Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-23
Religious Questions
DR.. S. Pdrkes Cadman.

Q. Kindly point out where in tn
Bible or in any Christian doctrine
positively states that man would Ger
tatnly be punished for an offenS'
against a fellow man such as murdei
or robbery.
On the contrary, does not the Biblt
and the entire Christian religion teach
that such an offender will be forgiven
II he. repents?
Where does justice enter if a mar
guilty Of such q crime has merely tx
repent? What about the victim of hi
act and the compensation to be made
to that victimP
A. Every man stands In q three.
fold relationship. He is related to tn,
world through natural law. He Is re-
lated to his fellow men through socia
and statutory law. He is related Il
God through spiritual law You dt
not seem TO realize that a change ma,
take place in mans relation to Got
and still leave the man bound to pa
the penalty Of violated natural q
statutory law.
Gods forgiveness of man who re,
penis of his sin is a transaction with,
in the realm of spiritual law. It is
matter of personal relationship. 1t Il
not entirely separate from the effect,
OF the wrong in the other relationship
OF life, and yet In some respects 1t ma,
be.
If the sensual man repents, God for.
gives him, but forgiveness does not in.
tered health. If the murderer repents
God forgives him. But he does not ex
pect the state to remit the penalty
You ask, Where in the Bible does Il
say that He does not? I ask, Where
in the Bible does 1t say that He does?
A. forgiven man knows himself al
peace with God. But in countless in.
stances a man who believes God Ia,
forgiven him, for that very reason feels
that his repentance would not be com.
plete If he did not bravely endure tnt
punishment prescribed by his fellow
men for his offense, for he then look.
upon that punishment as part OF Gods
purging process In effecting his restora.
ton.
q. Did Christ or any of the writer,
of the New Testament Scriptures eve
refer directly or indirectly to tn,
prophet Daniel, and Is there any recort
In either sacred or secular history out
side the book of Daniel that such
person ever lived?
A. Ezekiel, In Chapter xiv, verses IL
and 20, alludes to one named DAME
aSe man distinguished for his integrity
Again In Chapter xviii, S, he is citet
as conspicuous for his wisdom. Tht
would seem to confirm the historicit,
OF the person so often mentioned In Thu
traditions of Israel. It Is quite possible
That this historical character was tn,
basis Of the book of Daniel.
This h00k ffca1f Dc Airan4lxr ,.nk1~~o.
to but once in the New Testament. II
Matthew xiv, is, we read: when
therefore, We see the abomination O
desolation which was spoken by DAME
the upright, standing In the holy place,
etc. Biblical scholars are divided II
their judgment as to whether thess
words are genuine saying of Jesus
HIS parallels and the sermon on the
mount do not reveal the then domi.
nant mind OF an Apocalyptist, but Of
one who spoke with complete authorit,
OF Gods essential verities for man.
advise you to interpret the entire bool
OF Daniel as highly symbolic docu.
ment.
@. Is 1t historically correct that st
Peter was elevated to the position .ol
the first Pope of the Roman Catholic
Church in Al A. D.?
A. The primacy of st. Peter and the
Signincance Of his relation to Rome
mas not always been impartially treated
either by Catholics or Protestants. THE
tradition sustaining the apostles pri-
macy Is certainly very old. But the
phrase 1.-THE See of Peter" is first founc
IN letter OF st. Cyprian of Carthage
dated A. ID. 252. A hundred years later
in 354. the title First Bishop of Rome
was definitely applied to the Apostle
These later references have no par.
ticular negative weight in view of the
numerous illusions before their date.
70 st. Peters connection with the
Imperial City. Undeniably the church
IN Rome was an important center o.
infant Christianity during its frs
century. It Is equally certain that II
the course of time its bishop was &C.
corded superiority by virtue Of the i'm.
portance of his see. -
Protestant scholars usually stress tn,
facts that the original home OF tn,
apostles was at Jerusalem, that st
James, and not st. Peter, Is named a,
the leader OF the church in that city
and that in the New Testament ST
Paul Is conceded an importance create
than that OF either st. James or ST
Peter.
Thsre are indications that when tn,
latter apostle dropped out OF the stor,
OF the Acts" he went to Rome. Thil
| would be in the year AZ or A AID St
Jerome prefers the earlier. date. II 4
church already existed there 1t mus
have been very small communion
That he became its overseer, If not Il.
founder, is highly probable. But ther,
was vast difference between the over.
seers OF the scattered fellowships O
the FIRST century, without buildings
endowments or clearly defined bod,
of doctrine and procedure, and tn,
bishops of powerful and closely related
churches of later day.
The stupendous ecclesiastical or
ganization OF the Middle Ages did ne
drop out of the sky after our Lord,
death and resurrection. 1t was tn
| growth OF ages of devotion and ad
ministration. suggest that the tradi
ton which states St. Peter was actual,