Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1885 — The Advance of Theology. [ARTICLE]

The Advance of Theology.

From a paper by George lies, in the Popular Science Monthly, entitled “Religion Without Dogmas^. is extracted the following: Applying the method of science to an examination of theology, it appears to consist in an attempt at explaining the facts of Nature, and the sanctions of duty, in distant ages of scant knowledge. Its scriptual revelations come down to us through centuries of untrustworthy custodians, and when they reach us at last they are not revelations, and must be judged by the canons of criticism which we apply to other departments of literature. Every theology, no matter how emphatic its assertion of supernatural source, bears about it the plain marks of its httman origin. The conceptions of God vary with the zones and closely parallel the grades of culture in lyhicli they arise. The commandments called divine become more elevated as the civilization of people advances. The disciples of a prophet or apostle direct the noble impulses be has implanted in their hearts to broaden his teachings and correct his errors. Contrast the almost human tribal God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the lofty idea of the Deity entertained by Isaiah. Compare this latter again, with the universal Father whom Jesus taught his followers to worship. , Mark the cumbrous legality and ritualism of the Old Testament and its silence respecting tho future life; liow different this from the teaching of Jesus, who exalted the spirit above the letter, valued love more than sacrifice, and assured his hearers of an immortality which made this world but a temporary scene of trial and probation! Note how the high-minded Paul saw nothing reprehensible in slavery, and compare that with the humanity of an age which gives even dumb animals rights against their owners. The evolution of thought in general is fully exemplified by thought in theology, notwithstanding its assertion of a sacred fixity. John Wesley, sensible man that he was, said that, if he were lo give up his faith in witchcraft, he would give up the Bible. Yet bis followers have dropped the witchcraft, and kept the Bible.