Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-10
FOR SUNDAY READING.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
All sorts Of Opinions.
DOGMA AND CHRISTIANITY,

when newspapers indulge in sernoniz-
ing. they step outside of their domain.
The editor is alayman, let him remain a
layInan. In our Sunday reading column
herewith is a sermon from the New
York Sun. 1t is safe 10 assert no more
orthodox sermon was ever delivered in
a pulpit.
We print today, in another column,
a letter criticising the position of the
Sun concerning science and religion as
the author assumes 1t to be The es-
sence of it all is contained in this re-
mark: Christian thought is the genius
of modern thought. Christian thought
can not escape the Fundamental Law OF
thought itself. and it is more and more
lalgning itself on the side cf truth. not
on the side of dogma. As an illustra-
ltion of his meaning the writer refers to-
a recent address at Cooper Institute by
| q Unitarian minister on Religion Re-
duced TO It's Simplest Forms
Nov, according to the Unitarian the
! DRY, ard also the theory Of our core
/ spondent. the authority Of Jesus con-
sists only in the intrinsic truth Of His
! Gospel and does not at all depend on
/ any dogma of His Divis2e authority as
/ proclaimed by all orthldax fhpology; it
! is rather in what He taught. ghan in His
( authority as a supernatural being. In
4 vested With the garinenser humanity.
4 Their philosophy classics Jesus With
imerely human teachers and thus re-
rnoves and destroys the basis of Chris
titan faith--renders II unnecessary.
! Moreover, if the teachings of jesus are
$50 regarded and treated they are at
ionce brought within the sphere of criti-s
A cal examination, as the jews. for in
Stance. insist on bringing thsm. There
/ they are open to discussion and contro-
versy on their merits simply. A few
4 years ago distinguished Hebrew critic
lassalled the Christian philosophy as in-
! culeating a system of Thought and con-
i duct dangerous to the welfare Of society
! in ito communistic features and It's
ldoctrine of non-reslstance for example.
i II ii was actually applied in human 500
Eeiety, he commended, the who'll social or
gaIiZation would be broken up and civ-
Utilization would degenerate into barbar-
Iism, for the Law of struggle and coulps-
4 tition for superiority would be abrogat-
8 cd and the progress of society would i,e
Isegulated ny the movement possible to
4 the feeb.esl
This is only an illustration Of what
4 would hefall If the theory Of our core
4 sponGent WAS adopted generally by
Ecaristians. Instead % there beng unity
Land agreement in accepting Christianity
4 Is true religious thought there would
be even more diversity regarding ii
than there is nov. when the church.
thru the degmas of the l,ieafna ton and
Iredemptiony asserts divine and therefore
disappointment authority II ii is only
j human in its origin It's measure of value
y also is human oniy and it can b. al.
property criticised and controverteti az
is the philosophy OF Herbert Spencer or
the teaching Of Maiaouned. II no Longer
. stands alone. but must be considered or
I its merits as a human production anc
: comparable With Other religious philos-
: ophies, ancient and modern. Such would
9 be the consequence Of the distinction o
: dogma. for which our CORRESPONDENT
| lcontends.
II would involve a Religious reveiutiel
unsxampled in the history of ths warid
$ Inc church. Catholic or Protestant eauiS
survive it. the unity which wetia IN,
3 issue Would be unity in the rejection @
Christian theology In place 9f bslie
IN divine authority there woald stsf i
l critical controversy as TO t7s ieasfiaa
! i}lstless and PRACTICAL va'ufS q l!se s9t;ia
land ethical teachings of Han VII
g lived nineteen hundred Years asa
1t Is the fashion OF such nliatis as o,l
e eorrespondent 70 dsride dogma, but OF
fonly authority for g superr;iiliHal reli
g g!cn must necessarily be dogma All te