CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 10

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

the gains and losses. A significant discussion on Biblical criticism ivas opened at the North \\ ales quarterly, meetings - of the V/elsh U'vimstic Methodists at Holvliead b'v 7, ' . J - 0. Jones, of Bala. Ho .said that ju criticism tho timo of destroying appeared to .be drawing to: its'close" "ie period of building tip had dawned. Iho critics uvere more careful ,as their equally learned opponents exposed, the weakness .of many' of .their arguments and the uncertainty of many of their conclusions, while the Conservative party offered,a mope,open mind as research brought' new ; lisrht from .every direction. Although.. "the Old testament was shown to bt a collection or books written at - different periods,' each part reflecting tho light and knowledge of its own time and bearing the. stamp of the individuality of its writer, yet, never before had been so clearly, shown the; characteristic which distinguished the Bible from all other books. Its uniqueness, stood out more clearly than ever. More scholars were,., how- ' ever, said to be new engaged'on New Testament than < Old Testament work. Their work was more important, andJudaism was now shown to be not tbe parent; of Christianity, but. it's cradle, and-"a; cradle which it soon : left." About, revelation and inspiration criticism claimed to.have.,done three things.. CI) It had changed the view of the Church about the mode of revelation, but it had, not succeeded in'doing awav, with tho fact of revelation; (2) while showing that the Bible could not to considered infallible as a book of .history. and; scioncD it had greatly strengthened, .the view of the Church .that the Bible was .infallible , as a revelation ,of. Grid": (3)"itdiad'ialiuost done away witli tlio idea of. verbal inspiration.. ■'