The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-10-01
THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE

Rv many this is used nadvisedly as it seems to The
0onian because may imply thought that time is to come
n religion may find fixed and absolute definitions its final
~ or ulmaes and be longer angeu or progressive But
he can be fixed religion of the future any than there
hoe teen in past The religious principle in evolution
m and in its development will reach limit The principle
i religion lies mans consciousness of the infinite express
;oo therefore, find fnaliy, says the Oregonian
Bt the used by of recognized position world
II religious and phlosophic thought ExPresdent Eliot
using it. certainly does not intend it to imply that religion
become really denae absolute its terms fixed in cerantes
md ulmae If so would resemble mathematical science and
cease to kndle emotions "The Future of Religion would
he . better term than "The Religion of the Future"
Dr. Eiots address The Religion of the Future delivered
M summer before students of the Summer School of Theology
appears full the October number of the Harvard Theological
Review The address long that print in FULL
compact that quotations from would give little idea of range
Of the mass of materials the force apposeness
e general thought He thinks the religion of the future will not be
based on authority either spiritual empoawhch conceiv
able indeed but certainly great way the future and where
% authority may fall CUSTOM usage, social pressure habit of
conformity will substitutional forces great weight In the
eron Of the future Dr. Eliot sure will no peoni
cations of the primitive forces of nature and expectation of in
eryenton through he of kindly benevolent dees worship
express or implied of dead ancestors teachers rulers more
tribal tutelary gods Moreover the religious life of the
future the primary object will be the personal welfare safety
of the individual this world any other These negatives imply
criticism of religion past and present. they approach the terms OF
upon the religious formulas uSuageS and beliefs OF our own
Further religion of the future will not be popitatory
acra or expaory In primitive society," fear of the superna
powers the awful forces of nature the root OF
religion These dreadful powers be popated appeased
In most or all forms of modern religion there suvvas of these
ideas Again. the religion of the future will not perpeuate the
Hebrew anropomophc representations OF God which were carried
institutional Christianity and pagan srVVa
many of which still found all the religions OF the Christian
world will be eliminated This stupendou programme Sug
costing its compeon-in view of mans past horyengh
nconcevae Most people want certanes in religion and
the of believers think they have them IN the forms TO WHICH
they accustomed
Coming to alternatives DR. Eliot thinks the God of the religion
the future will be composite of the jewish Jehovah the CnrlSc
ian Universal Father the modern physicist onpreSent ad @
astes Energy and the biological conception OF Vital Force Inns
Cod Nature and the conception rejects absolutely
the thought idea that alien IN the world OF uat o
aenated from the world Nothing will be regarded as super
natural miraculous but mystery wonder VIII not CEASE
since it probable that the OF natural law VIII ever ~
accurately determined.
This is thec rationalsm 1t is by no means new 10 'Lf
world 1t has been prominent in the philosophical teraue ol
Europe during and its roots reac Dac m
the speculative philosophy of Plato, and beyond him. But s
no hold on the general mass because OF ITS lack OF o
symbolism 1t be true that pure religion like pure geoeuy
needs no symbols figures but 1t seems tnat not uCh
can be made either by the general mass without them oy
and ceeds stand for positive objects or suggestions OF
stronghold of religion always faith not demonstrate
reached through close observation and process OF reason
For most will suffice say that the rational man Can
have for his belief or broad conception OF the One
of the and infinite capacity OF virtue ana sci
Development possessed by human life sense OF the regar anu
less order of of which he is part The human mag
yet too feeble probably always Will be- e anu
women and than refuse to be lett S,ais
seems to them in the air. abstract conceptions WHICH, w.
true nothing Besides human nature must IN tne ]
Geoved by its ndenable hopes and controlled Dy m f+s
t The religion of the present take care OF these aC
winch are among its strongest supports and 1ounuao 4t
Igon OF the future stage where II VIII iSl
Out there little believe that this VIII oc |
any length of time much short of infniy itself y o & %
history teaches that when nations and races break Wl @ @ |
uus faith their Though the faith may DC Cid
Ut ess-is calculaby
The Baltimore Sun (Ind MIR Taft has made an gorgeous
% mistake IN certifying Senator Adrichs character as ~ assca