New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
TERACLTY IN RELIGION.

In the last issue of The Independent Pro
fessor GOldwin Smith replies TO a recent criti-
cism Of his book ''Guesses at the Riddle OF
Existence" in which he makes plea for verac-
ity in dealing with religious dogmas that Is per-
tinent and timely. The book in question, it
may he explained takes the ground that man.
kind will soon cease TO believe in any super
natural religion. During the transition period
the race will experience IA bad quarter of an
hour" owing TO the disappearance of moral
sanction But it will eventually get used to a
purely materialistic basis of conduct and con-
tinue the evolution upward and onward which
has thus far been the law of its existence.
For putting forth this view THE Independent"
called the book "A whitening one. both to those
who have faith and to those who are cropping
'in the dark toward it"
But Professor Smith objects to this condem-
nation of his views, not so much because they
are untrue as because they will have certain
unpleasant or regrettable results I'm the
present situation" he says, "our salvation lies
lin asking not whether the thing is whitening
''or reviving, hut whether it is false or true.
IF it is false It will not he found reviving:
nor, if it is true will II be found whitening in
the end. The theological forum abOunds
lin temporizing apologists who in their not
unnatural desire to save cherished tradition
truth. Before me lies a new Life of Christ,
"the work of one of the most eminent writer's
''of this school, throughout which the question
whether Christ was God or man is studiously,
mot to say artfully, evaded. Instead of stat
ing his own conviction the writer vOucheS the
authority of the Nicene Fathers, in whose in
"falibility it is impossible to suppose that he
"can believe. What good can be done by this?"
Now, Professor Smiths views of religion may
be wholly erroneous, and yet the plea for
veracty which he makes here is sound in prin-
ciple and should be especially needed by Chris
tians to-day. No one who reads current Chris
tan literature can fail TO notice how often the
defenders of dogma against the arguments Of
unbelieyers content themselves with saying that
the surrender of this or that doctrine or ira
dition would produce certain disagreeable con-
sequences Yet the only question really at issue
is the truth or fasity of the doctrine assailed.
And in this age, when veracity is becoming
more and more the ruling passion of the race,
it is the one question that has any interest for
thinking men. 1t is always easy to conjure up
the appalling consequences that will follow the
giving up of some old law or custom and the
adoption of some new theory Within the
memory of men still living hundreds of eminent
divines were denOuncng the theory of evolution
and showing how it would destroy all credibil-
ity in Christianity. But evolution is accepted
and taught to-day by many Christian ministers,
and it is no longer considered inconsistent with
q sincere belief in Christian revelation.
AS to Professor Smiths assertion that belief
in the supernatural is dying out it is still only
theory, and it is denied by many others quite
as competent as he to form Judgment in the
case. But it is no argument against the theory
to picture the evils that would follow from its
acceptance. For, should ii turn out TO be true,
it will come finally to be accepted anyhow
Two courses are open to the modern defender
of supernaturalism He can assume that il
rests on a Divine revelation to man. In that
case he is under no obligation to bring forward
any proofs in its favor except the bare assertion
of the divinely commissioned church and priest
hood. Or he can assume that the supernatural
dogmas of Christianity can be proved to the
reason of man But whichever of these courses
he elects to take he must abide by the conse-
quenCeS of his choice. If he rests his case on a
Divine revelation he must not try TO rationalize
some supernatural dogma in order to make it
more palatable to the reason. He must be
content to say that it is divinely true even
though it transcends contradicts reason. Or
if he contends that Christianity is capable of
rational proof, like any other historical fact he
must abide by the laws of evidence even when
they make against the cTedibity of some doc
trine which he considers essential He cannot
declare that Christianity is ready to meet the
severeSt tests of scientific investigation and
then, when Investigation appears to disprove
some cherished view take refuge in the asser-
ton that the view in question is part of a
Divine revelation and therefore to he accented
whether ii can he proved or not