The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
Modern Religion.

| THE Religion OF Tomorrow" by Franz
Crane, is series OF essays upon modern
Christianity, the author holding the ortho-
| dox view. His ideas are those held by q
large part of the modern Christian world
and are notifications of the Christian doc
trines held by all Protestant churches In
common generation ago.
The book contains great deal which
| will be interesting and profitable to those
who agree with the author, but there is
nothing in 1t which is strikingly original.
| 1t Is valuable as a sort Of milestone show
| ing the advance which practical Chris
| tianity has made during the last qui rter
of century.
The author is striving so far as posi-
bic to accept all modern scientific conclu-
sions. and to make his religion logical and
reasonable. He has. moreover-and this Is
more Observation-Disclosures the idea that
"the kingdom Of heaven is within you" that
heaven is not a reward and hell not a
punishment. but that both are states of
mind. into one or the other of which the
human, being naturally falls. He also holds
that the resurrection. not the crucifxion, Is
the cornerstone Of modern Christianity,
and he devotes one chapter to somewhat
elaborate description of the Christian
Church as q person, its childhood being
pure and simple, its youth corrupt, and Its
manhood wise and strong. In this his rea
soning is simply Notwithstanding by
metaphor.
The main idea of Mr.. Crane seems to
be what may be called the hypnotic theory
OF religion. He does not admit that man,
in himself, possesses divine elements, but
rather comedies that he may become good
through the personal influence Of Christ"
Tais view, which is held by a very large
proportion OF the Christian people of to-
day, explains the building of character by
the hypothesis that the possessor throws
himself under the influence Of Christ,
whose personality has much the same
effect. infinitely intensified, as that OF
any great preacher or reformer. Mankind,
according to this, does not originate moral
ideas; they are put into the human mind
by a species Of hypnotic suggestion, to
which the believer must yield II he hopes
to become perfect. How much this lean
ing on an unseen power will accomplish
in the way of developing originality of
thought, or progressive action, is q matter
yet to be discussed. During the Middle
Ages nothing was more common than for
men and women to believe themselves in
direct communication with the spirit of
Christ. and guided by him; and it is q
question whether this belief did not pro-
duce much the same results that reliance
on an actual, living. embodied person
would have. The idea OF the personality
undoubtedly, In some cases, effected what
the personality itself would have done,
but even more powerfully, since it was
unobscured by material influences. The
sway Of great leader is often gReater
after his death than before.
Under this theory, Christ must be regard
ed as The only human being who ever WEB
possessed Of this divine hy pnotic power,
and thus there can be no sal alton through
any other. This declaration, according to
Mr.. Cranes argument, is inevitable. What.
ever is good in the world has been pro-
duced by the abiding influence of God or
of Christ, not as an immanent force, but as |
4 personality. The idea Of scientific law of |
good and evil does not apparently find . |
place in his philosophy. II. under the i'm |
preston that personal Christ looks on |
and Is pleased or grieved at human acts, |
people are led to do right, It undoubtedly |
conduces to comfortable and happy state |
Of things in the world; but there is ques-
tion whether this theory, as q permanent !
md all-embracing plan Of human improve
ment. II exactly scientific.
There will always be some minds, and |
hose among the greatest, which tail to |
respond to the personal influence theory, I
IND demand something less circumscribed l
What Il to be done with these people? /
they ere not provided for in Mr.. Cranes /
plan. and they can hardly be regarded Is /
Interior beings because they do mot, IN his i
accept Christ One can |
lardlH tnasine Charles Darwin, William L
lhkepeace TAaekefay. o. George Nssh- 1
ngteo feeling close porD0nal union With