MODERNIST FAITH

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 20

MODERNIST FAITH

FUTURE OF ENGLISH RELIGION. BISHOP BARNES'S STATEMENT. fatOH OUB OWK COBBISPOJTDMT.) LONDON. February 13. A very clear summary of what may be called the Modernist Faith is given bv the Bishop of Birmingham . (Dr. Barnes) in the "Monthly Messenger," the new official publication of jiis diocese. The article is entitled "The Immediate Future of English Religion." Dr. Barnes says that the outstanding change in. the. Cb*""ch and nation during the last 10 years is the progress of Modernism.' and he sees a real danger of the development of the Latitudinarianism which is now emerging and- "is now widespread outside the Church." "Unless devout and learned Modernists can keen it at bay." he says, "it will almost necessarily infect our clergy and congregations and the scandalous laxity of tie 18th centurv will revive." The Bishop adds that, in brief, evolution is the kev to the modern approach to the Christian faith, and he sums up the positive faith of Modernism as follows: — (1) The Creative Process, by which alike stars and men nave been fashioned, is a unity. The process is unthinkable as a mechanism. It is purposive. Behind it lie not only Power but also Intelligence. Moreover. because its outcome on earth is man, with his ethical ideals and aspirations. Creative Purpose is moral. Thus we arrive at Christ's intuition that God, , the creator and ground of all, is onr Father.

(2t Further, the Universe is, for our thought, rational. Tet it would be profoundly irrational were qjan'j life to end wit' the grave. We must then accept that. doctrine of a future life which is. central, in Christ's teaching.

(3) Christ's teaching of man's dut; which is associated with the phrase "the Kingdom of Heaven" naturally follows "from belief in the Fatherhood of God.

(4) That we are morally free, and therefore responsible to God for our actions, follows from our constant and invariable experience of life. Thus there is no escape from the severity of Christ's u . teaching with • regard to wrong-doing. (5) The appeal of Christ and the ground of our reverence for Him > mu&t be based on what in our highest moments we feel to 'be His spiritual knowledge and . authority, His power to reveal God and to. guide mankind. All extraneous credentials are of slight value. The Negative Sign. The Bishop adds. that on itp negative side Modernism rejects in toto the dualisms of popular and of traditional thought. He proceeds :■ — (1) It refuses to cut the universe into two parts, a natural and a supernatural. The whole is God s. His guidance and rule are everywhere, save where "the freedom _ which He allows His creatures conflicts with His purpose. (2) Modernism similarly refuses to oppose the sacraments of the Church to those of Nature. God reveals Himself in many ways. The Holv Communion is not invariably superior to, nor is indifferent in kind from, other channels of Divine grace. (3) Similarly, Modernism rafuses to sever Jesus, from humanity. He was God and map. The union was possible because in all men some degree of divine indwelling can take place. Ot course in such a doctrine the Modernist is reaffirming the pnrest orthodoxy the 4th and sth centuries. (4) Once again. Modernism refuses to allow that the Bible' is different from other collections of books in that it is miraculously free from error. The Modernist finds in the Bible a quality and range of spiritual excellence unequalled elsewhere. But the writers and teachers whose message it gives made mistakes, for they were human. We must search out tti© cold: wnat r©* mains can be ignored.