The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-11-23
Che Cwo Brothers, r. FsY B Hysstss
Controversial Dialogue Between Presbyterian and His
Catholic Brother, Leading Up to Formers Conversion

proposition, but this authority in, on
or by means of which it is believed"
Now. in religious faith, what is
this?"
"The Bible, as all Protestants con-
tend, in opposition to Romanists, who
say it is the Church.
Catholics do not say the Church is
the authority for believing the truth
of the revealed proposition, but simply
for believing it is a revealed PROPOSE
ton; and if you reflect a moment.
you must admit that the Bible is at
best only authority for believing this
or that is revealed. not authority for
believing that what is revealed is true
1--WE recognize no authority above the
Bible"
Then you place the Bible above God
himself. which 1 own is what you
ton; and, if you reflect moment,
have the appearance of doing; but this
cannot be your meaning. All you can
mean is. that, in determining what God
has revealed, the Bible is the highest
authority for determining. But the
Bible, although assumed to be the
highest authority for determining what
God has revealed, is yet no authority
for saying what he reveals is true. Why
who call yourselves Protestants often
through the Bible is true?'
Because it is his revelation, his
word"
That is, you believe it because God
says it. But, in believing it because
God says it, what is it you Immediately
believe?'
God himself"
THAT is, you believe the proposition
because it is Gods word, and you be-
lieve his word because you believe him.
But why do you believe him."
Because it is impossible for him to
lie"
THAT is, because he is infinitely true,
is truth itself and can neither deceive
nor be deceived?"
II have no objection to that"
''Then the object Immediately be-
lieved, in believing a revealed PROPOSE
ton, is the infinite truth or veracity of
God who reveals it."
BE it So
(which in religious faith, then. shall
we say is the more essential point to
be believed-the matter revealed, or the
infinite veracity of God who reveals
it?'
What is the difference?'
THE difference, perhaps, will appear,
if you tell me what it is that makes
the faith religious faith, or distin-
cuisines it, as religious faith, from all
other kinds of faith
1T is religious faith because the
proposition, believed, is a revealed
proposition"
IF 1 believe the proposition, God
exists in unity or essence and trinity
of persons because you teach it or be
cause [ think 1 have discovered and
demonstrated it by my own reason, is
my belief religious belief?"
why not since the proposition in
either case is the same? What differ
ence can it make, if it be believed, for
what reason or on what ground it is
believed"
IF l believe it because you teach it,
I believe you, and what l Immediately
believe is that you are a man of truth
and worthy of credit. Is there any
thing religious in my believing you?"
Not necessarily
"If l believe it because 1 think I
have discovered and demonstrated it
by my own reason, 1 simply believe my
own reason. Is to believe my own rea-
son religious belief?"
Certainly not"
For, if it were. everu belief, whether
intuitive or scientific, would be relig-
ious, and the belief of falsehood as
much as truth: since. in every act of
belief, whether the belief be we'll found
ed or not, [ believe my reason. But if
L believe the proposition, not because
you teach it, not because L discover or
demonstrate it by my own reason, but
because God says it, and therefore be-
cause l believe him, and that he is in
finitely true, and can neither deceive
me nor be deceived, and. furthermore,
because he commands me to believe it,
is my act now religious?"
1T is
Then it would seem that it is be-
lieving and obeying God. which makes
the belief religious belief?"
THAT appears to be so"
Then the more essential point in re-
ligious belief is not simply belief of the
matter revealed, but of God who re-
veals it?'
VERY Well let it be So"
(To Be Continued)