New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-28
MIR. HUXLEY ON THEOLOGY.
AN EXAMINATION OF SOME OF HIS
ARGUMENTS.
ESSAYS UPON SOME CoNTRovERTED QUESTIONS.
BY Thomas Huxley F. Il. S. PIP. VI, 4oo' D.
Appleton 4 Co.


contents Of this volume People alert TO che
discussions Of the day are doubtless familiar with
Mr. Huxley's views on the cosmogony of the
Hebrew Scriptures; on the story Of the Creation ;
on the legend of the Deluge as related not only
BY the Israelites, but also by the Craldaeans and
Assyrians; on the Gadarenc Episode in the Cos
pels; and his opinions in general on the credi-
bility and value Of the various books OF the Bible
Minute comparison might show some shades OF
difference, but at a general glance he seems TO
agree with critics like Rcuss, Tuch, Thenius,
Kuencn, Kasch, Dman, Schucrer and others
as advanced they, so far they agree with
each other. and to have followed Reuss and
Schuercr In preference to all the rest. His own
statements as to his authorities bear out what
would be an obvious conjecture from the text OF
the various papers in this book. He has brought
TO focus the scattered opinions Of many writers
and deserves the gratitude Of both friends and
foes for the uncompromising candor and the re-
lentless logic with which he has pressed every
argument he has taken up TO its legitimate con-
clusion. That kind of controversial writing clears
the air murky with subterfuges, and leaves both
parties to the quarrel in better condition for the
struggle inasmuch as they now see where
their own lines are and can get a fair view of the
enemy's position.
On these topics so much has been said that IL
seems like waste Of energy to go over the ground
again. But there is one essay ppon which, as can
easily he seen, the whole book really turns IL
summarizes the authors views respecting theology,
and adds an element which. he was specially htten
to treat, namely, the relation Of theology to an
thropology Perhaps some will be disposed to
resent his point of view, but 10 is to be imagined
that not only men Of science but practical
men will he inclined to sympathze with him IN
REGARDING theology 50 far this is part OF human
development "as natural product Of the opera
tions of the human mind, under the conditions
Of its existence, just as any other branch OF
science or the arte Of architecture, or music. or
painting, are such products. Like them theology
has history. Like them also it is TO he met with
in certain simple and rudimentary forms; and
these can be connected by multitude Of gra-
dations which exist or have existed among people
Of various ages and races, with the most highly
developed theologies OF past and present times.
II one inspccts these sentences he will find that
they really admit Of supernaturalism, and in fact
Mr.. Huxley does not pretend TO shut out super
naturalism from any part Of the universe. lie
only asks, in accordance with his legitimate
function az n non-beiever. m agnostic. for more
satisfactory proofs than those who insist on the
supernatural factor have been in the habit OF CIV
ing Probably there is something sardonic in
his emphatic inquiry after evidence, but there is
no need Of modelling with that point here.
Assuming that theology can be studied in the
manner customary with other phases OF human
activity and progress he takes up the theologi-
cal history Of the Israeites az most likely to be
familiar to everybody. He supposes the books
of Judges and Samuel to be the most archaic of
The Old Testament writings that is. the onens
least modified by subsequent renovation. Start
yrh
sccm to him to preserve the purest forms of ancient
belief. lie analyses in succession the account OF
Saul's visit to the Witch of Endor. and other
places in which the word Elohim occurs in order
10 show that the Israelites OF the period preced-
ing the Hebrew Kingdom and even In the early
years OF royalty, used this word to describe what
would now be called ghosts as well as dcities;
and that all these beings, whether disembodied
spirits or Of superhuman origin, were supposed 10
have the form Of man, and to be capable OF
ordinary human passions to be irritable. violent
C pable Of hatred, anger and malevolencc. The
term was also applied indiferenty to the God OF
Israel and to the gods Of neighborng natiors os
in the message of Jtphthah. Judge Of Israeli to
the King of the Ammonites: So now the Lord
God Jehovah. tie Elohim) Of Israel hath dispos-
scsscd tie Ammonitcs from before his people
Israel, and shouldst thou possess it? Wilt not
thy Elohim,, givcth thee TO possess ?' The differ
ence. Mr.. Huxley maintains, was ono Of degree,
rot Of kind among the various Elohim which
comprised not only the Deity whom tho Hebrew
monotheists worshpped but also the divinities
of other nations, the vlsitant Of the soothsayer,
and the heeting apparitions Of the night. lie
argues that il was not until the prophetic period
and then only among the wiser few that Jehovah
was conceived as wholly different from the
ordinary run Of supcrhuman eXistenccs lie In
eists that the absence OF any real distinction
among the Elohim of different ranks was fact
correlated with "the absence OF any sharp de-
limitation between the various kinds OF people
who serve as tile media Of communication be-
tween them and men, The character Of divincr,
seer and prophet was undivided in the case OF
Samuel, while as priest though not Of the prlestly
tribe, he took possession Of the Levite's portion
Of the sacrifice This hypothesis that the Elohim
were at the final analysis mere ghosts points
back to a beginning in ancestor worship, and Mr..
Huxley explains the teraphim or household images
as showing that this family religion exemplifed
in the customs OF China and Of the classic nations
also, undcrlay the faith of the Hebrews The
ephod put on by the priest he supposes TO have
had from the earliest times necromantc
theurgic efficacy.
While there will probably be two opinions as TO
the fidelity of this description TO the beliefs OF the
old Israelites it is probably that there will be no
hesitancy IN agreeing upon its accuracy as re-
Election, mutatis mutandis, OF beliefs prevalent
throughout Western ASIA in the times Of Chal-
daean and Assyrian supremacy. That fact con-
ceded ghosts and ancestor worship remain as
aood criterion OF anthrorologcal facts as they
would be under Mr.. Iluxley's view Of the case
The comparison, however, includes field socially
ard politically different from that to which he
confined it, While he was dealing with hermit
nation, the Hebrews, it was easy to pass without
thought over facts Of lnlercommunicaton, Of
transmission from race to race, and Of mutual in