Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-05
rs RELIGION DECLlNING9

An editorial in a publication called
the Brown Book while arguing that
the world is growing better, regrets the
decline OF the church II aliirms that
the sum of enlightenment" is greater,
but fears that 1.-THE tremendously pow
erful factor Of the church several hun
bred years ago has been supplanted by
reason That "men no longer fear God
or Satan or the DEGREES Of the church,
or threats Of eternal punishment 1t
declares that with the spread OF his
tory and science has come the know
ledge that there Is no such place as
Hell, that Satan is "a fairy-tale indi-
yldual" that the church being com
posed OF men Is fallibe like men, and
that God Is a being Of Love, not Of
Fear II Is claimed further that "the
world has learned that salvation comes
not through the church. but through
mans own efforts 10 create character"
The writer expresses his own position
in these words; II like best the relig-
ion that a man creates for himself to
NJ his time and place, and not the or
ganIzed creeds and systems OF the
past"
There is In those opinions an admix-
ture OF truth and error. The facts set
forth are in a large measure correct,
The conclusions drawn therefrom are
not warranted by their recognition.
II Is true that the world has rapidly
grown Intellectually. Religion has not
kept pace with science and with the
progress o. the human mind That
Is because the forms Of religion are
virtually dead That which is without
vitality can make no progress This
fact however does not preclude the
idea that true religion il a thing Of life
and force, end consequently OF growth
and development Not that truth
changes with age or circumstance, but
rather that It may be added upon, by
the manifestation Of other truths and
OF greater light shed upon the truths
CT old.
1t is a good thing, no doubt, that the
element Of fear which was so proml-
nent in the theology Of the past has
been 10 a large extent eliminated from
the teachings OF the present. And yet It
Is a necessary feature Of all law. both
human and divine. The law Is made
for the transgressor. The fear Of It's
penalties must necessarily form, t.
some extent a deterrent against crime
and sin. II there is 10 be a reward for
the righteous, there must also be pun.
ishment for the wifully wicked. II We
Danish these from religion we must also
shut out God. The Supreme Ruler and
Creator Of the universe has the right q
command obedience 70 His d crees.
which must surely be founded on the
eternal principles Of Justice and mercy.
and, therefore there must be Inevitable
consequences both Of obedience and OF
disobedence, Fear, then, must neccs-
sarily enter into the Influences OF true
religion
The highest conception Of obedience
TO law Is compliance with It because (,
Is rlght without any anticipation Of
either benefits to be received by yleli.
Ing to il or penalties imposed uuon re.
belllon against IT, But mankind In
general have not reached that stage in
human progress, and therefore the doc.
trlne Of reward aud punishment must
have force and tfIcct in order 20 bring
about the end desired. Every individual
Is to be judged according 20 his
works" Man is a free agent TO the cx-
tent that he can know right goa.
wrong and act IN accordance with bis
vollton IN relation TO both. Therefore
the doctrine OF retribut.on Is rational
and must form a part Of the divine
'NHHNiHsa
The literal Hell-nre Of the pr-aoh "a
has not very much Of a searching or
soaring effect upon the majority Of PEG
ple nowadays, but that docs not. ana
should not destroy belief 10 condition
and a place, or conditions and places.
of adequate punishment FOR the trans
grcssor Justice win Undoubtedly al
some time ciaim its own. and
when 1t is satisfied. mercy viii also
demand its rights. Hell, then. ia its
rue sense, cannot be thrust out OF re-
ieion AZ myth. nor can Satan. as
lie embodiment Of The principle VI evil.
'e truihfully declared noncnuiy.
Though the teachers Of Theology have
tone into terrible extremes In the pro-