, 1881-07-17

And as the river falls into the SeA
And sinks TO sleep, ST. this my Wearled neaks
Shall find Its rest in Inee-
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
1SGERsoI1. VS.. BLACK IN THE NORTH
AMERICAN EEv1Ew."
The cnrrent number Of the North Amer
Es,,. Rcrie,c contains nearly fifty pages OF
s.symposium" between Col. Robert q.
IngersoM and Judge Jeremiah, 5. Black on
the subject of the Christian religion Ihe
following excerpts give the pith Of the argu-
nent on either side:
lSGEKSoI.L'S VIEWS. =.
4 profound change has taken place III Tue
world of thought. The pe~s are Trying 10
,et themselves somewhat above lho pulp.t'
The. laynlan discusses theology with the
minister and smiles. Christians excuse
themselves for belonging to tbs Church pr
denying part Of the creed. The idea IS
ahrtad that they who know the most OF nat
ur.. believe the least about theology. Inc
sciences are regarded as infidels. and facts US
ecnffers Thousands of most excellent peo-
np avoid churches, and. with few exceptions,
only those attend prayer-meetlngs VINO WISH
IL tie alone. The pulpit is losing because The
people are growing.
Df course it is still claimed that we are
Christian people, indebted to solnethmg
called Christianity for all the progress we
have made. There is still vast difference
nf nniniou as to what Christianity really lsr
although many warriug sects have oeen
discussing that question with fire and sword
through centuries Of creed and CRIME. Every
new spct has been denounced ut its blItfl as
i;Jagiti1,,atc. as something born out OF OF
thu,}ox wedIuck, and that should have been
allowed to perish III the steps Whe1c II WIS
found. Or the relative merits OF the various
denominations. it is sufficient to say tnat
eacl, claims to be right Among the evanee1-
ic:l churches there is 4 substantial agree
n.r,,t upon what they consider the 1nhds-
mental truths of the Gospel. These 1nnoa-
,.,ant,l rrnths. as understand tllen are:
Tn,t there il 4 personal God, the creator
IF the material universe; that lie made man
of the dust and woman from part OF the
man: that the man and woman we're tempted
by The Devil; that they were turned out OF the
Garden OF Eden; that, about 1,5oo years all
.rward. Gods patience having been exhaust
III Inv the wicketiness OF mankind. lie
: irovned his children with the exception ol
sight ,prsons: that afterWard lie selectet'
from their descendants Abraham. ano
through him the Jewish people' that he
gave laws to these people, and 1f1en 10 so''
ern them in all things; that lie 11laue k''o"i
his will in many ways. that lie ~rought
x,st nn,,hpr of miracles; that He inspired
men tn write the Bible; that, III the 1uh
nass of tiue. it having been found I'M
nosSihe to reform mankind, 1hls Ioe
,ama unon earth as child born OF the VIZ
pin NARY: that lie lived in Palestine; that u
nraached for about three years, going lron
p}ace TO place. occasionally raising tle ueau
curing the blind and the halt; tnaI 11e .
cruciietl for the crime OF blasphems' a. ~
Jews supposed, but that, as d n'altel VI 4"e
lie was offered As sacrifice LOT LIE sln9 ~ =
al vino might have faith in lilln' that II
a.,s r,ise., frou the dead and assembled mi
Heaven. where he now is making lntefce:
s;,r +or His followers; that He will forgls
tha Gins of all who believe oil Him, and thz
rhnse who do not believe will be consIsne
IN the dungeons Of eternal pain. 1hest>-
nav he with the addition Of the sacrament
of hantisn aud the Last Supper-constltu'
chat is generally known us the Chrlstlan +
ligion. .,.o, .b,+ . ,.,
number of people not only oeile'e the'
+h;nvs Init hold them in exceeding re'e
ence. and imagine them TO De ol uue ua1iu it :,
;,nnnrfnnce to mankind. They regard u
Bible As the only 1ls1 ;s ,h51 cldfen D III that it
tie TIE one Star in natures sky.-them 81 1ounH 1',a
tinn u If aIl morality, Of all law, Of all orde
and OF ali individual aud nataoma, 'U's hs,
They regard it as the 9nly 1ean2 3" We ria ria
fnr 3scpTtainillg the will OF Hou, the o1's'
~ man and the destiny OF the snul: ,,o
II Is needless to inquire INTO 1ne a;;ea caas
thar have led 50 many people 10 pe'le'e
tie inspiration Of the Scr,pd1aes ,tn1a and are mi
In NY opinion, they were ere 1nu hGndnTedl H -
taken. and the mistake nas ntiueneo a., hi
rouutless ways, the civillzatlon o. aan tafa,sa
Bible has been the fortress ana deleMne a,;'s+
nearly every crime. No civilized sa,'an eouat
eoud retnact Its laws, a1ld ~ lnans art. pot
its moral code is aborrsnt to etS,{ .{ ,{a' ga'
and tender man. 1t is admta.eu ,,,a,,r a,as If
Of its urecepts are pure, taa! ~. n'aus ..n,;r IT
laws are wise and just, and that na"s -
statenents are absolutely true. f.o1,nos
Wilhout desiring to hur1 lno -tasnne leuns +
apyimdy. propose to give few s1 feasoifs ~ = i
thfnEing that few passages, At leass, @ fa o. ~
Old Testament are the proouct ol o"1o
people. = :. mt only a
ntted. but it is passionatciy asse. ~, o,it',
slavery is and always was, hlaeonda Itttl1 II
that war Of conquestis simply murael murder, -, :
polygamy is the enslarement q Ma',nt;n,, Mun;
degradation of man, ana the ess,,nns ueosa fh
home; that nothing IS more ihlanfoHi ia,rlf
the slaughter Of decrcplt men; ;,t " ntnr
women. lad cf prattlfng babes; thaL eapdt;;, aptd;a,
maIdens should not be given 70 oati, Soa1ite'
.sthaf ,yfrae shnntd not be stoned I'D ne"t1 -