DO WE BELIEVE—?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 358, 19 May 1928, Page 8

DO WE BELIEVE—?

Sir, — When I read Mr. C. E. Major’s letter I was reminded of the Greek philosopher who, on hearing applause evoked by his sentiments, paused and asked: (Continued in next column.)

“Have I inadvertently said something foolish ?” I regard the Rationalist as one differing only, in degree, from the religionist: he makes a religion of his atheism, and the person who seeks to# make converts, whether to Rationalism or Jlormonism, or any other “ism,” is a meddlesome individual whose activities merely stir up strife. To attack religious belief merely provoke? a fanatical resentment in the believer and does nothing to. help the emancipation of his mine, from the mass of mediaeval superstition that persists in the guise of religion despite the spread of education and knowledge. It is the discoveries of the scientist, the astronomer and the geologist that are destroying the authority of the church and of those who tell us we must regulate our lives in this world because of conditions that will prevail in the next. The direct attacks of antireligionists merely cause people to rally to a defence of their beliefs.' Science and the spread of knowledge alone have caused the leaders of the Church to abandon the idea of a material Heaven and hell, and to adopt vague substitutes incapable of definition. The Hebraic ideas of heaven as a sort of glorified jeweller’s shop, and a lake of fire and brimstone for sinners, have been abandoned w r ith reluctance, and I read in a Southern paper an utterance by an archdeacon who is so seriously disturbed by Sir Arthur Keith that he asks: “Why should we be good if we are not going to be rewarded for it by going to Heaven?” Let us,” he says, “eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” In other words, he would like to go on a glorious jag—but for fear of Divine displeasure! As Burns puts it: Tie fear o' hell's a hangman s whip, T j haud the wretch in order. It is not often that we find a clenc so candid, however perfectly we may understand the point of view r . And if he prefers to substitute an elusive spiritual state for the new Jerusalem of the Bible, with its walls of jasp* r and its gates of pearl, that circumstance compels no one to share it with him, nor proves its existence. HEP