A Search For The Truth

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 4

A Search For The Truth

Half Way to Faith. By Lord Eccles. Bles. 128 pp. Lord Eccles, a former; British Cabinet Minister, has: written this book as an i account of a search for the possession of the truth of the| Christian religion, which ini his case, has never been realised. It is of interest that Lord Eccles quite openly states that he has dearly longed to become certain of the Christian religion, but has endeavoured over these, the latter years of his life, to explore all possible avenues in a more serious fashion. One such avenue is the; world of Art, which has; always meant a great deal to him. Here one senses the joy' that is his when he relates of his discovery of artistic perception in the Gospel forms. This has enabled him to appreciate contemporary Biblical criticism, which, in his opinion, is a support to what he has known as the artistic technique. With the latter in mind, he insists that, historical accuracy necessarily becomes subordinate to the; definition of the image to be; communicated from the; artist's mind. Contemporary; demythologizing in theology tends to make this image ■ more sharp within the* present analyses of the: Christian documents. Although this discovery in, his new “depth association’’ with the Christian religion has meant a great deal, it has not carried him far enough. He maintains that the resurrection event cannot be seen by him to be factual, and contends that he would' willingly give a great deal to possess this truth. Naturally Lord Eccles does look at some of the contemporary .theologians for guidance and singles out Bishop Robinson for honourable mention because he has ■taken seriously the hunger khat assails the being of many

a modern man and has ! endeavoured to speak to that ; need in a meaningful fashion. ' Surprisingly enough, the i author perceives the differjence between the question of the meaningfulness of Bishop i Robinson’s position and the ! question of its orthodoxy. He notes that basically it is different from what is presented in those Gospels which he has learnt to appreciate. In some sense this is a book tinged with despair. But all is not hopeless, for the author attests that while he still continues on the way, he 'can name many fine fellow ■ pilgrims 'in the history of (literature who through their ; striving can and do testify with him to the worthwhileness of the values they have discovered on route. His excursions into literature to support this claim certainly add to the value of the work.