A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer.

  • Farmer, John S.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    This liberal tendency is also very marked in much of the prominent preaching of the day, and from not a few we hear but of three ideas insisted upon as essentially Christian doctrines—a belief in God—in a future life—and a just retribution for sin—the three cardinal thoughts of the Spiritual Philosophy. I do not me'in to say that this is the case with all, or nearly all. It is not so. Such men are still in the minority, and that a large one. But the minority is growing so rapidly into a majority, that it needs no prophet to foretell the ultimate success of the new school of thought. What I do mean is, that these advanced ideas are being taught by some of our most intellectual and hardest thinkers in matters of religion, and that hardly a week passes without some fresh instance being put on record. I do not claim that Spiritualism has been the only factor in this new departure, although it has certainly been the most important one. A striking characteristic of the present age is its tendency to universality and generous toleration. Religion has been more or less permeated with its spirit j and, although intolerance still remains, much of its power has been removed. This tendency has, I doubt not, had a share in forming and moulding the new lines of thought; but the lion’s share must undoubtedly be accorded to Modern Spiritualism, and for this reason : the spirit of the age has only touched the theories of religion, whereas Sjiiritualism has had to deal lultli its facts, and has added to the standard Christian evidences of a risen Christ its later proofs of spiritual power and return: and through this, and this alone, it is gathering into the spiritual fold the vast army of Christian Thomases and “sad, heavy-laden” materialists, who in due time will merge into the universal harmonious Church of Christian Spiritualists. In the bases of belief established by Spiritualism, we let go much that has in the past been held de fide. But what of that? If the theories of the past clash with the facts and reason of to-day, so much the worse for the theories. It is no question here about Spiritualism unsettling men’s minds; the unsettling has been done by other agencies, and is complete. What Spiritualism proposes to do is to build up again the citadel of faith on a stronger and more endurable basis than before—on the Rock of Reason. FAITH versus REASON. A basis that is in strict accord with Science and Reason is the only foundation for Faith which can be accepted to-day. Its facts must be capable of verification, and its theories rational. It will not avail again to bring forward the old parrot cry of the “pride of reason.” The pride,_if there be any, is upon other shoulders; and it is becanse Faith has in the past iisurped the place of reason—shutting it out alto- fether—that when weighed in the balances she has been found w.anting. aith, left to itself, rapidly degenerates into credulity, and the sober lesson of experience is, that it ever requires to bo guided aright by the strong, steady light of reason. “ What is left.for faith,” says one, “if reason comes in for so large a share ? I answer : Faith is still to have Jts proper place, the moral nature of man is still to be exalted and no-t