, 1880-11-07

nreachfng theology: no need OF oellesug
theology or knowing any hing about It, II
vol, only lead good, honest, noble lives. This
was the substance OF the item Tht re were no
comments upon it; but it set me to thinking.
recall. upon reflection. having heard simt,
lar sentiments expressed before. have heafd
so-ca]led "lberal'' orthodox ministers, men
who liked to retain the advantages OF the
orthodox name, and still like to pass pretty
we'll among the great unchurched ana ho
eral" eleuent,-the unorganlzed unlsetsa4-
lists, Unitarians, and those to whom no spe
cial name could be applied nave nea.u
these sentiments advanced By Uln'eisans'
and Unitarian ministers when re1erflns ~
the generally received creeds OF "orthouoS
Christians, and they received great app'ausT
from those who liked that sart Or thlnY' >.- l.
have heard similar sentiments advanced "
inel speakers who like to denonnce tne uau
theology, In which they included every sss-
TEN of Christian faith. ..4
But have noticed this uniform TACT uaat
these men, in thus tlenouncing theology, We1e
simply denouncing the theology Ut s0Ineo9}sa.y
else as useless and uninportnnt. The ,'no-
eral /" orthodox considered useless ahq uls-
Important the theology of the church wnose
name he bore, and which secured him PLACE ';e
and salary to preach liberalism" but rarely
| have seen one who considered these advan-
taxes which his nominal connection win this
| theology gave him useless and unln1pofEi,'lt.
| thought "ortlodox theology useless and
t ui,ilnportant, hut he generally cons'dered
the views which he advocated rs very I'M
| portant. and even necessary, to the people u
iarad ~ rhf'u hoid Yorth: and he does
| not hesitate to eShort his hearers TO MAKE
| liberal sacrifices for the cause OF our e5lorl-
| Gus faith and the spreading OF our enlloollne
s stems ~ LILO A"So1o ~
u t',..n: H., ,,fdo1 onea..er nrpes his hearers
to @ form liberal" clubs and circulate ''iib-
and eqdsasor f1o s to cses ffs toe af
CGuten;s1o CCGe;s I;r.'trr and thaninv;ra] darkness
.hteh GhilS. nn XIII IT. in such degrading thrali
H.n, Hn,sn nv" '''A>' N''9'~
Nov Now ali these things show the talselood
" ond enu 'rSn,nrtant What these men feel,
thn,eb J,4'u ,nnnr nre mt ciear-hcaded enough
80 raeiiv a~aiv7a their feelng. is, theology,
that is, a trae theoIogy.-that is, an under; q r;
and u'an and the duties arising from tlls5se
raiat;nna l. me 1T the most useful and most
if,.ortan+ snhiacts with which uan can cun-
ce!n Himself Mr. Ingerso!!' Instead Of Of
+hincs ,, hnt tha principle Of the state
: ,manf Ia met the same, And they further
mean to say. "The views which and thai
, sect or clique, or party which represent,
se. s'nrtnmt ~ and usnfn to YOU" Fl this i!
pot'Is pot 1hs meaninx man MOI Of it. Why this pains t.
in"ui"ete ,"s Ihe1n. why are We swindline you
i.,'a 90, tH nav vour mpney for that willci
e. NJ hraadS The fact il. that every life tina
~" ~ rotaiiv tlrurayed. that is not utterl.
- ~. ass ond hanhazarti' Is lived in accord
b 'aa ,,o;tl' nr IN yinlatjon of snme STANDARD
anncantion mi more or less Imperfect, Of duly
Z AnJ az Hnffr arises from relations. there i
I nI .,;t1, aj1 excent the totally depraved and u
ni. a. onrrnnt Ttf there be Such) some concer
J tions of reati6ns respecting the human All
tha S;vfne Every one therefore, has
n thoo,nrv M Ingersoli is theologian |
J, t.i Wv: nrettv 6oor way. most Christian
y us o,id niI' t&hinE1 & KIT still q theologian. III
r. mainly is by nature theological; It cannu
u ,u'5 oi, +. and nrt If this theological conce
ae t,nn ar;ses conduct Of life that is mora!it
% +tnt +ha+ ie Spirituality land that is only an e
X tja5 ond cnmnietet, morality, all that di
n. tin'r,;shns tfmu1; @ man from the brute.
), assrtain kinds Of theology may be wor:
- .hon usefess-u,ay be positively harnfu
=; h"t % m trme theology can be useless. and mol
ID oue ar e ho nuimnortant except it he that whit
r@ nrnd,,ces absolutely no effect upon the iii
pp;thar outward or inward.
1haojnpv ia the philosophy Of religio
r. Cbr;sI;an theology is the philosophy Of =
ChrIstiaI religion, and how can any Chr
tinn nrnc1afm it useless OF unimportan
H. !an ;s''"m Rfc'nl nilosophy is one great means