The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-07
THE NEW VS.. OLD THEOLOGY.

IN the last paper, one of the first dis
was on the subject, "Can there
be New Theology ?'' The discussion
was opened by Rev. DR.. Townsend, the
originator of the Lakewood enterprise,
and recently a Methodist Episcopal pas
tor, who said that the question was put
to him recently by an officer of the Cen
eral Conference of the Methodist church.
DR.. Townsend went on to explain the
several views which are held in regard
to theology. Some contend that it is
not progressive science. "There are
many who think that theology came
orient from the brain of God like the
goddess from the brain of Jupiter. 1t
is therefore unimprovable. There are
others, who, while they admit the hui
man character of theology, believe that
it was given to us by great spiritual
genius. The work of theology was
done once for all as when Phidias carved
his statue, or Michael Angelo painted
his picture, or Homer wrote his Iliad.
That it was done so faultlessly, so
beautifully, with such wonderful over,
that it does not need, even in our age,
the finishing touch"
DR.. Townsend explained his opinions
by asking and answering the question,
What is Theology p'' Theology" he
said, lis the explanation of the ideas
of religion? And what are the ideas of
religion ? The ideas of religion are
God, which will always stand as an
explanation of supernatural things
Incarnation, God embodying himself in
man Regeneration, the soul pressing
into consciou sness Atonement, max
ing at peace the lower and higher nat
ure Punishment, or the sure conse-
quences of our action; and immortal
ity, the personal continuance of man
after the shock of death"
In the explanation which has been
given of these general ideas of religion,
DR.. Townsend finds that theology has
its origin. The explanation of the or
'thodox church is the Orthodox Theol-
ogy; the explanation of those who dis
sent from the orthodox conclusions,
stands for what is called the New The
ology. The speaker still further ex-
planned:
Orthodoxy is denominated the Old
Theology to distinguish from the New.
The Old Theology came, IN my Judgment,
after the third century. In the first
three centuries of the Christian era
Christianity was living idea, an inspi
ration. Men did not attempt so much as
to analyze it. But afterward msn COM
menced to make their explanation. There
came in first the Greek metaphysic,
which is simply the explanation of the
Greek mind. Upon this came the in
fusion of the Latin thought. So, as the
ages went on, theology was built up. I
am of the opinion that the Greek meta
pbysic represented by Clement of Alex
andria and Athanasius was rather anoble
form of thought. The thoughts that
came later were not SO noble, because it
came in the decay of the empire, because
in the pride of the church = church
rising to supreme power. Theology was
not SO fair or good as it would have been
ho1
theologic ideas hold the races; they hold
a large part of the Christian world to-
day; for there is no chain in this world
so strong as the cham of thought; and
these theologic chains of thought,
forged in the smithy of the brains of these
thinkers, hold to-day. A large part of
the ministry of Jesus Christ are of the
old theology, while there are many whose
views have been ameliorated and soft
ened."
We may remark, in connection with
DR.. Townsend's explanation of the
New Theology, that while the phrase is
popular one, and may be used con-
veniently to distinguish the old ortho-
doxy from modern opinions, it is largely
misleading, and comedies more than the
facts of Christian history warrant in
the premises. Strictly speaking there
is no New Theology. Even with the
explanation that theology is the expla-
nation of the cardinal ideas of religion,
God, Regeneration, Atonement, Pun
ishment, etc., it is susceptible of proof,
that the principles which underlie and
give distinct character to modern the
illogical movements, are as oil as prim-
tive Christianity itself. The interpre-
tations and explanations of Universal
ist Christianity, for example. are not
new explanation or digest of Christian
ity, but in many respects are identical
with the early opinions which were
cherished in the church before the tow
ering genius of Augustine arose to ex-
ert that malign influence over theology,
which, reinforced in later age by
Calvin, still holds so large sway over
the human mind. DR.. Townsend would
find it an interesting study to trace
the principles of the so-called New
Theology to these earlier ages, and sur
vey them in the light which was then
shed on Christian teaching before it
went into eclipse under the theology of
and bis followers. In point
of fact the New Theology is not a Gre