La Junta tribune., 1915-01-23
SPEAkIvG
Bl})nH flDlD
What II . Christian.

The New YORK Independent recent
ly propounded the query. What Is q
Christian" Mr.. r. T. Webber, OF
this city. was one Of those who re-
sponded. and his answer is here
with given In full:
One is only responsible so far As
he has knowledge. The duty OF
one who has limited knowledge may
be the crime Of another who has
greater knowledge. The duty OF
every man is to do the most good he
can within the limits OF what he
knows. What one knows or BE-
iieves may be erroneous, but one
may not be held morally responsible
for doing what he believes to be
right, although II 10 wrong. Char
acter is the essential thing. but one
may have character without beliey.
ing In the biblical version OF the
creation. the immaculate concsption.
or the infallability Of the Pope, for.
to many. these ideas are unreason-
able. lacking proof, and 20 are not
essential. Original sin, as Inherit
ed from Adam. Ii another falsity. or
invention Of the fancy, which Il IA
best to discard. for the more OF
these myths that are dropped the
more susceptible is the mind to
real truth.
Conduct is more important than
belief" and is an expression OF
character. The quality Of our char
acter is determined by our kuowl.
edge and environment. II is de-
sira6le to know rs many true things
and do as many good things, as DOS.
sible. but we can comparatively
know and do but few OF either. Our
conduct depends on our relations to
animate creation. and our duty. to
what we know or believe about II.
Our character is TO be gaused by the
application Of this knowledge to
these relations.
Again. I question n there is such
a thing as absolute certainty OF any
thing. The opinion OF the young
man Ia modified by advancing
years; the unquestioned belief Of
the past Is shattered BY the knowl-
edge Of the present. Religious In
structors would have US believe that
the most important thing is TO be-
lieve In God. What Is Of more i'm.
portancc is 10 be good. Belief In
God is not making men good. The
Lives OF our best friends, who are
professors Of religion. substantiate
this statement. Again. goodness is
comparative: no one is absolutely
good. or without fault. but II we
are M good as We can be. or ms good
a. our knowledge and environment
Will allow ns to be. we are entitled
to all the rewards Of virtue, for no
one should bc held liable for short
comings for which he IL In no man
ner responsible.
Our creeds have been handed
down to us by men like us. We
know more than they did OF his
tory. science and philosophy" and
Of everything else. and are better
able TO form conclusions. Except
Ia this one thing. religion" we are
progressing: the faisities Of past
ages are discarded by the eniight-
eminent Of the present. There have
been sufficient historical and scien-
tific errors discovered In the Bible
(had II been any other literary pro-
ductionD 10 rcicgaie Il 10 the shades
Of oblivion.
That people have been seaious In
the defense Of the truth Of the
scriptures. has been no evidence Of
The purity Of their lives. Rome Of
The greatest criminals Of the world
have been chivairous defenders Of
tie Inspiration Of the Word. Wheth-
er or not the soul 10 immortal. Il 10
our duty 10 be good. because from
The standpoint Of ethics. common
ooane or business. u n better 10 do
. eood than . wrUas act; Il y bct-
ees 10 do good for goods sake fhaa
0od's sake.
II life II immortal. II II immoral
- b good for the sake Of promised
reward. TO do good II right. conse-
qusntiy II IL . duty we owe our
fellow nsn. n . duty 10 performed
6os Q reward. though II b bss the
eommeadsiion Of our fellows. half
ehe virtue Of the act 10 destroyed: u
sAouid be On emanstion Of the heart
that prompts 10 70 do sood. Who
Hives rishteoasiy unconscIousiy. 10
4 . Christian.
p. r. WEBER.