Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/247

 Religion still the Key to History 237 American people have grown to a purer life, or at least to a demand for a purer life on the part of those who lead their fortunes, mainly by force of a world-movement, which has simply found here the freest play. The better relations between Jew and Christian that now gen- erally exist are attributable, in no small degree, to the growth of this ethical spirit ; not so much because ethics make for fraternity, as that this growth proceeds from a tendency on the part of Chris- tians towards acceptance of the same fundamental religious prin- ciples. The Jew has never troubled himself very much with the question of personal immortality, and all that goes with it of re- sponsibility and retribution. His aim has been to make the best of earth ; his hope that of a Messianic era here. Christian theology has looked more to a future world as the real home of men. in an abode or state that, happy or miserable, was to endure forever. Christendom, during the last few years, has been approaching the Judaic view, as best expressive of the immediate objects to be pursued in human life. Hence among those peoples which have gone farthest in this direction, the political and social condition of the Jews is more favorable than among those — like Russia, Rou- mania, and Austria — which have made no substantial change of position. If his life on this earth be the great thing for a man to regulate and plan for, why complain if the Jew wins the prizes of trade and wealth, though it be by concentrating his attention on material gains? "Go thou and do likewise" is becoming, perhaps too fast and with too little qualification, the general motto of the business world. Christian theology anticipated evolution in endeavoring to ac- count for what is base in human nature. It set it to the account of original sin. To raise up a being infected with that not simply from his birth, but through an inheritance from ancestors infected with it for countless generations, was a task which God only could accomplish. To Him it was the work of a moment ; and they called it salvation. It was a theory well calculated to have a jirofound effect on the human mind. It gave an immense power to a priesthood believed to have the power of speaking for God and declaring to any man that his salvation had been accomplished. It put them by the side of kings and above kings. A time has come when the leaders of the church are beginning to say with John Fiske that " original sin is neither more nor less