The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1901-12-02
THE orFs1DE HABIT.


BY the offside habit we mean the
habit in religious discussion OF assert
ing ones escape from the conventional
faith by dwelling on the objections to
belief, and making the most of the ar
guments for disbelief in the current re-
ligious tenets of the church. 1t is a
frequent tone of mind found among
young students; it exhibits certain
righteousness of thought, but even
more, it fatters the offside disputant
with the comfortable assurance OF his
independence of the traditions OF his
fathers. He feels that he is thinking
for himself, that he is the slave of no
ole dogma, that he is ready to sacrifice
tradition to truth. But the offside at
titude is not the true inquirer'S attl-
tude. The true inquirer cannot acquire
an offside habit. His business is to
seek eagerly and impartially for the
indications of truth. If his mind is
balancing its evidences he will just as
freely consider the arguments that
make for religious faith as those that
make against it, and Will be just as
likely to call attention to them. He
cannot be an offside man. The fact is
that offsidedness Is not the temper OF
an inquiring man, but of a slack and
listless mind, or at least mind either
inert or unwilling to give serious at
tention to the subject involved. This Is
particularly true when the subject is
one SO personal in its nature as is re-
ligion. Religion involves duty and
conduct. A conclusion reached may
affect profoundly ones whole manner
of life. This ought to be reason for
| careful investigation of all the data
| available to reach conclusion; but in
| stead OF that it is likely to be a reason
| for delaying and avoiding conclusion
| in order that one may. as long as pos
sibla. escape the possible obligation to
| accept in conduct and life the result to
| be reached. In this case the easiest
way Is to hang off, to dwell in thought
and in conversation on the offside and
| make this emphasis in the objections
| to religious faith way OF pacifying
ones conscience as to the duty OF
| reaching a conclusion one way or the
other. There is nothing noble and
brave about this dallying and nibbltne
offside habit; 1t is rather timorous and
| culpable Far better is the earnest
spirit which seeks conclusion In
opinion and conduct and then attempts
to proselyte others to it. We respec,
| a man who has a mind of his own
and all the more If he feels enough
responsibility for the right thinking
and right conduct of the community tt
attempt to bring them over to hi:
opinions. We feel his approval with
out regard to the supposed CORRECTNESS!
of the conclusions reached and urged
it is the earnest purpose that we ap
prove We cannot help liking posi-
tiveness; the man who wilfully dan
giles in the air, hooked like Hlnd'
fakir, resting neither in heaven nor OF
the earth, is not sight to inspire en-
thusiasm in others or to do any good
Such a man in business would neve
take a venture or win a fortune. Thinl
of such a man. He is considering tn
purchase of a property; he VIII no
make up his mind; he refuses to bal
ance the arguments for with argu
ments against and then let the weigh
settle into decision but thinks onl
of the difficulties, the dangers, and doe
nothing Why is it any less FOOLS
in matters of religious faith to talk c
nothing but the objections, while We
admitting that they may not be cor
| elusive? 1t is the part of WiSdo1
either to accept or to reject the CHRIS
tian life and the profession of tn
Christian faith. A probable conclr
| sion any one can reach that wants t.
| II one reached no conclusion, II
keeps swinging on the tenterhooks {
| that he does not want to make d.
cis.on. He prefers, either through mel
tai lazineSs or from unwill1ngnesS,
accept d likely conclusion, or throus
moral cowardice to give himself tt
liberty of a life for which he Is willtr
!, to apologize, but which he cannot VII
| orously defend. In either case the OF
. side is not manly or commendable.
is the last thing on which one shou
pride himself-The Independent.