The Washington herald., 1915-04-11
THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE
By W. H. H. PHILLIPS, Ph. d.

| Fifty years ago a noted English author
wrote an essay on "A Plea for the Free
Discussion Of Theological Difficulties" 1t
was afterward published with other arti-
cles in book form. and was almost the be-
ginning of a movement which is fast
! reyolutionizing the thought and opinions
| of the Christian world. Many things that
| have been accepted without question for
centuries are found. on examination, to
| rest on no evidence whatever except the
! assertion OF some council or enthusiast.
and are In no way sanctioned by the
! founder Of our religion. This slavish SUD-
mission Of the people to the teachings OF
religious enthusiasts has been the curse
of Christianity and has in much Of her
history more than counteracted the good
that would have come to the world II the
pure, unauthorized gospel of Christ had
been taught All the intelligent world
knows that the church's cosmogany has
been totally false and misleading. For
hundred years 1t defended Ptolmys the
DRY Of tho solar system, and threatened
by the most terrible prosecutions and
cruelty the world has ever known the
advocates Of the Capernicus system
which all accept, today. In like manner
We have experienced during tho past sixty
years the war against evolution Religion
has been debased by a servile pulpit.
The fight against evolution and modern
science the last half of the nineteenth
century has cost the church millions or
adherents and brought her near the verge
of collapse. 1t is doubtful II there Is
country left that can strictly be called
Christian.
Unfortunately, there is taught today In
many pulptts and to our children In the
Sunday schools things as facts which the
world knows are myths. The intelligent,
honest parent who wishes his children to
retain respect for Christianity must cor
rect these notions. The story OF the crea-
ton Of the first man and his life partner,
tho fall Of the race from the temptation
of a snake, the ark and deluge, and many
others are harmless legends II We accept
them as such and admit that there is no
evidence that they are history. A yearn-
ing hell burning with fire and birthstone
and echoing with the shrieks OF tortured
unsaved was pictured to our early imae1-
nation. No one knows the origin nor the
fate of the presiding genius OF those
realms. We hope he and his race are ex-
tinct so God will be permitted to govern
tho world and transform men In mis- own
way.
There is nothing so marvelously
strange in the history Of the world as
the credulity Of mankind. Men and
women may be made to believe anything
that is sufficiently unreasonable and VIII
defend 1t with their lives. Superstition
has been seemingly necessary In the
past for the growth Of religion, and Is
still among unthinking people. But there
are millions in Christendom now VINO
are kept away from the influences OF the
church because of these debasing teach
ings. Men often 90 to church because
1t u pleasant socially and listen to dis
courses that bear less on the realities OF
this life than on the divine mysteries or
a supernatural life. II there Is anything |
that God abhors believe 1t is the super |
natural. -.
In the church OF the future men viii
be permitted to think for themselves and
to discuss freely the vague dogmas and
creeds that have been forced upon the !,
world but never sanctioned by Christ |
He did not hint at an infallibiy IN
spired book that should take precedence |
over the plain teachings OF nature. IL
il a proposition that has not the slight |
est evidence Of truth and has probably
led to more fatal consequences than any |
other ever proposed to the world. Great |
ana good as the Bible u the proposition
Of divine infailfbiiity has been mill
stone upon the neck of Christianity. The
of Jehovah to Joshua and
other Jewish leaders to cruelty massacre
men, women and children. the innocent J
md rightful occupants OF the PROMISED
Land, has made professed Christian ma
tons warliks. Although the number OF
their Inhabitants u small fraction OF
the people Of the world Christian nations
have wassd % per cent Of the great wars
during ths past 30 pears We cannot
Afford TO teach what We know - false
flor the sake az religion" Truth % the
basis of morality. and falsehood % de-
stxuefive of our moral natures We may
belisvs.s but re must b bound By moth
ing that does not rest on evidence a.
clear - = required 10 establish . his
tofical or ocentinc truth. When this
caapot b furnished Il = Of little ac- 1