THE SCRIPTURES.

Southland Times, Issue 14437, 7 June 1910, Page 2

THE SCRIPTURES.

(To the Kdilor.) Sir, see a letter of -Mr T. Buxton's running amuck with all creation on tire question Of religion. Having been once in a similar condition of mind, I should like, with your permission, to ventilate niy experience and conclusions at which 1 have arrived on 'the matter. Like many more thinking people, Mr Buxton falls into the grave error of making the Bible responsible for the teaching of the churches of Christendom. Now, 1 say any man that will r.oad the Book reverently, prayerfully, zealously, determinedly, to live according to Its precepts with God’s grace, will eventually discover the truth, and the great mistake the churches of Christendom are making to-day is in teaching the Bible as an historical book. On the contrary it is a book of symbols, myths, parables, etc., and must be spiritually discerned. Dor instance, X believe the account of the Creation in the first of Genesis Is not'eompiete yet, and when it la the new Jerusalem of the last of ilevelations will be issued in, the first and the last is the same date and cause. The second verse : “ And the earth was without form and void and darkness upon the face of deep." This describes our present chaotic condition beautifully, and the fall of man described in third chapter Genesis Is us rampant to-day as ever It was In past history, in science, politics, and religion. The fig leaves sewn together to cover nakedness is a beautiful Illustration of the various creeds in Christendom. Fig leaves denote a frail covering for their intellectual nakedness. I believe the Christ character as mythically given in the New Testament will yet absorb the world, and all humanity Will be driven in that direction by the punishment sin inflicts, for when wo understand sin to be a self-cleansing apparatus, that is wo shall get punished here for all wrong-doing, the betterment of human nature will ho assured quickly. I must not trespass further on your space.—l am, etc., W. I'TTZ HEX UY. Christchurch, fitli June.