THEOSOPHY AND CHRISTIANITY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20102, 4 December 1930, Page 16

THEOSOPHY AND CHRISTIANITY.

TO V3IE EDITOII OF THE m.BSS. Sir Archdeacon Taylor accused mc (with' others) of being anti-Christian, which namo from his standpoint and that of the orthodox Christ.an is a taunt. Will the Archdeacon pardon mo i„r staling that calling other people such namo is not in harmony with the teaching of the Nazarene? As your readers know, I and my friends havo never retorted to these insults, nut simply have stated our case, hoping tliat "tho Archdeacon would follow our example. Instead, in tho sermon o the following Sunday, ho roiteraleu tho samo accusations and answered also some of tho arguments contained in mv letter. When I stated this, I simply told a fact. But tho Archdeacon again interpreted my statements as if 1 were accusing him of cowardice. His little story does not apply to me, but I should bo pleased if ho should remember this little French proverb: "C'est le ton qui fait la musique." That is one of tho reasons why I was not insulted at being called "antiChristian." As to th'j Archdeacon's statement of the Christian faith, I accept it as being tho honest expression of a belief held sacred by millions of earnest Christians, and 1 sincerely hope lie will not consider it '.vroug on my part if I say that it is quite reconcilable with the teaching of the Theosophical Society, though expressed in different terms. What he calls "Heaven" we would call a "Higher State of Consciousness" and the so-called forgiveness of 6ins the release from the effects of our mistakes through the exhaustion of the effects in our own life (having gained but perhaps suffered by their results). The theory of evolution is preached from the pulpit by the Bishop of Birmingham, who claims it to be in consonance with tho above-mentioned statement of Christian faith.

However, in closing the controversy. I wish it to ho made clear that I havo every sympathy with the Churches in their difficulties in connexion with the present World's crisis, and I sincerely hope that tho new Modernist movement in England, with which I am in full sympathy, will be strengthened by tho millions who are caper to see the; world safely led in the new era of social bett-erment and spiritual upliftmen t. at the threshold of which we now stand.—Yours, etc., H. COLONNA. December 2nd, 1931) TO TITS EDITOH Of THIS PRESS Sir, —In answer to "Theosopjiist," orio may reply that tho indwolling of Christ in the human heart is conditional oil each person's acceptance of Christ by faith—it is not merely 0110 of the necessary consequences of bolonging to tho human race. Still less is it a logical deduction (as "Theosophist" seems to infer) from Christ's statement "I and M.v Father are ono." Christ says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." But according to "Theosophist," Ho is already insido the door in every case. And why should St. Paul (Galatians 111., 27) write "As many of you as ■were baptised into Christ did put on Christ." and (Galatians IV., 19) "My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you" P Why should he write thus, if Christ wore dwelling in them already!' —Yours, etc., TREMAYNE M. cnRNOW. St. Faith's Vicarage, New Brighton, December 3rd, 1930.