The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-01


Sermon on the Mount is in no
particular religion of form. On the
contrary it condemns the scribes and
pharisees for making religion matter
of ceremonial observance, and empha-
sizes right doing as the only true basis
for religion. The religion of Jesus was
marked by absolute simplicity. 1t pre-
scribed no forms nor days nor seasons.
Jesus himself observed the Jewish
forms of worship, the various fasts and
festivals required by Jewish laws and
customs; but he continually protested
against their ritualistic tendencies,
and condemned the scribes and phar-
isees for their complacent self-right-
eousness in observing forms and cere-
monies while neglecting the common
duties in their daily lives.
It seems almost like a traVesty upon
the earnest simplicity of his life and
teachings that his followers should
have esta blished in his name rituals
tic form of worship even more elabor-
ate and ceremonious than the forms
which he condemned.
Several circumstances helped to bring
this about. The most notable of these
was the adoption of Christianity in the
fourth century as the religion of the
Roman empire. Prior to this the serv-
ice of the Christian church had been
exceedingly simple. But from this time
on ii began to take on those ceremonial
forms which in later centuries entirely
obscured the simple teachings of the
humble Nazarene. These forms were
no part of Christianity: but they were
a very essential part of Imperialism.
Pomp and ceremony were necessary
adjunctS to the power of the Roman
loaded down with the trappings of
ceremonial forms, not in obedience TO
the teachings or wishes of its founder,
but in direct opposition TO his teach
ings and in order TO subserve the in
terests of imperial power in Rome.
This was a favorite method used by
ancient rulers in retaining power over
the populace. And Christianity was
forced to lend itself to this use. The
New Testament writings, some of
which extended into the second cen
fury, show a considerable mixture with
Greek philosophy, and especially with
the dualism of Plato; but nowhere in
the New Testament can be found any
sanction for that gross materialistic
Journalism adopted by the church of
Rome. This was something which was
engrafted by Roman imperialism.
Another influence which helped to
divert Christianity from it's primitive
simplicity into a religion of form was
that is was superimposed upon the
forms and customs of pagan wor-
ship already established among the
people Emperor Constantine could
compel the acceptance of Christianity
as the state religion. But one thing
he could not do, even if he had wished
it No imperial edict could take
away the religious festivals and pro-
cessions and ceremonies which had
come to be cherished among the Gus
toms of the people Christianity was
unable to abolish the old pagan festi-
walls. So it adopted them and gave to
them a sort of Christian significance,
Thus Lent, Easter, Christmas, and
other occasions which have since been
made so much of, were in fact old
pagan observances. which were merely
adopted by the church of Rome.
These observances having been
once established, il was easy to keep
them up This has been partly be-
cause the same imperial motive which
caused them to be first adopted as
part of the Christian church still con-
tinued to keep them alive. The power
of pomp over the senses of the people
has always been great in monarchal
countries Nor has it entirely lost its
force under modern forms of alleged
government. The forms and cere-
monies of the Christian church have
always lent themselves readily to the
use OF arbitrary power.
But another very powerful influence
to preserve the use of ancient forms
and customs in religion has been the
natural conservatism of the religious
instinct. In a religion based on arbi-
trary authority and a fixed revelation,
there is no room for change or even
investigation. Everything prescribed,
no matter from what source or by
what authority, must be accepted as
binding and final. To question the
validity of anything connected with
it would be sacrilege. Hence the most
absurd and meaningless forms in re-
ligion have been kept up even to the
present day. although they have been
long ago outgrown in the minds of
thinking people. Until recently they
have not been brought into the light of
rational investigation. They were re-
garded as too sacred to permit any
question as to their validity.
But now that the advance of science
has compelled religion to submit to ra
tional tests. we may inquire without
hindrance of any kind into the real
relation of form TO religion. We are no
longer held back by the dead hand of
the past. But we may investigate the
question as one for our own time and
conditions.
Form and ceremony made I'D the
earliest stage of religion. Even before
creeds came the religion of cult, the
Offering of sacrifices, incense. oblations
and homage on the affairs built for the
gods The purpose was to please or
propitiate the Diety so that he would
favor the worshiper. The underlying
idea was that the gods demanded such
homage and would be angry if it was
not paid. Then, too. the forms of altar
service made necessary a priestly or
der; and the priesthood became inter
ested in perpetuating their Office. In
every form of religion there has been
this tendency TO altar service The
prophets, with clearer vision, have al
ways denounced it, and in every land
we see this antagonisTn between the
priests and the prophets. This was
notably true in the old Jewish religion, |
as pictured in the Old Testament books
of the Bible. While the priests were
offering sacrifice and receiving tith-
ings. the prophets were declaring in |
thunder tones that God was not
pleased with all this empty altar serv- !
ice. that he was weary with vain obla-
lions. the blood of bullocks and rams |
and he goats, that incense and fast
DAYS and seasons were an abomin- |
alton to him, that what he wanted was |
right conduct among the people, good /
ness. honest lives, lips that speak the |
truth. hands ready to help the needy, |
hearts that were filled with love and
kindness and sympathy. Jesus was a |
years of mis- preaching were filed with I
So f,