The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19
QUESTIONS OF RELIGION.
DISCUSSED By CORREsPoVDESIs OF
VkKTIN8 views.
A Call for 1. Champion of Orthodoxy.

A Call for q Champion of Orthodoxy.
To TEE EDrroR or THE sUS--Siri A number
Of persons here have been very much inter-
ested IN the religious discussion In The Sun.
Half century aRo listened TO the preaching
Of tho old fashioned Presbyterian divines. one
OF them no less a power in that Church than
James T. Dckey. father Of l.. Dickey. who
wa. for years Chief Justice OF the supreme
Court OF Illinois. We we're told that the Bible
was written by holy men as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost" that every
word came from God. and had been mirscu-
lousy preserved In perfect state. the Old
Testament from the time OF Moses. through
the days OF David. Solomon. Samuel and the
Prophets: that the New Testament had been
given from the same source to the Apostles.
saints snd revelators, and that TO change ono
lot or title OF 1t would insure eternal damnation
and bring upon that person all the plaques
that are written In this book" We were told
that when the teachings OF Christ were given
they were new to the world.
Now. famous preachers, great professors. and
more than one OF the great institutions OF
learning are telling Us that our religion Is pri-
msriiy based on tho myths OF Chaldea. Egypt.
Babylonia. India aud Persia Excavations In
the old lands. the bricks, the tab cts and the
papyr are supporting the new teachings OF tho
higher criticism. The stories OF the creation.
tne Ihll OF man, lne UeluRp, unI Olntts
from these remains OF antiquity. and now we
know that they are thousands Of years older
than any part OF our Bible. within my time
geology has utterly disproved the story % the
creation and given US evidence. now scarcely
questioned by anybody OF an evolution that
must have lasted Tor millions OF years. We
now know that man has risen for a long. long
time but we lack evidence Of his ever having
fallen.
The Old Testament consists mainly OF a rec
ord OF blood. robbery revenge. and tho
slaughter OF nations OF people. men. women
and children. often by direct command OF God.
most infinitely worded The old saints were
guilty OF every crime. The Prophets did. or
caused to be done. the most inconceivabie bar
barities. Surely no enemy OF the Jews could
have written a worse history OF the jews than
they have written Of themselves. Head It,
Head also the Prophets AMI the revelators
over whose writings the Christian world has
for two thousand years pored and dreamed.
differed. disputed quarrelei. and fought
Read them and then ask yourselves whether
they are the words OF God
As to our New Testament, when and by
whom II was written are matters OF very great
uncertainty. 1t Is selection made by men
unknown. at various and uncertain times
from great number OF letters. rpistles. &c.
OF similar character and value. 1t Ii full OF I'M
possible stories. and OF doctrines not capable
OF being understood !! but it remained Tor the
writers of the New Testament to invent the
two most horrible doctrines ever taught: the
doctrine oil an objectionable sin. mystical. un-
defined. a ghastly terror that walked the earth
unknown. u means OF the most fearful tower
in the hands OF prizes hoods: and. second. the
doctrine of u hell. not ,or reformation. not
even for ann h. lation but Tor u reN enge infinite
In degree aud nAnite IN duration. 10 crafty
the infinite malice OF an infinitely cruel uod.
As TO tns h,xner critics ald their followers
like Briggs. AoDo,t. Potter. savage an hun
drods ot preachers aud theolo. ,ans. why do
they belong 10 any OF the Churches: They are
not Christians. Mohammsdau-. MormOns. Jews
or BuddhIsts. Tut belong outside OF any and
all OF the organized religions. The myths uud
miracles. the history and the revelations vi the
Biple are to them essentially OI the same Kind
with those on which the other religions than
Christianity are based.
Why does not some YER table champion oil
orthodoxy step into the arcna-Just now The
SUS-anl give US the Iacts whereby II can to
proved but We must have facts. not fance-.
One mans belief without evidence Is no better
than any other mans. The High Court. COM
posed OF the reader, OF The sun. Is waiting
for somebody To present such evidence.
". Il. LAUGHLIN.
= PlR pnfxr Inwa Nov 1