Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1915 — THE FEAR OF DEATH [ARTICLE]

THE FEAR OF DEATH

Its Ignobleness Is Thing That Haunts All Who Are Subject to It Paul boldly predicted that the New Testament gospel was without value unless its testimony sustained the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. The challenge has been accepted by the world and in fairness to conflicting opinions as to the truth of the affirmation it must be stated' that a very large portion of humanity, some of it being as devoted disciples of the Nazarene teacher as those who accept the Pauline statement, still reject that conclusion otherwise than as it applies to the continuity of life beyond the grave of every human being. Paul’s teaching and life abundantly support the sincerity of his belief. Likewise, the teaching and practice of those who dissent from Paul’s conclusion afford incontestible proof of their discipleship in proclaiming and establishing in the hearts of men the truths which the Nazarene asserted as being fundamental to the cure of those evils with which the social organism is afflicted in so far as human action can influence the making of a righteous civilization. Both schools of religious thought—it matters not what creed gives inspiration to their effort—are intensely sincere and earnest in attaining a common purpose, only their methods are different. An Exalted Type. Humanity as a whole —Christian and “pagan” alike —accepts Jesus of Nazareth as an exalted type of character, worthy of emulation by every man who seeks to serve his kind in his own essential teachings and the conformity of his life thereto. Jesus gave to the world a sound and simple philosophy for its universal welfare that surpasses in practicability that of the combined wisdom of all other teachers. And, to enforce the value of his teachings, he gave to the world the sublime example of one who not unwillingly yielded up his own life rather than desist therefrom or renounce any portion of it. The poet tells us that —

The fear o’ hell’s a hangman’s whip To haud the wretch in order. But where ye feel your honour grip. Let that aye be your border. Well, thanks to the teaching of the last two lines, and to good sound reasoning besides, hell has ceased to appeal to intelligent thought as the inspiration to right living. Rather, as Paul says, has the example and teaching of Christ “delivered them who through fear of deatl were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Ought we to dwell upon this thought by carrying it to its legitimate conclusion? We guess not. We might be appraised unneutral in both religion and politics. But we do ask, if we may be so bold, that our readers do a little thinking for themselves along this line. Jesus Set Example. Jesus of Nazareth set the example for independent thought, which in its possibilities means the breaking of all bondage. War, with all of its horrors, at least contributes to breaking the bondage of the fear of death, and, to that tent, hastens the movement that Jesus launched to free mankind from Injustice and bring it into a knowledge of its relationship to the Father of all creation. The spirit will still be in a measure the slave of the body while we are capable of fear. The dream in our hearts is somehow to break through the last barrier of sea come out, as someone has said, on the other side of fear. The uselessness of the fear of death is as apparent to us as the sun in the sky. Its Ignobleness is a thing that haunts all who are subject to it. Christian, pagan and atheist are one in this. They feel that the life of the body itself can be fully enjoyed only when the fear of those that kill the body has been utterly overcome. ’■ Yes, the world is coming to "know more about Jesus.”