The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-29
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

In the + ebTuary number of the
North Anle rtcGql Re0iea0, Professor
George 2. Fisher. of the Yale
Divinity School, whose writings on
the supernatural origin of Chris
tianity and on ecclesiastical history
are well known, comes to the de-
fence of the Christian religion
against the attacks of modern doubt
and infdelity. No ADLER or more
eminent advocate for the orthodox
faith could be summoned into the
controversy that has lately been
waged On this high theme, and it is
not too much to say that Professor
Fisher justities every expectation by
the vigor and clearness with which
he handles the subject. He dis
claims, however, the position OF
debater, and makes 10 direct refer.
ence to Colonel Ingersoll's assaults,
although he necessarily deals with
the objections so brilliantly and
audaciously presented 10y that
doughty combatant He proceeds
in very orderly manner to maintain
series of positions in regard to
the origin. essential character and
benelcent effects of the Christian
faith, which are intended in them
selves to furnish the answer to all
objections and cavils. In the first
place he takes advantage of the posi-
ton that Christianity is no new
thing whose present existence calls
for justification or apology. 1t is
inwrought with the very nbre and
substance Of the best part of modern
institutions and civilization, and has
contributed more than any other
force to making them what they
are. We are impressively invited
to imagine whas they would have
been without its agency. The diff
culties which it presents, some Of
them of perpleXing character. are
frankly acknowledged, and differ
ences of Interpretation and under
standing are alluded to as something
INSOFAR able from the action Of the
human mind IN dealing with any
system, complex in its details and
bearings, however simple in its
character and purpose. The idea
that Christianity has been a
bane TO mankind is very effect
ually disposed Of by an appeal
TO history and the experience
of the race. In tracing the develop
ment of divine revelation and the
gradual establishment Of the re-
llgion Of which Christianityis the
consumnatioH, Prof. Fisher gives a
very broad interpretation to the
idea of inspiration in the writings
which contain its record and its pre-
eepts. Thereby he is enabled to
meet with skill and effect some of
the most telling arguments of the
skepticiand infidel. He claims, for
instance, that the divine method
was to select chosen people and
lead them gradually up to the plane
upon which the fullness Of truth
could be revealed TO them with a
possibility of being received and prop
agated There was no sudden
transformation Of human nature, no
violent sweeping away Of old insti-
tutions and miraculous introduction
of a new system, to which there
must be a sudden and complete
adaptation Of mankind, equivalent
almost TO a new creation of the
race; but instead Of that the chosen
people were dealt with as men of
their own era, and those that sur
rounded or came in contact with
them were similarly treated accord
ing to the requirements of the Stage
of progress reached from tim TO
time. Hence, the evils and abuses
characteristic Of aBcien' days were
not suddenly rooted out, but were
restrained and mitigated, while the
forces were set at work which were
to effect their final annihilatiOn.
This idea of the gradualnesS of
revelation and the modified chardc-
ter avoids a vast array Of difficult
ties, but at the same time it approx
imates the process of religious
development to that of political and
social development and the growth
of civilization generally. To many
minds it will seem in no small
measure to abolish the distinction
between religious revelation and
the general supervision Of human
affairs which all deYOut minds at
tribute to the Deity.
In dealing with the facts and
doctrines OF Christianity, Prof.
Fisher displays much of the same