The record-union., 1894-06-09
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought Of the Day as
Expressed Ia the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest," to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Some Matters OF Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
Most of the internal evils with which
the church has to contend at the present
day have resulted from superficial grasp
of the science of theology ITSELF" asserts
the LfUing Church (P. e. of Chicago.
" oung men, and sometimes older men,
forget that they owe it as duty to their
own lntellects. first to attain a thorough
knowledge of the system they represent.
and OF which they undertake to be the
exponents, before they allow themselves
to enter into new and perhaps antagonis-
tic fields of research, however enticing or
popular they may be. 1t is very noticea-
bic that much of the New Theology So
called, in opposition to the old, is based
upon misconception of what the 'Old
Theology is. Novel and dazzling inter-
pretations of religion are propounded to
provide for needs, instincts or aspirations
of humanity, which it is assumed that
the traditional teachings of the church
have ignored. Men quite ignorant of
what the incarnation means. as set forth
in the great writers of the church in all
ages, relegating to the lumber-room un-
read the records of Christian thought,
have eagerly embraced grand schemes
OF modern thinkers chiefly derived from
alien sources. They have filled the gap
which they imagined TO exist in catholic
theology with pantheistic or semi-pan-
theistic theories; reviving the stoicism of
later Greek philosophy. mingled with the
speculations of Indian sages, the whole
welded into shape in modern German
workshops and presented TO Us finally as
the New Theology"
Referring to a series of articles upon
"Our Theological Seminaries," which it
has been publishing, the Congregational
iSt of Boston says: ''Ihe new movements
are Indicated IN the titles OF the articles
applied Christianity, new theology, soci-
ology and field work, an educational
scheme, Bible study, progressive ortho-
doxy. The leading teachers in
our seminaries frankly claim to be re-
formers in theology. They recognize the
fact that q restatement of doctrines is de-
manded, and they are striving to meet
the demand. That this restatement is
radical in its aim can hardly be denied.
Some professors may claim that they are
only bringing about a readjustment of
the framework OF the old system of New
England theology, but their readjust-
ment begins at the foundation. The the
ology OF Edwards, Hopkins, Emmons,
Taylor and Park, with its various modi-
hcations as presented by these great
teachers, is no longer dominant in any
OF our seminaries. Ii the change now GO
ing on may be brie1y characterized, it
appears that the starting point for the ev-
licences Of supernatural religion is not
testimony of the Holy Spirit, in the
hearts of believers, and in the church
composed of believers through the ages
of its history. The Bible has come to be
regarded, not as code of rules or store
house of proof texts, but as the highest
record of Christian experience which is
to be interpreted only by experience
similar in it's character. Biblical theolo-
gy thus becomes the basis of systematic
theology, which is being reconstructed
by new and diligent research into the
Bible"
"Not in the church, any more than in
the State, is there any necessity for una
nimity of opinion or uniformity of prac-
tice," says the Christian Register (Unit.)
of Boston. "Men do not think alike and
act together under compulsion. or be-
cause they must, but because they can
and because they care for the same
things. Corporation is easy and inevi-
table when any enterprise or object is
recommended TO US by it's merits. Even
agreement in matters of belief is best Sc
cured by the methods of liberty and light;
by encouraging every man to inquire for
himself, to use his own eyes and to stand
to the honest verdict of his own faculties.
Mankind will live together on this planet
more comfortably and on better terms
when we leave each other perfectly free;
when 1t is well understood that no man
or com bination may exercise domin-
ion over conscience or faith, aud that one
mans rights end where another's begin.'
Until those who profess and call them
selves Christians can learn this lesson of
simple justice, they will give occasion to
the adversary to speak reproachfully,
they will weaken the hold of religion
upon intelligence and affection, and will
make of non-effect some of the deepest
spiritual teachings of the Master"
"What we wish particularly to point
out is the fact that true toleration is a
very different thing from Indifference"
exclaims the New York Churchnsaa (P.
e.. There is danger that people should
be quite tolerant of the differences in par
ticular forms of religious belief, because
as matter Of fact they are utterly intol-
Grant of religion as principle of life and
ethics. The unbeliever cannot be called
tolerant man. He has no church in
which he believes, and all churches are
to him intolerable, as institutions of
truth and righteousness. He excludes
Christianity from his life, and, if possi-
bic, from his home, because he disbeIieves
in slI religious institutions. He cannot
persecute by law, but he often concen-
trates the spirit of rabid intolerance in a
sneer or jest. His very indifference
may be buta disguised form ofintolerance.
Now the essence of all real liberation is
sympathy. The tolerant Christian does
not abate one jot his steadfastness and
constancy in adhering to his own faith,
but he feels that another man, living in
the light of another phase of truth, is not
to be hated or mocked. Perhaps he is
not always TO be argued with, but sim
cere wish for his enlightenment is per-
fectly consistent with liberation towards
his error. This attitude of considerate-
ness is, in fact, one of the most persuasive
instruments of conciliating those who
are not believers. 1t is consistent with
the most intense zeal and the most eager
enthusiasm, but these two qualities are
tempered and directed by love, and the
combination thus formed is the virtue of
Christian toleration."
s'If it be said that other nations recorded
events as produced by the gods. this again
brings out the superiority of the jewish
annals" remarks the New York Chris
tiaaa IlatelLigencer (Ref1. "Other histo-
ries present warning diyinities animated
by base passions, moved by jealousy,
partiality, paying Off old scores and seek
ing personal advantages. Jupiter has
his favorite and helps him, Juno has
hers, Venus another, Mars another, and
these deities are engaged in unseemly
strife If Achilles and Hector fight, one
deity or group of deities aids one, another
one or group helps the other, and so his
tory is written when Greece and Rome
have reached the summit of their intel
lectual achievements. But in the Jewish
history holy, just and good law which
every mans conscience approves is adj