HERESY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21512, 29 June 1935, Page 22

HERESY

■ifc r«a editor of run puess Sir—l fail to rw -low consulting the ."cr'K'r-; 1 • .'<• "Vita" in "The ,ae .a . ' ■ ' seems to think, cause n.5 m >' 1 opinion that the statement, "To disc-aid theology Is to discard Christ.'' is rubbish. I have

: studied the Scriptures in four translations and the Greek text and I am J of the opinion that even in their pres- ; ent form, altered and edited as they j have been in the endeavour to give a certain point of view, they, nevertheless, far from supporting the errors' that have arisen in the Church during tne centuries, constitute one of the Creates) indictments of those errors that there could be. Every theological student knows, or there is something wrong with his mental mechanism if he does not know, that the idea of direct and infallible inspiration is; a delusion. There is a difference between the theology of the student and the theology of the pulpit. I read Mr Fountain's definition, which "Vita" referred me to. It was the theology of the student he mentioned. It is the usual retort when theology is criticised, to trot out the student's definition, the apologist not recognising or wanting to recognise the difference. In the article, "Theology," in the "Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics," a still more idealistic definition than Mr Fountain's is given, but it is also clearly, one for students only. The writer was Professor of Systematic Theology in Melbourne University. If theology were in practice, from the pulpit, what he held it to be, one would have no complaint.. The theology I criticise and to which 1 have been referring throughout this correspondence, is the theology of the pulpit, which is little or nothing more than a collection of dogmas that the Church has itself evolved to suit its own point lof view. That is why I say that to discard theology is not to discard Christ but to rediscover Him. Take the doctrine of the Atonement which has held such a central point iin Christian belief. Doubtless many | would tell me that to discard that ' would be to discard Christ, yet the : Encyclopaedia referred to reveals thai j) va gradually developed dogma 'and v.as not, clearly formulated til! the ' twelfth century. I do not contend that | 'it is wholly wrong, but that the basis of truth out of which it grew has been . !expanded, exaggerated, added to and j I materialised to the point of absurdity. I Likewise with the Resurrection and ' ; Ascension, which are absurdities when ; : hdd to have been physical events. Al- j ■ most everything the Church dealt with ; ; from about the fourth century on- ; | ward:; suffered from this narrowing j and materialising tendency. i I Ido not 'hink. as "Vita" suspects that | ' the Church is all evil, but it has often j ; neglected its responsibilities and be- j ; hayed its Founder. The only place j "Vita" can refer me to. for evidence of j 1 the Church's carrying out of Christ's j : leaching, is to recent times, orphanages, j : etc. I was not thinking just of the last i i few years but of all .'.he centuries thai j i have gone before, and such things as: ; the opposition oi the Church to the! j abolition nf slavery. I wonder if j : "Vita" sensed any significance in my; sayin a -The Bible is a repository ot : : Christ's teaching." Did he notice f : did not say "the" repository, for il is j not tiit' only one. "Vita" let his j 'optim'.-m well and truly run away j ■ with him wh.'-n he stated I "may yet 1 dave!"]> into a \\-ry orthodox the- . | olos'ian " front such a fate Good j i Lord deliver me. May I never live to j :see the day! . | Another correspondent, "Peaceful.*' j Pi! tjia .same day, stated thai, "'Io til- ] ' Vrnr.t to understand the things of Gou j as revealed in th'* Bible by human rea- ; him s futile." This : entence is am- j i la"ni us and dots, not really .-ay what, j j tin- writes- meant it to say. What lie ! has ■ aid is. "It L futile to attempt to ' I und"r'.tand 'he thm".- «.l God as re. j i vealed by human reason in tile Bible." _ ilow.'ves. guessing what kr meant > I can aver, ih.i' I have not -a * heartily agreed with anything t«r , manv a day. My rea' s ; n has rat oe l n •ort'le taxed to -ande Und the con- J i traoii.-t ions and ea!'.'< ia nt account*' oi - • th" ame thing in the Gospel:- and eee- < win re. If they arc all the result «.f i rcveiat lon., from God, what a coat usee ; mind the D-ity t.se' have.- -Your:.. 1 c. thompso?:. .b:ii' H'Se. 1 I This cor: espoueen r is now cle. cn.-~ i sid.. "The i'a ss" 1 i ; . I ; ■ '•CAXCKHI'HOUIA" j , i r; lasna: nr tin. fsns •« i ' i air,- 'J'ne pre-.;: has bet n much ap- i ! : precise d be all branchc, of tin- eo;iv ; ; | naenii - -' as an aid to publicity. Why , . ' h'.uki iiicre be eeinpiamts when pt;b- j i ; paatv V.iecr,,nt.s sutui t- terror and worry i a ' Hi j ca.-e v.'ha re people teas cireatl | '".-r-isf-s. Take csueer. In this morn- ! ;> "S-. paper "cancer;,nobia" is Given ! <■■■• eminence. .Further along is a la.rly , t Ion:' column oil cancer treatmere If ionee can produce a remedy for the " . <' onbl", why not 'ft it be done m a •: "aicl. unosteiitat ious manner, and not . ffsitinue t f ' irighlcn its, out t)f ota, ii>. t:s • j with thia constant publicity. Ot coursss » , wi■ all realise that money is required -: to obtain the necessary facilities to S : as:est. in combating disease. Coula it - I not be done bv the prolessfouat jouinals Lot tile e:<P' r1" light out th,e - ■ .>)•, ■ ami cons in 'lk tiuiet and siiciiee ,• i ;.£ then- own ioumal:. Let the public s | <S'i' I'ne results. The manner dees not. t: matter very much. The ever-recur-e I ring ksiife is always at hand. Then s I t here is radium and various rays. It. for •i imtonce, as much publicity were given : ; to vivisection as there is given to other ; "research" there would be much out- ! cry and protest.—-Yours, etc . .Time 27. 103:-.