LIFE AFTER DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 367, 30 May 1928, Page 8

LIFE AFTER DEATH

SCIENCE AND THE SOUL CHALLENGE TO FAITH The controversy on the question of "Life After Death” continues to rag, furiously. Here is another batch « letters on the subject: GRAY’S ELEGY Sir. — “Humanity’s” purposa would been better served had the poet h 7. correctly quoted. Preservation of the beauty o' o, is the least owing to the iinine* A.B. THE £SOO OFFER Re that £SOO reward for eviderr. of immortality. It seems to me that to offer such a sum “as an inducement to Bible study” is hardly playing (y, game. While many mortals claim ing to be Jehovah’s mouthpiece, wl pup mis ed eternal life, there is no re corde.il instance of Jehovah makinc a personal statement on the subject The LB.S.A. knows this—or n wouldn’t have made such a munis cent offer. Naturally, it bets only J a “sure thing.” y 00 As far as immortality is concerned we either have faith, or we have noL Faith will withstand all material on slaughts—for it is directlv opposed to reason. The standard Bible, with it, chapter and verse, can be so easilv misread that it is a pleasure to die cover a work such as “The Book o( Life,” published in Chicago last ve»r which treats the Gospel in chronological, historical, literary and human fashion, and brings it nearer to tlm age of reason. To those who have read this work the £SOO will appear a jok, in questionable taste. THE SOUL Sir.— In answer to letters on the Immortality of the soul, I would draw attention to the story of Ahraham. In Genises xxv., S, we read: •'Abraham died, and was gathered to his people” Now Abraham was not ouried with them so it must refer to his soul Moreover Jehovah said to Moses! Exodus ill., 6: “I am the God of Abraham,” long after Abraham’s death while our Lord Jesus Christ, com-’ menting on this passage, Matthew xxii., 32, declared God to be a God of the living not of the dead. Henc* the present tense in Exodus iii., J, proves Abraham to be alive. Many' more Scripture references could he given, but, in my opinion, the above is conclusive. Should any one care to test tM truth of the matter for himself, J would say, study St. John’s Gospel reverently and obediently—John vtL 37, then he will know. J.M. IMMORTALITY Sir,— Are the International Bible student* after truth itself? If so, in the “Apocrypha” (certain books of different prophets once enfolded in the Bible) in “The Wisdom of Solomon,” chapter two, verse one, is the following:— “For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave.” Verse 21: “Such things did they imagine, and were deceived, for their own wickedness had blinded them.” Verse 22: “As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not; neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness nor discerned a reward for blameless souls.” Verse 23: “For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.” Verse 24: “Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world; and they that do hold of his side do find it.”

In the whole of this chapter does it show why it is that any evil state of mind cannot receive the truth of God and man, as forever perfect—even as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, enfolding the statement, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” ' ROSELIA CLARK. THE ETERNAL IDEA Sir. The theory of the immortal soul is being debated scientifically. The wonted accuracy of science seems to have strayed, for as yet I have not read a proof of Sir Arthur Keith’s theory of the inter-relation of mind, body and soul. Some of your subscribers write as if the Keith suggestion were an accepted, proven fact. But we have yet no scientific proof by either side. On theories then, I begin as neutral. The practical value of having a life immortal to anticipate reflects in our human conduct, for we have a conscience. The Bible suggests the eternal life, tells of tribulations for sinners, and supplies the guide, through the country’s laws, to human happiness and honour, we are given to believe that by obeying these commands and living Christ’s teachings, we shall be granted eternal hues. Retribution for disobedience is a. natural sequence. Reward for is further logic. On this world th is little enough recognition tor go ness of living, so will not God Hmiseu who set up our ideals, some His justness, repay our spiritual Dei»&. as the soul deserves reward?