Page:Genesis I-II- (IA genesisiii00grot).pdf/15



comes a time in the development of a Theology, when certain traditional beliefs begin to be doubted and then rejected by a constantly increasing number of its adherents. The doubt and the rejection are the result of more experience and more light. It is becoming clearly to be seen that a Theology has its phases of growth, during which it becomes greatly modified so far as extraneous points of belief are concerned. At the bottom, the recognition of a Power behind the things we perceive with our senses, underlies all Religions, the Jewish and Christian creeds included. All else in religious beliefs belongs finally to Science to investigate and to establish. In fact it is by a kind of science that dogmas arise. Far down they are built upon human experience, but once formed and hardened by time they import into a wiser generation and accumulated mistakes of the past. To recognize these errors and to endeavor to free Religion from the odium of teaching them, seems to me a plain duty of the intellect.

Far is it from my thought to commit the mistake made by the blind upholders of Religion or its equally ill-advised opponents, of considering the Bible on the on hand as solidly good, or, on the other, as solidly bad. The Bible, besides literary excellence of the highest character, contains much that is in accord with our best nature, that comforts and sustains us in our struggle to lead a noble self-sacrificing life. But we should not overlook the other sacred books entirely. It will do us good to remember that verse