El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-24
CATHOLICS AND OPEN BIBLE.
Columbus. N. ", February p.

bolprnDus. n VI, February p.
Editor II Paso Herald.
have read with enuin interest
the letters OF az. 4. T." and "A lay
man" As I differ p-ronouncedly from
these two. Win humLlv wedge my wav
INTO this discussion that is. il seems
10 me. getting nowhere. The state
ment that 1T rs probable that had the
catholic church permitted the open
bloie. there might have been no Dark
ages in my opinion, lays ~. Y. T."
open 10 sharp criticism as to historical
accuracy Of statement and Judgment.
AS 1 see It. the acceptance or rejec-
ton OF theological dogma does not
make or unmake civilization. 1 am
fully persuaded that the amazing civ
iization during the period covering
several thousand years Of the Arts
tnoW SO often spoken OF as the lost
arts). was not made nor unmade BY
the acceptance or rejection OF religious
~tenetE- n goes eNhaustively
into the story of the arts and the arti-
sans, Views with the students mind
the immense social, political and in
dustrial ORGANIZATIONS hat developed
TO well nigh a point OF perfection, he
is not apt TO declare that the ancient
civilization was based upon a theology
cal foundation.
II. (for the sake Of argument) civili-
Zation rests upon theological founda-
tons, the religion Of the ancient arti-
sans far exceeded the Christian religion
in actual working efficiency, The
truth b make you free" Yes, broth
er X y. T., the truth that comprehends
all things, not the dogmas that usually
constitute Orthodoxy" viii make US
free.
Now my respects to "a Layman." The
true story Of the "estruction OF the
ancient arts is the true story Of the
destruction Of primitive Christianity.
The aacient artisans had adopted al
most bodily the Christian religion.
These artisans were democratic and
autonomous, allowing of no universal
head or autOcratic governing hand.
Their destruction was i~nseparable from
the destruction Of the arts. The dis
solution Of the primitive Christians and
their Inherited industrial organizations
Is the correct story OF ~humanitys sad
and tragic farewell to the glorious
past and the blind plunge into the
abysmal depths Of the Dark Ages.
The writer is familiar with the usual
STANDARD" history that omits the story
OF this awful tragedy, the most calami-
tous event or epoch in human annals.
Ny dear Mr.. Layman, not until the
stunning effect Of the massacre by
DiOcletian. the RutOcratic and paralys-
ing act Of Constantine, n later the
murderOus council OF LaOdicea with the
DEGREES enforced by the military, did
the autonomous organizations among
the Christians give Efficiently away
to allow an autOcratic. Capitalization
that lauer developed into the church
which lroudly and ~pompously traces its
direct succession from Peter. the first
Pope ~ Rome"
Allow me to suggest that a history
that innocently overlooks the past civ
nizatiOu, forgets TO relate the story Of
the greater events in human annals,
should not be too eagerly referred to
as authoritative in all things. When
we Of today generally find out the true
story Of primitive Christianity our
religious and largely political dissen-
sions will be at an end. THE truth
shall make you free" from your pres
ent misformation. 18th historically and
r~eligilusly.
A. L. Taylor.