations rests
ON truth, justice and peace, and
mans reward is measured likewise
The world suffers for practical re-
ligion, one that rejects forms in wor'
ship and adopts moral and charita.
bic action in all that pertains to hu.
manity. Instead of hundred doc.
trinal and formal creeds, Christian.
ity in one compact body should be
marching on in the great undertak.
ing of a worlds moral reformation
Division presents weak point in Its
present construction, one that was
never intended, and one, it is feared
that, as with all other creeds, leads
to decline.