The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-17
Six epticism and Christianity.

DIR. Clark Bratten lectured before
the congregat on at the Central Chris
tian church last night on the issues
between skepticism and christianity.
At the outset he reminded his hearers
of The great controversy that was go
ing on between christians on the one
hand and people who have arrogated to
themselves the exclusive right to the
phrases of free thought skepticism and
rationalism. On the other hand he
denied that they had right to the
exclusive use of those phrases, for if
christianity were true it was free
thought. They were free when they
were in accordance with truth, and
the moment they passed out of the
confines of truth, they passed into the
slavery of error. 1t christianity were
true it was liberal, but there was
wide difference between liberty and
license. If christianity were true it
| was also rational. The majority of
the grandest think, rs the world had
ever known defended Christ and be-
lieved in his religion; and al the pres
ent time were census taken OF the
leading scientific and literary men
three-fourths of them would be found
to be christians. That ought to be re-
membered. They met with great
deal of insolence, it seemed to him,
from those who were opposed, or set
themselves up as opposed, to chris
tlan1ty. 1t was said that no one but
fools and preachers-the latter, from
motives OF self-interest-beli in
christianity. They heard good
deal about science from those who
spoke thus, and it would be well If
christians would ask such persons to
define what they meant by, and what
they included in, the term science.
Ii they did they would find that
many of those who spoke largely
about science were incapable of defin-
ing the term. 1t was not only the un-
educated and ignorant who spoke
professors. Men like Huxley, Tyn-
dali and Darwin had spoken violently
towards christian thinkers, and eSpec-
tally towards christian teachers and
preachers. Christianity, says skepti-
cism said believe, and christianity had
right to say believe, If it presents
truth to them. Christianity said in.
YeStigate, learn truth, accept it, be-
ieve it, and believe it alone. Truth
always spoke in SUCH language as
oLeho, tShA WObti0 AOtOl o41OW lOOC11 " 4
be placed upon an equality with false
hood. They were not free to reject |
truth as they were free to reject diff |
ferent systems of falsehood. Some
men professed infdelity with a view
of making themselves notorious. That
kind of infidelity he would treat with
who presented his difficulties and his |
InnI1irinc a nhrio
teat her ought always to approach with |
courtesy and kindness, and be ready |
to enter into earnest and serious COM |
versation with. The lecturer then |
went over the principal and well |
known issues which arose between
Christians and skeptics, and urged |
Christians should be- careful to see
that these sk-ptical friends take some
positive ground, present something
hey mere negations, bubbles and
questions, and that they adduced data
and flcts and proved their facts to be
facts and not mere assumptions and
unsubStantiated statements and n.y.
potheses. Skepticism, he said, had to
be met. They could not cry it or
pray it down, and it could not be
overcome by ordinary Bible sermons.
Skepticism was in the world and the
church mnst step forward and defend
its principles against it. Some peo-
pie objected to polemical sermons
they could be carried to an extreme
but Christians must remember that
the last eighteen months of Christ's
life was the constant combat against
evil. The work had to be done, and he {
contended that the churches ought to {
step forward and do it.