The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-01
REASON IN
RELIGION
EPIToME OF SERMON PREACHED
AT THE FIRST UNiVERSALIST
CHURCH BY REV. J. w. CALD-
WELL, LAST suNsAY.

Reason in religion" was the sub
ject Of very interesting sermon
preached at the Universalist church
Sunday last by Rev. J. w. Caldwell,
of DeFuniak, and in part he spoke as
follows:
Come let US reason together" was
the admonition of the prophet. An
other Bible writer said that reason
is the true light that enlightens every
man that comes into the world. 1t Is
strange, when one comes to think of
it, that anyone has ever opposed rea-
son, which has been and is mans
method of learning nature and natural
law. The fundamental distinction be-
tween the civilized and the savage
Is one of reason. Reason is the torch
of civilization, guiding human effort
along the ways of success. All want
to ayow the unreasonable things; no
one wants to avow the unreasonable
things; no one wants to be accredited
with foolishness. All this is gladly
admitted in the so-called ordinary
affairs of life, but there is, happily, a
hesitancy on the part of some to ad-
nit the utility of reason in the do
main of religion"
Every scholar knows that reason
must ultimately have sway in religion,
because reason deals only with the
facts of life, and among the facts Of
life are the phenomena of religion.
The method of mind work that brings
success in business education,
science, jurisprudence and philosophy
cannot fail in the sphere of religion.
The Intelligent man, among the many
religions that surround him, chooses
one that seems to be the most rea-
sonable. He cannot do otherwise.
Those who have inherited religion
later ask the question aboutN it, and
subject each article of the creed to
rationalizing process. 1t is only
in this way that we get rid of the ST.
perstitions and harmful beliefs.
Faith has it's place in the re-
ligions of life, but it is not necessari-
j. e., the belief that contradicts our
consequent weakness. Little by lit
tie. whether we welcome 1t or not,
our religious beliefs are being tested
by new knowledge, and this all is very
hopeful. In an evolving world, the
child OF an omnipotent and omni-
present energy, new truth isl constant
ly flashing from the deep and every
thing in human consciousness is sub
ject to the laws Of growth. This con-
scious energy is God-Communion
with the living God is the heart OF
religion, the vital consciousness of
such communion is the chief expert
ence of life"
"In this the prophets Jesus and
Paul are one; each revealing his in
dividual affinity with the divine life,
or his harmony with God"
Reason, working upon the facts
of history, sees in every religion
truth and error, and learns to accept
the one and avoid the other. No re-
igion Is perfect, none is devoid Of
truth. Light illumines every shore of
thought; God has no favorites, no
chosen notions and no special revela-
lions. Those are the beliefs Of the
ignorant and conceited'
The truth is in every soul. The
sonshtp to God is universal. God
works in law, energies in matter
and is the heart of all force and
movement He is the builder, direc-
tor of the universe: none can escape
him. We all live on the divine ter
ritory, and in some way keep time to
the everlasting music"