The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-19

there? And perhaps ave begun to
reckon them up. Should it be said in
answer that there is but one religion
the answer would be undoubtedly, yes,
would come from the Buddha and
Bramm, as we'll as from the Christian.
But modern knowledge has shown that,
in a different sense from all this. there
be many theologies, there is but n re-
ligion. Religion is everywhere the same;
theology Isl everywhere different. Ike
ligion is eternal in its nature, and. al
though its external manifestations change
and differ in the fitch, the Jew, the
Buddhist, the Christian. still it's heart,
its essence, is the same in all. They are
all striving to get into better RELATIONS
with God. And under every sky, labelled
by different religious names, from the
lowest barbarism to the highest civilf-
same impulse, the recognition of a.high-
er and outside power and a relation in
which they stand to that power.
THE PRINCIPLE ABIDES.
some theology die, but the underlying
principle of these abides. The heart, the
soul, the principle is eternal. There is
necessity of change in religion in its
religion. only it's cloak. There is but
one religion, but one central truth ex-
pressed in more or less fullness in all
the systems. Religion is mans thought
COltCCI III Tx ACi1CiOA IL nliiSli AIC
stands to the universe, or the power
outside himself. This consciousness of
dependence on this something, this all
~pervading power is the essential ele-
TENS but represents the various stages
in its developments. This has been
brought out distinctly by the study of
comparative theology.
EXALTED CONCEPTIONS.
Although this has altered our views
somewhat, it has not deprecated but
exalted our conceptions of Christianity.
The truth of Christianity has been made
to depend on it's supernaturalism, and
stand or fail with a certain view of
miracles, the validity of which depends
on an infallible record. But the real
question today is not whether our re-
acles true, or the New Testament in
spired; but back of this stands the ques-
ton, is Christianity intended by God
to be the religion of all mankind? Is
it only one among natural religions? Art
thou He that should come or are we
to look.for another?
The defenders Of Christianity have
naturalism and infallibility, and have
missed the right road The method of
establishing Christianity today is not
to prove it true but to show it true. This
line has been opened up by the science
of comparative theology. For, if it APP
pears after a survey of the great re-
ligions of the world, that they are etnnic
and local while Christianity is universal,
that they are. defective, possessing some
truths and lacking others, while Chris
tianity possesses all, and that they are
stationary while Christianity is progress
sive, the victory would be won. And
We would need no longer to bolster up
the untenable doctrine of supernatural
ism. BY such a survey we will see that
Christianity IS adapted to the needs Of
mankind, that this a~daptability is more
complete than in any other religion, and
from adaptation we infer design and
know that it is the religion destined
to become universal-truly the fttest
shall survive This comparison of re-
ligions shows US that while most of them
are confined Within the limits of races
hat Christianity has passed over these
limits and shown its adaptiveness to
become the religion of ell races. This
comparative theology also shows us that
while the ethnic religions are one-sided,
containing some truth, but wanting a
corresponding truth, Christianity is uni
verSal-complete on every side.
PROGRESSIVE CREED.
Comparison will also show US hat
the ethnic religions are arrested while
the Christian religion is capable of pro-
erosion. Christianity alone is the only
religion that has shown it's ability to
keep abreast with modern knowledge,
and it has blossomed out into modern
science, literature and art. 1t Is the
only religion, It would seem, capable of
accompanying man in his progress.
christianity has assimilated the es-
sential ideas of the Persian, Judaian,
Egyptian, Roman and Grecian religions,
and each has been absorbed by it.
VIII the remaining religions be taken
up and Christianity become universal?
| believe it will, for it is capable of CIV
ing all the truth the other religions con-
tain, and supplying something more.
Because it is fitted to be, it will become
the universal religion. The distinction,
then, between Christianity and other
religions is one of 'fullness of life.
Some have said that Christianity was
supernatural and other natural, Chris
tianity divine, and others human, Chris
tianity revealed, and others unrevealed
But all truth is revealed and comes from
God; and, as the other religions con-
tain truth, they contain revelations.
There is a divine element in all religions,
and a broad human element in Christi
anity. The great distinction between
other religions and Christianity is that
they are local, while Christianity is uni
versal. And while other religions hay
become stationary, Christianity has prog
ressed and kept pace with the rapid ad-
vances of modern knowledge. Arrest of
growth is the first symptom of decay;
let us not arrest its development, lest 1t
decline and fail like the religions of Per
sia and Rome. 1t has developed out of
its primative faith several great theolo-
gies, the medieval Papacy, Protestant
ism, and IS now advancing into a new
and larger form of religions and moral
activity. Let US aid the advance and bid
it Gods speed"
arm WATT A1rNyrrnun