The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-26
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FREE-THINkING DoGMATIsT At
lacks THE BIBLE.-Thef purpose of
George H. Warmers The fJewlsh Spectre
is evidently to show that the book known
as the Bible is not Of divine origin-is
not Inspired, but is only purely human
document, or series Of documents, Of no
very great value to the world. Indeed
the author asserts that the civilized
world could be happier and better If the
Bible were to disappear, not by slow neg
lect which entails doubt and. sadness,
but by some swift process. I have no
doubt. : Page 173. Beyond this the author
has farther goal. He asks. page 35S,
How soon can the world rid itself Of not
only theocracy but ecclesiasticism?
How much longer can the ecclesian, by
whatever name, by bell or book, make
penal colony Of the next world; or, what
is much worse, make It a material para
disc for those who have sacrificed most
in this life? $3.50 The human soul
swinging along in the infinite meadows Of
space. will at length get free; and I
sometimes dream that it might begin
now to consider this life as part Of its
heritage, free here from ecclesiastical
bonds.'' = 7.%s 4" ... ~.
So much for the purpose Of the work.
In spirit. it is intensely bitter, tho aim
ing to be polite. In this last 1t does not
not always succeed: e.g., the theologian
who enacts laws, proclaims dogmas and
imagines that he holds up the sky" The
bitter is sugar-coated with professions of
profound regard to the suffering laity
who finally see that they must deal for
themselves with the problems of their
! earthly pilgrimage if they are ever to
emerge from the frightful conditions Of
inequality, want and premature death.
! tolerated by the selfish ! alliances of
priest and king" What frightful storms
of suffering are falling on the laity of
the United States by reason of the un-
holy alliances of priest and king!
Mr.. Warner seems utterly unable to
apprehend the meaning and spirit Of the
Bible, and also the meaning, spirit and
Influence of the church on the world. but
my space will not permit further notice
of this side of the case.
Finally, Mr.. Warner writes with dog
matte cocksureness that is altogether
amusing, when one reflects on his abhcr-
renee Of dogmatism on the part Of 9th
ers. 1t is the same whether in the field
of history. of, criticism, of science OF
philosophy. He goes thru all with an
assumed superiority that reminds one OF
the Jove-born hero of the Had. Sarpe-
DON. One asks: ON what meat hath
this our Cesar fed, that he hath grown sc
lgreat?' Hear him yet once: Had the
theologian Of the fifteen hundred years
VI HIS warfare WITH science hllOWn WIZ
was his real realm or sphere. ETC." Now
has the theologian, for fifteen hundred
years fought science? Take one case
Ialone-astronomy. AS the church grew
and men became theologians, they sought
to understand the Bible thruout. They
knew the science. of their times-the as.
tronomy Of Hipparchus, of Ptolemy. OF
the Arabians. 1t was voluminous. 1t was
apparently established by perfect apo
deixis They accepted it and read il
into Bible. Then, when the new astron-
lomy arose, under the lead of Copernicus
of course they, along with others. were
surprised and withstood the new unit
the proofs were clear. But is that really
i a fault? Were they not safeguarding
mankind until the truth should be known
They made mistakes. Yes, who does not
Have scientists never erred-never beer
dognnatic, narrow? Is even Mr.. Warner
immune on that. score? 1t is hardly like
ly that his book will be of the class. called
experimenting. but it is interesting a:
4 showing how man may be growing
narrow while he even thinks he is grow:
ing broad. w. r. K
| Doubleday Page & Co.. New York