The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-20
ABBOT VIEWS
SHARED BY MANY
BIBLE NOT ACCEPTED AS FINAL
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY.
ALI Leading Religious Teachers Accept
Notifications of Theology Made Nee
essary by the Theory Of Evolution
and the Findings Of Higher Criticism.

In the opinion OF several Minneapolis
ministers, the brief excerpt from an
address by DR.. Lyman Abbott on his
view of the basis of religion does not
warrant the assumption that there is
anything heretical or, even startling in
his complete statement. And nothing
is more certain than that he will not
be called to account for his views, for
heresy trials are thing Of the past
in the Congregational church, and DR..
Abbott is fully understood to represent
no one but himself in his statement Of
opinions and beliefs. as
Rev. G. S. Rollins Of Park Avenue
Congregational church found. the ex-
cerpt insufficient foundation for any
general comment on DR.. Abbott's po-
sition. He said: <.
cdr. Abbott statement, my God
is great and ever-present force, which
is manifest in all the activities Of man
and all the workings of nature is the
Christian doctrine of divine imminence,
or the belief that God manifests him
self in all life and nature. This doc
trine is shared by the pantheistic, re-
ligions, and the belief Of Christianity
that distinguishes it from these re-
igions of the east is in the personality
of God. DR.. Abbott does not include
statement of this in the extract
quoted, but it does not necessarily fol-
low that he has given it up, altho that
may seem to be the inference.
"His rejection Of the Bible as the
ultimate authority in religion is shared
by large proportion of the ministry
and laity. Instead, the human con-
this is no new doctrine, and I think
that his address will be found to be
only striking presentation Of views
generally accepted among progressive
theologians.
DR.. Marion D. Shutter of the Church
of the Redeemer (Universalist) said:
"The extracts from DR.. Abbott g ser.
mon are so brief, that one runs some
risk in expressing an opinion. Just
er believe in first great cause is not
SO clear and seems to need some further
explanation, but the following sentence
is clear enough, and also the one begin
ing L believe in a God who is in anC
thru and Of everything,'' and in this he
the New Testament statement: 'One
God and Father of all who is over al
and thru all and in ALL
cdr. Abbott s conclusions concerning
God and the Bible are not at all sur
prising to those who have followed the
course of modern science and modern
gious teacher today, who does not accep1
the notifications Of theology made nee
essary by evolution, or who does not. &C
cept the results Of the higher criticism
This statement is not only true of thu
so-called 'liberals,,' but it is also true 9:
the so-called orthodox The whole
world of religious thought has beer
changing. This fact has been recog
nized and voiced certainly in my owl
pulpit. The Bible will always remain
the supreme book Of religion and moral
itY; but it is no longer regarded as in
fal1ible in its science and history AM
theology. Dr., Abbott is right when b
says that the ten compartments grey
ed in the human heart and are teste'
and strengthened by human experience
Other ENTHUSIASTICALLY the EgyR2t;ia:
prove the unity and divinity of man
) kind rather than the divinity of book
: one. Having for years taught, an
| preached what I believe Or; Abbot
means, my only surprise is that his idea
: should have awakened so much com
} ment.' -.-- .,