Evidences of religion
Publisher: P. O'Shea
Published: 1877
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 390
Table of contents: title: CONTENTS; title: PREFACE; title: INTRODUCTION.; title: 1. Difficulty of refuting the Attacks of modem Unbelievers against Religion. — 2. They deny the first Principles of Reason, in order to deny the Existence of Religion. — 3. Proof of the Existence of God, tiken from the common Consent of Mankind. — 4. The Idea of the Divinity is not the Result of Ignorance or Fear. — 5. Proof of the Existence of God from contingent Being. — 6. The Cause of the Universe is intelligent. — 7. The Universe cannot be the Result of Chance. — 8. It is not unscientific to seek the Cause of the Universe beyond the physical Order. — 9. Matter is not self-existing. — 10. Absurdity of an infinite Number. — 11. The Principle of Causality is objectively real. — 12. God is not the "Unknowable." — 13. Absurdity of Pantheism. — 14. Pantheism does not establish the Unity of Science. — 15. Creation is both possible and a Fact — 16. How God con- tains all Perfections. — 17. Principal Attributes of God. — 18. Life is not the Result of mechanical Forces. — 19. The Principle of Life is distinct from the Organism of the Body. — 20. Simplicity of the Soul of Man. — 21. Its Spirituality. — 22. Difference between the Soul of Man and the Soul of the Brute. — 23. The Freedom of the Will. — 24. Why this Introduction was needed 1; title: CONTENTS.; title: PART I.; title: ON THE NECESSITY AND EXISTENCE OF REVEALED RELIGION.; title: CHAPTER I.; title: ON THE NECESSITY OF WORSHIPPING GOD.; title: 1. In what Religion consists. — 2. What Worship is. — 3. Necessity of internal Worship. — 4. Necessity of external Worship. — 5. God does not need our Worship, but on our Part it is necessary. — 6. Not Religion, but the Abuse of Religion, has caused many Evils. — 7. Religion does not unfit Man for the Duties of this Life. 37; title: CHAPTER II.; title: THE SUPERNATURAL.; title: 1. Great Aversion of modem Unbelievers to the Supernatural. — 2. Definition of the Natural and the Supernatural. — 3. The natural State of Man. — 4. The supernatural State. — 5. Necessity of embracing revealed Religion, if given by God 42; title: CHAPTER III.; title: THE POSSIBILITY OF REVEALED RELIGION.; title: 1. The Possibility of Revelation cannot be denied save by Atheists. — 2. Proof of this Possibility. — 3. Definition of Mysteries Natural and Supernatural. — 4. Possibility of the Revelation of supernatural Mysteries. — 5. Mysteries are not altogether unintelligible. — 6. The Difficulties raised against Mysteries are not insoluble. — 7. Their Revelation is not useless. 51; title: CHAPTER IV.; title: MEANS OF KNOWING TRUE REVELATION. — MIRACLES.; title: 1. Immediate and mediate Revelation. — 2. Definition of Miracles. — 3. Possibility of Miracles. — 4. The Constancy of the Order of Nature does not exclude the Possibility of Miracles. — 5. Physical Certainty is not opposed to moral Certainty. — 6. The Illiterate may be competent Witnesses to a miraculous Fact. — 7. All the Laws of Nature need not be known, in order to judge whether a Fact is miraculous. — 8. Miracles are a certain Proof of Revelation. — 9. Necessity oFa Criterion to distinguish true Miracles from false Ones. — 10. The Criterion to be used for this Purpose. — 11. Mesmerism. — 12. Spiritism not opposed to Miracles. — 13. Its Phenomena not new Inventions. — 14. The Explanation given of these Phenomena is not unscientific. 57; title: CHAPTER V.; title: ON PROPHECIES.; title: 1. Definition of Prophecy. — 2. Possibility of Prophecy, and its validity as a proof of revealed Truth. — 3. Pagan Oracles are no valid Objection against Prophecy 73; title: CHAPTER VI.; title: NECESSITY OF REVELATION.; title: 1. Distinction between physical and moral Necessity. — 2. The moral Necessity proved from the Fact that all Nations deprived of Revelation fell into Idolatry. — 3. Paganism was Demon-worship. — 4. Paganism a School of Vice. — 5. The same Effects manifested where revealed Religion is discarded. — 6. The Perfectibility of Man insufficient to do away with Revelation. — 7. Man did not progress from total Ignorance to higher Knowledge. — 8. Idol- worship nQt the primitive Religion of Mankind. — 9. Pagan Philosophers never reached a sufficient Knowledge of Truth. — 10. Even had they attained its full Knowledge, still Revelation is necessary. — 11. An external Rule necessary to keep down Man's Passions. — 12. Without Revelation Sinners not sure of Pardon. — 13. Revelation necessary for social Worship. — 14. Would Revelation have been necessary, had Man been created in a purely natural State. — 15. The primitive Revelation lost through Man's Fault 76; title: CHAPTER VII.; title: ON THE EXISTENCE OF REVELATION.; title: 1. The Existence of Revelation proved from its Necessity. — 2. From the common Consent of Mankind. — 3. From the national Traditions of Antiquity. — 4. From the Rite of Sacrifice. — 5. How this Rite originated 94; title: CHAPTER VIII.; title: ON MAHOMETANISM.; title: 1. — There is no Need of passing in Review all religious Beliefs. — 2. Idolatry evidently absurd. — 3. Mahomet's Want of Credentials, and his Contradictions. — 4. The Koran full of Fables. Immorality of the false Prophet. — 5. Ignorance of Mahomet. — 6. Recommends only external Observances. — 7. Baneful Effects of Islamism. — 8. Its rapid Spreading no Proof in its Favor. 98; title: CHAPTER IX.; title: ON THE JEWISH RELIGION. THE GENUINENESS OF THE PENTATEUCH.; title: 1. Genuineness of the Pentateuch proved from the Jewish Traditions. — 2. The Pentateuch existed before the Schism of the Ten Tribes. — 3. It is anterior to the Time of the Judges. — 4. Its Author contemporaneous with the Exodus. — 5. His Legislation bears the Impress of the Desert. — 6. He is perfectly acquainted with Egypt. — 7. The objection against the genuineness of the Pentateuch has no Weight. — 8. Solution of Objections. Facts not in accordance with the Existence of the Mosaic Law. — 9. The Author did not live after the Conquest of Palestine. 103; title: CHAPTER X.; title: AUTHENTICITY OF THE PENTATEUCH.; title: 1. Its Authenticity rejected by Infidels, on Account of the Miracles contained in it. — 2. The Pentateuch underwent no Change. — 3. That Moses is a trustworthy Author is proved from his Style. — 4. He could not be an Impostor. — 5. The Miracles related by him are intimately connected with the History of the Jews. — 6. The Jews were convinced of their Reality. — 7. The Jews could not have been deceived by Moses. — 8. They considered themselves bound by the Law of Moses, even after his Death. — 9. The Worship of the Jews a standing Memorial of those Miracles. — 10. The Sabbatic Year a constant Miracle. — 11. Mention made of Mosaic Miracles by pagan Authors. 114; title: CHAPTER XI.; title: PRINCIPAL EVENTS RELATED IN GENESIS.; title: 1. Moses a competent Witness of the Events related in Genesis. — 2. The Words Elohim and Jehovah do not point to two different Authors. — 3. The six Days of Creation do not furnish a valid Objection against Genesis. — 4. Objections taken from ancient Chronologies and geological Facts. — 5. Age of the human Race according to Genesis. — 6. Chaldean Chronology. — 7. Egyptian Chronology. — 8. Egyptian Monuments no Argument for the great Antiquity of the human Race. — 9. Chinese Chronology. — 10. Prehistoric Times. — 11. Quaternary Formations of comparatively recent Date. — 12. Stone Ages no Proof of the high Antiquity of Man. — 13. Fossil Remains of Man found together with extinct Species of Animals. — 14. Peat Formations and Lake Dwellings, — 15. The State of Civilization of ancient Nations no Proof of the Antiquity of the human Race. — 16. Traditions regarding the Deluge. — 17. Unity of the human Race. — 18. Tower of Babel. 126; title: CHAPTER XII.; title: THE JEWISH RELIGION, AS TO ITS CEREMONIAL, WAS TO BE PERFECTED BY A NEW REVELATION.; title: 1. The Jewish Religion, in its Ceremonial, typical of the Messiah. — 2. Promise of a Messiah. — 3. The Messiah believed in by the Jews. — 4. Expected by the Generality of Mankind. — 5. The Messiah was to give a new Law. — 6. To establish a new Sacrifice and a new Priesthood. — 7. The Religion established by the Messiah a Perfection of the Mosaic One 154; title: CHAPTER XIII.; title: THE MESSIAH PROMISED TO THE JEWS IS ALREADY COME.; title: 1. The Advent of the Messiah proved from the Prophecy of Jacob. — 2. Of Daniel. — 3. Authenticity of Daniel's Prophecy. — 4. Proof from the Prophecies of Aggeus and Malachias 162; title: CHAPTER XIV.; title: JESUS CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH PROMISED TO THE JEWS.; title: 1. Christ alone realized what was foretold by the Prophets. — 2. All the Prophecies are fulfilled in Him. — 3. Dispersion of the Jews after His Death 169; title: CHAPTER XV. -; title: THE GENUINENESS AND AUTHENTICITY OF THE GOSPELS.; title: 1. Genuineness of the Gospels proved by the Testimony of the Writers of the first Centuries of the Church. — 2. They could not have been Forgeries. — 3 They were acknowledged by the Heretics of the earliest Ages. — 4. The Jews admitted their Genuineness. — 5. So did pagan Writers. — 6. The Gospels have undergone no Change. — 7. Authenticity of the Gospels. — 8. Christ's Miracles admitted by the Talmud. — 9. Also by pagan Writers. — 10. Testimony of Josephus. — 11. Genealogy of St. Matthew. - 12. Assertions of modern Critics of the Rationalistic School 172; title: CHAPTER XVI.; title: THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST ATTESTS HIS DIVINE MISSION.; title: 1. Christ foretold His Death and Resurrection. — 2. His Death was real. — 3. Christ rose from the Dead : how His Enemies account for this Fact — 4. The Apostles were not deceived. — 5. Did not deceive. — 6. Could not deceive, even had they wished. — 7. Testimony of the Apostles confirmed by the Behavior of the Jewish Authorities. — 8. They confirmed their Testimony with their Blood. — 9. Why the Jews refused to believe. — 10. Apparent Contradiction between St. Mark and St. John. — 11. Spread of the Gospel throughout the whole World 184; title: PART II.; title: ON THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST.; title: CHAPTER I.; title: DIVINITY OF CHRIST.; title: 1. Importance of the Dogma of the Divinity of Christ. — 2. Exposition of the Dogma. — 3. Divinity of Christ supposed by the Economy of the Christian Religion. — 4. Traditions of pagan Nations. ^5. Prophecies of the Old Testament proving the Divinity of the Messiah. — 6. Assertions of Rationalists. — 7. Divinity of Christ not invented either by St. Paul or by St. John. — 8. Testimony from St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. John. — 9. From St. Paul. — 10, Traditions of the first Ages of the Church before the Heresy of Arius. — n. Solution of some Difficulties. 207; title: CHAPTER II.; title: FIGURES BY WHICH THE CHURCH IS EXPRESSED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.; title: 1. The Church is a Kingdom. — 2. A City. — 3. -A House. — 4. A Temple. — 5. Meaning of these Figures. — 6. The Church is a Body. — 7. What this Figure implies. — 8. The Church a Sheepfold. — 9. A Bride. — 10. Parables referring to the Church. 227; title: CHAPTER III.; title: INSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH AS RELATED IN THE GOSPELS.; title: 1. The Calling of the Apostles and their Election. — 2. Promises made to St. Peter alone. — 3. To all the Apostles. — 4. Fulfilment of these Promises. — 5. The Mission of the Holy Ghost. — 6. Presence of the Holy Ghost in the Church as a Body, and in the individual Members. — 7. Corollaries : the Church is one. — 8. The sole Teacher of Truth. — 9. She is indefectible and infallible in her Teaching. — 10. Catholic. — II. Holy. — 12. Apostolic 236; title: CHAPTER IV.; title: UNITY OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. Christ willed the Church to be one. — 2. She is one in Faith. — 3. This Unity is indispensable. — 4. The Apostles insisted on it. — 5. The Church always asserted it. — 6. Unity of Charity without Unity of Faith insufficient. — 7. Absurdity of Unity in fundamental Articles only. — 8. It cannot be determined. — 9. Unity in Sacraments. — 10. In Government. — 11. Unity of Government required by Unity of Faith 247; title: CHAPTER V.; title: CATHOLICITY OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. Foretold in the Old Testament and willed by Christ. — 2. The End Christ had in View requires it. — 3. It is simultaneous. — 4. How it is simultaneous 258; title: CHAPTER VI.; title: Sanctity of the Church.; title: 1. In what consists the Holiness of the Church? — 2. The Unworthiness of some of her Members no Obstacle to her Holiness. — 3. This Holiness must be made visible. — 4. Proved by the Gift of Miracles. # 262; title: CHAPTER VII.; title: APOSTOLICITY OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. The Church apostolic. — 2. Material Succession alone not sufficient. — 3. Apostolicity required by all ancient Writers. — 4. No extraordinary Mission to teach new Dogmas, or reform old Ones. — 5. No Break in the Apostolic Succession to be feared. — 6. The four Properties of the Church based on Unity. — 7. The Church can never fail. — 8. No dogmatical Reform needed in the Church. — 9. The Promises made to the Church not conditional. — 10. Reform of individual Members may at times be required 268; title: CHAPTER VIII.; title: THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ALONE HAS THE PROPERTIES OF CHRIST'S CHURCH.; title: 1. Unity of the Roman Catholic Church. — 2. She has always held the same Doctrines. — 3: The Catholic Church could not vary in her Doctrines. — 4. Definitions of Doctrine argue no Change. — 5. Catholicity of the Roman Catholic Church. — 6. Her Sanctity : she makes her Children holy. — 7. Converts pagan Nations. — 8. Fosters Virginity. — 9. Produces Saints. — 10. Whose Sanctity is confirmed by Miracles. — 11. Her Stability. — 12. Sects constantly lose Ground. — 13. Calumnies against the Church refuted. — 14. Apostolicity of the Church. — 15. Antipopes no Break in the Apostolic Succession. — 16. Nor is the great Schism of the West a Break. — 17. Either the Greek Schismatics — 18. Nor Protestants can claim to be the Church of Christ. 275; title: CHAPTER IX.; title: TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. The Church must have an Authority. — 2. Different from that of civil Society. — 3. Not confided to the Faithful. — 4. An external Teacher required in the Church. — 5. The teaching Body must be infallible, because it must be authoritative. — 6. Without infallible Teaching no Faith possible. — 7. Christ willed the Church to be infallible. — 8. The Church always claimed Infallibility. — 9. Infallibility not opposed to Science. — 10. Galileo. — 11. The Church not opposed to Civilization. — 12. The Church may be known even to the Unlettered. — 13. How Children and the Ignorant come under the Teaching of the Church. — 14. Infallibility does not give rise to civil Intolerance. — 15. The Inquisition 292; title: CHAPTER X.; title: THE BIBLE NOT SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE THE INFALLIBLE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. The Authority of the Church necessary to know that we have the whole Bible. — 2. Its Inspiration can be proved only by the Church. — 3. Vain attempts of Protestants to prove its Inspiration. — 4. The Authority of the Church required for the Understanding of the Bible. — 5. And for knowing whether the vernacular Copy, is conformable to the Original. — 6. The first Christians had no Bible. — 7. With the Bible alone, Christ would have poorly provided for his Church. — 8. Objections from Scripture 310; title: CHAPTER XI.; title: PRIMACY OF ST. PETER.; title: 1. The Church must have a supreme visible Authority. — 2. Independent of the civil Power. — 3. The Government of the Church not aristocratic. — 4. The Church a Monarchy. — 5. The supreme Power vested in St. Peter and his Successors. — 6. Primacy promised to St. Peter by Christ. — 7. The Church built on St. Peter. — 8. The Keys of Heaven promised to him. — 9. Fulfilment of the promise. — 10. St. Peter exercised this Primacy. 324; title: CHAPTER XII.; title: THE SUCCESSOR OF ST. PETER IN THE PRIMACY.; title: 1. St. Peter's Privilege permanent in the Church. — 2. The Bishop of Rome the Successor of St. Peter. — 3. Proved by History. — 4. False Decretals. — 5. St. Peter was Bishop of Rome, and died there 340; title: CHAPTER XIII.; title: INFALLIBILITY OF THE POPE AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH.; title: 1. All must agree in Faith with the Pope. — 2. What is meant by Infallibility of the Pope. — 3. Proofs. The Foundation of the Church. — 4. The Centre of Unity. — 5. This Doctrine held by the Church. — 6. Gallicanism false. — 7. The Pope's Dogmatical Decrees cannot be reformed by the Church. — 8. Unity of Faith demands this Infallibility. — 9. Objections: St. Cyprian. — 10. LiberiuS. — 11. Honorius. — 12. Councils examined the Decisions of the Popes. — 13. Bad Popes. — 14. Usefulness of General Councils. — 15. The Decrees of the Vatican Council did not change the Relations between Church and State. 350; title: CHAPTER XIV.; title: RELATIONS OF CHURCH AND STATE.; title: 1. The Church superior to the State. — 2. The normal Condition of a State requires Union between Church and State. — 3. No Encroachment to be feared on the Part of the Church. — 4. The Deposing Power of the Popes. — 5. The State cannot impose any Religion. — 6. When the State has, by a social Act, embraced the true Religion, it has a Right and is bound to protect and defend the Unity of Religion. — 7. Toleration, and its Limits. — 8. The Laws of Marriage not to be interfered with by the State. — 9. The State cannot educate Children. — 10. Has no Right to impose a Tax for the Support of mere secular Schools. — 11. Liberalism. — 12. So-called Catholic Liberalism. — 13. Absurdity of this Theory. — 14. Its Fundamental Error. 363; title: INDEX. 381