Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-04
For Sunday Reading. /
! Al Sorts ~ Opinions.
Observation-Disclosures
British "New Theology.


British Congregatlonalists are at
present agitated over movement
within their body designated as the
New Theology" The principal figure
in this movement is the Rev. r.. j.
Campbell, Of the City Temple, whose
utterances are vehemently discussed in
the religious and secular press of Great
Britain Mr. Campbell himself objects
to the term New Theology" but since
it has come into common use. allows 1t
to stand for the tendency toward lib
eralism in modern religious thought"
of which he has become the spokesman.
He prefers to regard the term as de-
noting ian attitude and a spirit, rather
than creed" In the Daily Mail {Lon-
dom Mr.. Campbell utters his objec-
lions. in the name Of the new move
ment, Ito the formal statements of be-
lief which have distinguished the the
ology of the past" and declares that
'the starting point OF the new theology
is belief In the immanence of God and
the essential oneness of God and man."
The following is in part Mr.. Campbells
new profession of faith:
1--WE believe man to be revelation OF
God, and the universe one means to
the decentralization OF God. The
word God stands for the infinite
reality whence all things proceed.
Every one, even the most unoo npronii-
sing materials, believes in this reality.
The new theology In common with
the whole scientific world believes that
the finite universe is one aspect or ,ex-
preston OF that reality, but it thinks
OF it or him as consciousness rather
than blind force, thereby differing
from some scientists. Believing this.
we believe that there is thus no real
distinction between humanity and the
Deity. Our being is the same as Gods.
altho our consciousness of II IL limited.
We zee the revelation of God In every
thing around US.
1.-THE new theology holds that human
nature should be interpreted in terms
OF its own highest, therefore 1t rever-
ences Jesus Christ.
1.-THE new theology looks upon evil
as negative rather than a positive
term 1t is the shadow where light
ought to be; 1t Is the perceived priya-
ton Of good; it belongs only to finite
ness. Pain Is the effort OF the spirit
to break thru the Limitations which 1t
feels to be evil. The new theology be-
lieves that the only way In which the
true nature Of good can be manifested
either by God or man is by struggle
against the Imitation; and therefore II
is not appalled, by the long story Os
cosmic suffering. Everybody knows
this after fashion. The things we
most admire and reverence In one an
other are things involving struggle and
self-sacrifice.
The new theology watches with
sympathy the development of modern
science, for it believes itself to be in
harmony Herewith. 1t is the religious
articulation Of the scientific method. II
therefore follows that it is in SYM
pathy with scientific criticism Of the
Important religious literature known ali
the Bible. While recognizing the value
Of the Bible as unique record of re-
ligious experience, it handles 1t as free
ly and as critically at 1t would any
other book. It believes that the seat
of religious authority is within tnot
without) the human soul. Individual
man is SO constituted as to be able
to Recognize. ray by ray, the truth that
helps him upward, no matter from
what source 1t comes.
The new theology, Of course, be-
lieves in the Immortality of the soul,
but only on the ground that every in-
diyidual consciousness is a ray of the