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Show CHRISTIAN CLAIMS Objections to Religion Immortality and Religion Inseparable Christianity Tested by the Example, Teaching and Works of Its Founder Effects of Christian Influence on the Pagan World Simple Life of Christ Christian Civilization Inevitable Conclusion. (Written for The Intormountain CathnliO Incredulity bases its objections to religious belief be-lief on two grounds. (1) on the lack of sincerity, or the almost infinite distance between the practice ; and profession of members of religious denominations, denomina-tions, and (2) on the almost infinite variety and contradictory tenets of rpligious claimants. Ac least 90 per cent of the human race arc committed to a belief in the immortality of the soul. Those' who disbelieve, have no other reason for their denials de-nials than mere sentiments or the "I do not know" of the Agnostic. Neither philosophy or any of' the sciences disprove the faith of the human race. Tradition confirms that belief. Its existence always al-ways and everywhere, notwithstanding the fact that death apparently puts an end to all things as it does with brute creation, is. at least, a negative proof that i was implanted in the soul by the" Creator. With this knowledge, the objection to' religion, (1) on the ground of laek of sincerity, or consistency on the part of professing members is . not reasonable. It would be as reasonable to object ob-ject to our form of government or the constitution' of the United States because some of its citizens are insincere and inconsistent in their loyalty and , patriotism. (2) The objection founded on the almost al-most infinite variety and contradictory tenets of relicrious claimants', if it proves anything, would prove that one of "the almost infinite variety" was ' true and revealed by God, and that all the rst were ! imitations. The necessity of some religion is m- j separable from belief in the immortality of the soul; for if the soul is destined to live for ever ! there must be some religion to steer and direct t through the stormy pathway of life and lead it to its final destiny, viz., God. That religion must be ' -divine, i. e., be founded by God. Man made religion re-ligion is guess work, and leads to the almost inri- ' hite variety and contradictory tenets which form the basis of the infidel's objection. The Christian religion has been in the world for twenty centuries. It rests its claims to the belief of the world on the works, teaching and example of its founder. Christ claimed the same power as 1 his Father in heaven. He proved his claim by his works. The claim, that he persistently made, was the principal charge made when he was condemned ; to die. His history is- briefly but correctly written : in six words: "He hath done all things well." The year 1907 which we celebrate is reckoned from hia ' birth. He lived on earth for thirty-three years. The last three years of his life were public, and during these three years his wisdom, perfection and greatness manifested themselves to such an eminent emi-nent degree as to leave no doubt that his personality person-ality was more than human. His birth is remarkable only in its simplicity, yet it is the greatest event in the history of the world. His surroundings indicate nothing but poverty. pov-erty. In the light of the twentieth century when pride and vanity, wealth, honor and dignity sway . the world and control public opinion, his early history his-tory would remain unnoticed, and be for ever consigned con-signed to obscurity. The only persons to notice it at the time were simple, guileless shepherds. For a period of thirty years his history, according to evangelists, is given in five words: "He was subject sub-ject to them." At the age of 30 he came forth from his obscurity,, and publicly proclaims his divine mission. During the subsequent three years, "He did all things vU. So complete and perfect was, his work that his enemies, in their criticism, stand in awe when studying his character, and whilst denying de-nying his divinity describe him as the most perfect type of humanity. t For twenty centuries his example and the code of morality which he taught have held sway over the world and have been suitable to people of all nations and ages. Xor can it be denied that whilst his life was unpretentious, and the virtues he inculcated in-culcated simple yet sublime, that he did more to regenerate society, elevnte mankind than all the philosophers, poets and orators who flourished in ancient Greece and Rome. Ho rcsenerated society by'hi example and teaching, and in spite of pagan opposition and superstition built a foundation for real and solid virtue which was an entire change from the moral deerrrd;ition into which society had sunk, and which has proved a lasting benefit to mankind ever since. Under the licrlit of the.. twentieth century, and enjoying' the blessings of a free government own can hardly realize how degraded society was when Christ appeared on earth. There were then philosophers, phil-osophers, poets and orators. learned men and profound pro-found scholars. Grecian civilization wn not extinct. ex-tinct. But these could not. if they willed, stem the tide of dissoluteness, or elevate the human race from the moral slavery and mental degredation to which men and women were subjected. Apart from the synagogue all was darkness. What people peo-ple today, undqr the light and influence of Christianity Chris-tianity abhor and condemn were then deified. Drunkenness and lust, war and theft had their divinities, di-vinities, and to appease the would-be anger, or apparent ap-parent displeasure of these gods human sacrifice (Continued pn'Page 5.) V J , - ij; . CHRISTIAI !CLAIMS. (Continued i om Page 1.) was offered. Children of both sexes, men and women wo-men were offered in sacri ice on the altars of their gods. These gods were i iquity personified. They had their festival days, I it their festivities meant debauchery and licentiov. -ness. On the feast of Bacchus prizes were offer d to the greatest drunkards. drunk-ards. The worship of Ai hfodite and Venus were characterized with the grc -sest immoralities. There was no regard for human i fe. The favorite amuse-ments amuse-ments meant human sacr; ice. At the time Jesus was born these were the p evailing customs. Powerless Pow-erless in a human sense, fnniless and without influence in-fluence he fought these in liuman practices, and in three years a new order If civilization began to break in upon the world.l Crimes sanctioned by usage he condemned. Theporship of idols bronzed by the smoke of sacrifice- and, covered with the dust of ages was soon c langed. The cruelties heaped on slaves were mit ?ated. This he accomplished accom-plished through his teachii z, and still more by his example. With doctrines c : the most sublime morality mor-ality hurled against the p oud and haughty, rich and powerful but inhuman rulers who had no re-Rpect re-Rpect for the poor and weald, nor sympathy for sur-fering sur-fering humanity, society wak reformed and man remodeled, re-modeled, and a new era ojf civilization broke iu upon man and society. "Did he not do a! things well?" So well did he do linings that Renan, one of the severest critics of Christianity, lias written that: - "Whatever may be the unexpected phenomena phenom-ena of the future, Jesus cannot be surpassed." Could he accomplish all this if he were not God? Impossible. Yet out modern, enlightened and progressive pro-gressive unbelievers find their only justification in ignoring entirely the divine side of the Christian religion, because (1) that there is a lack of sincer- ' ity, or an almost infinite distance between the practice prac-tice and profession Of members of religious denominations, de-nominations, and (2) because of the almost infinite variety and contradictory tenets of religious claimants, claim-ants, all of which belong to the human and not the divine side of the Christian religion. F. D. |
