The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-28
DISCREDITS SOME
Of OLD TEACHINGS
Theories Are Shattered by Rev.
Elmer !. Goshen in Sun
day Sermon.
THE NINTH TALK OF SERIES
LONG PERIOD OF HISTORY COW
Erred IN DISCOURSE.

That the teachings Of the Old Tesla
ment, taken literally, are unethicaI and
repulsive, was the declaration by Rev.
Elmer l. Goshen, at the First Congrera-
tionaI church yesterday morning. His
sermon, the ninth in a series Of twelve on
the Bible, covered 2,2CJ years of history.
and showed the evolution of thought from
the ancient to the modern times. It was
a most unorthodox sermon, and shat-e--
ed many of the theories that have pre-
vailed because Of a faulty Interpretation
Of historic events as related in the Bible.
1t was Mr.. Goshen's idea to show a
proper Interpretation of the Old Tesla
ment, to reveal its incOngruities ana in
COnsistencies which are seen in the light
of misconceptioa. Among other things,
he said that the power to interpret does
not come from above. but from the ap-
Dlicatiou of study and thought.
DR.. Goshen spoke Of the Egyptian peo-
pie, their culture and refinement. and the
unique place which they held in the
worlds history. He noted The varied
changes and growth in the religion of the
Jew, as in all others.
Such teachings as attributed to the
Lord m joshua, that the people must 50
and Stay all men, are uuethical and re-
pulsiVe, and to attribute such a sentiment
TO God is monstrous," he said such
statements find rightfui place when hon
estiy Interpreted, and when the teachings
are laid bare to fair criticism. The his
tory OF the Hebrew conception Of the
Almighty changed from its crude and
barbariC state into more tender con-
cepton, as reflected in the Psalms. The
hebrew was not originally mOnOIhpIStic
for he believed in many gods, but the
evolution Of thought brought him back to
a monOtheistic belief
Either for or Against.
1T is difficult for certain minds to be
lar. some come to the study of the
flbie, either for or against it. One set
DtlleNeS Uhat the Bible is all y0oI-lu-
other believes it is all bad, and the lu1g-
inen- OF both is faulty and equally value
lesS. Because of a misCOnceDtiQn al. a
Iark of knowledge, men have made alb
sUrd ana vicious theories on inspiration
anu observation-disclosures that actually do
violence TO common sense. Through all
generators many incOngTuities have been
taught and are being taught.
l. Tor one, do not and cannot believe
that God spoke to this ancient people In
any OAer way than He is SPEAKING to
men today. He spoke then. and gueal.s
now, Ill no peculiar fashion to some ftyo--
co E. Few put through the orderly process of
proclaim the truth. To hold other than
TINS makes jargCn of history. and 1ya
pay Iast and loose with the great evoIu-
uondFy laws that runs through life
IN the teachings of the Old Testament
there ale many OF the most sublime ard
essential truths, and TO the nOb'es. of
gitsS teachings men will always be in
ueHIeu- but The most vicious of the teach
ms ms Is the ldea that the Christian word
mas borrowed the blood atOnement Re-
cause the early Christian teachfngs in
SVI pOIdled the essential idea of the Old
blood atonement into theology and be-
C ,1 tne christian world felt obliged to
accept, therefore that same theology has
100 often, ObsCured the face of truth and
Kept the message Of Jesus Of Nazareth
from finding the hearts OF men.
-, 10 release the minds of men from
the thralldOm imposed by the idea thar
shedding blood is essential to make co..
IecOnclled to His child is one of tFse
tasks That confront men today. Jesus
dld not think that his death would save
man and redeem the world The Drin-
clpIes were, love of God and love Of
man: Putting these principles into in
dlVidual or collective life, the service
would be to uplift and to grow.
Find Life and Hope.
Some one asks if it is not true that
TO discredit such teachingS-if the
Bible is to be criticised and Interpreted
as any other book, If 1t will not cause
lil6 DOOh 10 become dlSCTedlted and
given up. Mr. Hawthorne once said: a
man who needs a monument should
never have one This idea will help
us when We seek a peculiar claim upon
which to base the authority OF the
Bible. The authority of the Bible must
be in the character of its teachings If
its teachings lead men to find life and
character and comfort and hope then
1t VIII never die. If il doesn't all its
claims as to source and peculiar form
will not keep alive.
Children who are taught that the
Bible and the word of God contain only
what God dictates to certain authorities
are never going to know the book and
will never be clear thinkers. They will
never know the book because they will
never have the power to explain the in
constituencies, the immOralities and the
dark stains that mar many pages of its
record. But II the Old Testament is q
book that shows the unfolding evoIu-
ton of human histOry-the cropping Of
men after truth-if 1t is a book that
must be accepted in parts where il
clearly shows men found the truth
and reject all parts that show Just
where the writers were mistaken or
if, In other words. II is
interpreted by the light Of what is
known of fact and truth. and not by
traditional theories, then il is the most
valuable book in the world, and youth
trained to interpret it will find II an
inValua BILE possession"