The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-03-15
THEOLOGICAL MYTHS.
NO. II. -

LDliON ADV FANCE.-l neOlOgy ASKS
US to stand committed to the idea that
something calamitous took place 1T the
very opening Of human life, which is in
fact admitting that God made failure
in creation. Then after getting us in
to this quagmire of inconsistency, we
are patched up with a compromise
measure as being the next best thing
that could be done in Difference to the
DEVILS sagacity. claim that the fall
OF man, his estrangement and aliena'
tien from God, is hut a relic of barbar.
ism, superstitious dogma of the prim'
tive man, having no basis in nature ol
reason. Theology is ali artificial sys.
tenn built up by degrees as profession
an effort of the few to act as interme-
diator for the many, and in order to get
control of the people it was necessary
to have some sucl, basis AS the fall OF
esis, you are easily held for the balance
of the journey. And this is just as true
Of Mai.on,et ahd COnfucius rs with US,
anu Nll lIeSO CuCIA
base in mystery and superstition, else
sul,jection.
The whole account of the fall of man
in GrneSis is self condeMlIing, and
shows the human in its very progress.
ion. The story runs as fippantly us a
modern novel, as though the eternal
futu ure of millions Oh millions for all
time to coine, were of 10 more conse-
quence than the birth and death of q
tiy. 1t violates our highest conception
of :, benevolent Great ors, it decelds from
the lofty pinnacle Of a heaven born Gre
1T ion to an eternal failure at one stride
as though the mighty co"seq uence wer.
| hut the laStiIne OF 4 day. 1t has no,
deed. its progression would do violence
to our courts Of justice. True. the
command was given not to eat. and the
penalty attached, but without explana-
ti"n or warning. They were not told
;ng their destruction. They had NJ
| not to have known good from evil. NOl
'lo they arptar to have understood tlIeil
dangerous position. Ii fact, to have
suspected such Il thing would have beer
t." doubt the M.netulelce and wisdom
of tiri. Cr+nt"r.
This Devil !nwtr has Il l'a,alltl in al
heat ben nati.'ns also the i'lt:. I,f All of
Tended Deity. lipncr the mental strait
and physical torture IT, appeaSe and IT.
gain friendship so common in all thei,
history. 1t is ;r"t my purpose just nov
to inquire how this itle. originated. but
Il xAf frs,
us. We m.,>t lave done =" from them
barbarirns. Will we h"ver sen above
| their practices, and have Il wider view
| Of human lie and our relationship t.
! God, we still hold on 10 the ba,bnri.
lea of Ihvil power When we accept
| the id Il "f an ffer''rd l'ei'y we de
grale G Il ~ the level nf human falli
hiIity, an iufa|lisle ard allwise Creator
being acted upon like poor vascilatin{
humanity. such view is degrading
and all the theological writing in tht
| world c;tnI,ut n,ake it otherwise. 1t i.
| cut uf haI.nu y with nature and al
our highest ideas "l God. 1t is u .n"l.
strous assumption. :, l:yiot thtt cal pos
ition so "ut "t j.,ut that III! the writ
| ings Of Chri~t.r'nm caisnnt make i
| of mankind.
| Man is moi Il fallen Angel. lie la!
not fallen frr,n an heaven appoiut+.
| position VII cr lie Is vainIy trying t.
regain with G'M and IT," Angels OF il,'
one side. and total drpravity and tn,
! ~ vi ~, thp.t tr. the latter having
most nf the success iu the fight. No
man is moving fr m "A l,wer I" Il high
| or Ian, and Will 1k1
u iraven |"rn progression as fixed a
| the stars. ard all the artificial ,heeloy,
of ,hr world cannot alter this fact. AL
our highest aspirations l,armrl,:Zr will
thi virw. (-"d ard Nature are not an
t.:grniZ.u The human world move:
with Tie harmony of the planetary sys
tenn. aud e. 4 does not have to he hu
~ anizd t" have this appear reasonable
This view shuts out all Devil power
IT does away with all contention AS t.
the origin of evil, and holds poor hu
nElnity on the broad, ascending scal
Of lie ,vrn appointed order, jnvitin.
each MAN to form, Ills highest ideal @
the i, finite. and he immortal destiny o
his own soul. Thus can We worship
G' q through the lowest form of phySi
cal Great ion to n'a,,, the highest, tier,
il no break in the nat ural order, VI
rest in trust. and our souls are free t,
go out to the great spirit who set thi
order in motion, and while our slirit
are turned to this progressive harmon.
We may sing with the poet,
AT peace with all the werld grea
God and thee,
No fears my unwavering faith cal
| shake;
ALPS well, whichever side the grav'
! for me
The morning light may break"
| WEa1, SIDE